Problem with my Neos 1000

I've been noticing that when I tension the first string of the racquet that even though the lock out lever pops out, I can pull the crank further or it will go back towards the racquet but when I pull the string a second time the crank stops properly. This also happens on the first cross.

Last racquet I strung it would happen on every string I tensioned and then lockout properly the second time I would tension the string. It seems the lever is popping out further on the second pull.

The machine is still under warranty and the guys at tennismachines are great but the idea of being without my machine for a couple of weeks is bumming me out.

Anyone have a similar experience?

I Heart Thomas Muster said:

I've been noticing that when I tension the first string of the racquet that even though the lock out lever pops out, I can pull the crank further or it will go back towards the racquet but when I pull the string a second time the crank stops properly. This also happens on the first cross.

Last racquet I strung it would happen on every string I tensioned and then lockout properly the second time I would tension the string. It seems the lever is popping out further on the second pull.

The machine is still under warranty and the guys at tennismachines are great but the idea of being without my machine for a couple of weeks is bumming me out.

Anyone have a similar experience?

Click to expand...

Sounds like you need to adjust the brake.

If you have the manual, you can find instructions on how to adjust the brake.
Very simple.

It sounds like more than a brake issue if you're right. I'd call tennis machines back assuming that is where you got it. Is this a new or reconditioned machine? All you should need to send them is the crank tensioner assembly and not the whole machine.

is it possible you did not lock the "throat riser slide bar"? I remember I had one racket moved because of that.
check step 1 on page 8 of this link. http://img.tennis-warehouse.com/pdfs/NEOSManual.pdf

Thanks for the feedback guys. It was purchased brand new from Tennis Warehouse and the issue has always been there for the first string on the mains and the first cross but now it's gotten worse.

It's not the racquet moving it's the crank assembly not locking out properly so that once desired tension is reached I can pull further or the assembly can move back towards the racquet.

I should have held onto my Ektelon Neos. The guy at tennismachines said it was the last one made in San Diego and a better machine than the new ones.

Lucky me!

agree w/ tennishacker. sounds like the brake on the tension head needs to be adjusted.

If this a just a brake adjustment why does it lock properly on the second pull?

On the second pull the lockout lever pops out further than the first time I pull the string. I find that aspect very odd.

I Heart Thomas Muster said:

On the second pull the lockout lever pops out further than the first time I pull the string. I find that aspect very odd.

Click to expand...

That tells me it is not a brake adjustment. That lever is binding somewhere. Chances are if you take it all apart you may not get it all back together right and if you do the tension adjustment will not be linear. I would suggest you send it back if it isn't something obvious you can fix.

Thanks fellas. I've resigned myself to sending the assembly back. I know she'll be in good hands.

Irvin said:

That tells me it is not a brake adjustment. That lever is binding somewhere. Chances are if you take it all apart you may not get it all back together right and if you do the tension adjustment will not be linear. I would suggest you send it back if it isn't something obvious you can fix.

Click to expand...

Sometimes the brake disc gets warped or sections of the disc gets glazed over.

Try the brake adjustment, if it doesn't work, them send it in.

Tennishacker said:

Sometimes the brake disc gets warped or sections of the disc gets glazed over.

Try the brake adjustment, if it doesn't work, them send it in.

Click to expand...

good points and since he mentioned the lockout never working quite right since it was new, it's possible it was warped from the factory and/or the brake was never setup properly to begin with.

Tennishacker said:

Sometimes the brake disc gets warped or sections of the disc gets glazed over.

Try the brake adjustment, if it doesn't work, them send it in.

Click to expand...

I'll check the manual about break adjustments. If it's not too invasive I'll give it a try. Thanks.

I Heart Thomas Muster said:

I'll check the manual about break adjustments. If it's not too invasive I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Click to expand...

you only need to remove the plastic cowl around the tension head to be able to see what's going on.

Thanks for the recommendations. When the lockout lever was being released it wasn't coming out the 1 1/4" like it's supposed to. So after some tinkering I have the lockout lever coming out the proper distance and the crank is locking in place and I'm not able to pull it any further once the lever is released and can only push it forward with great effort (which I think was the case with my old Neos).

I'm glad I worked on it myself as I have a better understanding of the Neos. I'm thinking the head just came from Prince out of whack but everything seems as it should be now. However if the same issue arises she's going to Tennismachines.

Thanks again fellas.

I ended up sending the head to Tennismachines and when it came back it worked better but I still had the same problem that with a bit of pressure I could still move the tension head towards and away from the racquet when the lockout lever was released. I noticed the lockout lever had been adjusted so that it came out less than an inch away from the catch when Prince calls for it to come out an inch and a quarter away from the catch. I made the adjustment to release an inch and the problem seems to have been resolved but I was curious about where the measurements should be made. I've been measuring from the end of the catch to the nearest part of the lockout lever. The manual isn't very clear about that.



Based on the image should I adjust the lever about a quarter inch further from the catch?

Thanks again for any help. I should probably just leave well enough alone but if we weren't obsessive over our equipment we probably wouldn't be posting here.