Crank stop and other ?

Anyone know if the Revo 4000 and other Alpha lock outs come with an overtravel stop (toward the turntable) on the crank travel track ala Gamma?

Also, between the two brands is it normal for the turntable to have rocking play/tilt/wobble? Or would that come from the turntable‘s support shaft not being tightened in its receptacle (in Alpha’s case)?

The new string grippers on Alphas no longer have screw adjusters but are apparently self-adjusting for gauge; they also have closely spaced vertical grooves in the top 1/8” of the jaws...does this mean they aren’t diamond coated, and would the grooves be a problem for gut? Or are strings not supposed to be gripped at the top of the jaws? Have Revos always had diamond string grippers?

Thx in advance for any help; extensive search didn’t result in answers.

It looks like it has.


All crank must have it. Otherwise, very stretchy string or a toddler can make it go off the rail which will be a safety hazard.

Sorry, wasn’t clear in my post; meant overtravel in the direction of the turntable...to avoid hitting it. Edited the OP.

Mjolnir said:

Sorry, wasn’t clear in my post; meant overtravel in the direction of the turntable...to avoid hitting it. Edited the OP.

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I see.
From the photo, I can't tell.
If it is not there, you can put something in the first hole on the left.
Some plastic piece or metal piece that fits would do the job.

When you say overtravel, when do you think it can happen - when releasing the lock after pull or when you grip the string?

I’m looking for my first stringer (never strung before). Briefly looked at an Axis Pro and noticed the crank could crash into the turntable. Failed to notice if it had a limiter stop like I’ve seen in a Gamma video.

@Wes has a vid where he adjusts his Gamma tensioner so the handle weight brings the crank to rest against the stop (when releasing the lock).

Seems like a nice feature to have? If Alpha lacks that, maybe a point in favor of Gamma?

@Folsom_Stringer_Musa,

He's referring to the "stop" which prevents the crank assembly from getting too close to a mounted racquet.

I talk about this from 20:40-25:25, 35:12-36:15 and 1:02:00-1:03:25 here...



@Mjolnir,

I knew exactly what you're talking about.
However, I didn't chime in previously, since I can't give definitive answers regarding what the Revo 4000 does/doesn't have (regarding the existence of diamond dust within the linear gripper... or a travel stop).

Just to be certain that I understand something...
You are sure that the Revo 4000's linear gripper no longer has the adjustment screw (which limits the travel of the gripper plates)?

Not 100%...the Axis Pro is presumably the same machine up top, and it did not have the adj. screw.

The Pro is probably the latest version as it has a stylized “Alpha” as the base/stand instead of stock photo 2 perpendicular legs.

So IF the latest Alpha Revos are the same, they won’t have adjuster screws either.

I’ll know for sure if I return to NewTech to buy a Revo since Gamma cancelled my order for a Progression ST II!

The only thing “stopping” me is possible lack of a crank stop...or am I being too cranky?

Mjolnir said:

Briefly looked at an Axis Pro and noticed the crank could crash into the turntable. Failed to notice if it had a limiter stop like I’ve seen in a Gamma video.

@Wes has a vid where he adjusts his Gamma tensioner so the handle weight brings the crank to rest against the stop (when releasing the lock).

Seems like a nice feature to have? If Alpha lacks that, maybe a point in favor of Gamma?

Click to expand...

Although it might be a slight point in favor for the Gamma, I certainly wouldn't consider that one feature to affect your "make or break" decision.
There are many other (more) important features which you should focus on (apart from the existence of the stop screw).

After all, as @Folsom_Stringer_Musa said...

Folsom_Stringer_Musa said:

If it is not there, you can put something in the first hole on the left.
Some plastic piece or metal piece that fits would do the job.

Click to expand...

If you end up getting a Revo 4000, I'm sure that something could be fashioned - even if that's just wrapping some tape around the tensioner bar at the point you'd like the crank to come to a halt.

What other machines are you currently weighing against the Revo 4000?
If you have a strict budget to adhere to, let us know what that is.
After we know these things, we might be able to provide further suggestions.

Mjolnir said:

The only thing “stopping” me is possible lack of a crank stop...or am I being too cranky?

Click to expand...

Yes. Too minor to be a deciding factor.

BTW, I just looked up photos of the Axis Speed, Axis Pro and Revo 4000.
It seems that all of them do have an adjustment screw for adjusting the gripper plates (which, IMO, is an important feature).
However, just to be sure, it would be best to call Alpha/NewTech to verify that this is still the case.

Axis Speed
Axis Pro
Revo 4000

Mjolnir said:

Also, between the two brands is it normal for the turntable to have rocking play/tilt/wobble?

Click to expand...

No.
Rocking/tilting/wobble is not normal, nor acceptable.
If that is occurring, something is out of adjustment.
As long as things are adjusted/tightened properly, I don't think you should have play/tilting/wobbling on an Alpha or Gamma machine.

Mjolnir said:

Or would that come from the turntable‘s support shaft not being tightened in its receptacle (in Alpha’s case)?

Click to expand...

Did you see this happening on an Alpha somewhere?

Mjolnir said:

The new string grippers on Alphas no longer have screw adjusters but are apparently self-adjusting for gauge; they also have closely spaced vertical grooves in the top 1/8” of the jaws...does this mean they aren’t diamond coated, and would the grooves be a problem for gut? Or are strings not supposed to be gripped at the top of the jaws? Have Revos always had diamond string grippers?

Click to expand...

Regarding your questions above...
Perhaps @am1899 might be able to chime in here.
I believe he has an Axis Pro (or Speed) at home.

@Wes Yes, I do have an Axis Pro. But unfortunately, I don’t have the original tension head. When I bought it (used) it came with a WISE head, but no original tension head.

Wes said:

However, just to be sure, it would be best to call Alpha/NewTech to verify that this is still the case.

Click to expand...

That’s what I would recommend.

Thanks Wes. Trying to keep under $1K and want tabletop LO. That leaves just the prog st ii & revo as good quality choices, as far as I can tell.

Long story short, I bought (I thought) a Revo Saturday, but upon putting the box in the house noticed it had “Axis Pro” printed on it...uh oh. NT offered to charge me only $50 if I wanted to keep it. Decided ok, though really wanted a tabletop,

Assembled it, that’s when I noticed the gripper lacking adj. screw, tabletop wobble, and that the base was awkwardly large and in the way of my feet. Decided to pack it up and return it Monday. Ordered the Prog ST II Sat. night, returned the Axis Monday morning, and got an email on the ride home that Gamma cancelled my order...out of stock. Back to where I started.

Alpha is bad about updating product photos, so not surprising changes like the stand base, gripper, and the new “V” supports don’t get noticed.

The tabletop wobble may be due to my not tightening the plug screw in the tabletop stem base? Don’t know, but NT was insistent Alpha’s DON’T have wobble...which I clearly noticed.

At this point, my brief exposure to Alpha leaves an impression they’re a bit crudely made, and leaning to Gamma for the roller guide, crank stop, no spring return for support arms, and confirmed diamond coated gripper with adj. screw; and at least from vid/pics, slightly better quality(?).

But if I have to wait weeks/months, I’m tempted to hop on back to NT for the Revo while they’re still available.

Wes said:

@Folsom_Stringer_Musa,

He's referring to the "stop" which prevents the crank assembly from getting too close to a mounted racquet.

I talk about this from 20:40-25:25, 35:12-36:15 and 1:02:00-1:03:25 here...

Click to expand...

In my machine, there is one metal piece that stops it just at the right spot.
I never had issue with tensioner getting too close to the racket or mounting system.
But you would want the tensioner as close as possible to the mounting system.
This is a simple problem to solve.

Mjolnir said:

Anyone know if the Revo 4000 and other Alpha lock outs come with an overtravel stop (toward the turntable) on the crank travel track ala Gamma?

Click to expand...

I think this is at worst a non-issue, and if anything a slight negative.

There are only two reasons the tension head will travel towards the turntable. One is that you move it. Unless you're incredibly heavy handed (in which case, stringing may not be the activity for you...), it's not going to go crashing into the turntable. The other is that having pulled tension, when you release the brake the tension head will move jolt back. You prevent this from happening by holding onto the handle when you release the brake. And if you forget... well, due to the location of the brake, your hand will be in the way and so by far the most likely outcome will be a rap on the knuckles. Even if you did get your hand out of the way, at this point the tension head will be some way down the crank arm, so there's a fair way to travel to get back up the track.

So it's really not something that I think is cause for concern, and can actually be a positive. At some point you'll get to the end of a string job and the string be slightly shorter than ideal. Perhaps you'll won't have measured it correctly. Perhaps you were at the end of a reel and figured it should just about be enough. When that happens, you'll be glad your tension head can travel all the way up to the turntable. Saves fiddling about with bridges.

Dags said:

I think this is at worst a non-issue, and if anything a slight negative.

There are only two reasons the tension head will travel towards the turntable. One is that you move it. Unless you're incredibly heavy handed (in which case, stringing may not be the activity for you...), it's not going to go crashing into the turntable. The other is that having pulled tension, when you release the brake the tension head will move jolt back. You prevent this from happening by holding onto the handle when you release the brake. And if you forget... well, due to the location of the brake, your hand will be in the way and so by far the most likely outcome will be a rap on the knuckles. Even if you did get your hand out of the way, at this point the tension head will be some way down the crank arm, so there's a fair way to travel to get back up the track.

So it's really not something that I think is cause for concern, and can actually be a positive. At some point you'll get to the end of a string job and the string be slightly shorter than ideal. Perhaps you'll won't have measured it correctly. Perhaps you were at the end of a reel and figured it should just about be enough. When that happens, you'll be glad your tension head can travel all the way up to the turntable. Saves fiddling about with bridges.

Click to expand...

Also having to adjust the plates with a screw is a NONISSUE.

To the OP:
Come on. Are you going to be string 20g Natural gut? 15g Natural gut? Natural gut at all? You've not ever strung a racquet and you're looking for flaws that just don't actually exist but in your mind. YOU ARE GOING TO HATE STRINGING! YOU ARE GOING TO NOTICE EVERY FLAW AND SPEND $$$$$ TO CUT OUT AND START OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN. Just pay your local stringer to do the job and rest easy.

Mjolnir said:

At this point, my brief exposure to Alpha leaves an impression they’re a bit crudely made

Click to expand...

Understand that is related to your first impression...but that is not the case.

Thanks for all (-1) the helpful replies and info. Ended up a little over budget with a Gamma 5003 6-point (self-centering turntable).

Definitely like it more than the Axis Pro; it’s a more refined machine in most ways. No dig on the Alpha, it’s less money and maybe more rigid in the turntable.

Strung up my first racquet today, thought the crank stop was handy for consistent tensioning via the crank being in the same spot every time. Thanks to Wes for the pro tip on handle positioning!

Longest delay in deciding was whether I’d like 2 point or 6 point more. Came down to hearing of occasional slippage with 2 point when pulling crosses. Any thoughts from those who’ve used both in Gammas?

The way you keep your crank in the same spot every time is to put it as far forward
as you want it when you are going to pull tension (usually not as far as the stop on a
Gamma IME, I have a 6004) and have the handle pointing straight down when it is in
that position. Then the handle weight always returns it to that position. There's a dangling
lever under the tension head that when turned sideways will allow this adjustment.

The stop shouldn't really come into play, IMO.

Having said that, and owning a Gamma, I'd have bought the Alpha at that pricepoint as
IMO it has nicer base clamps. Nonetheless, the 5003 is a nice machine and will serve you
quite well.