A New Friend Prince / Ektelon Stringing Machine !!

StringStrungStrang

StringStrungStrang

Professional
A just made new friend this week this Prince/ Ektelon stringing machine. I know there are many posts but couldn't find the main thread that I've read so many times before.
These are the before pics. Please let me know where the thread for all the fans and tips and tricks for these stringers are. I've seen some great threads on refurbishing that I need now !!
Please lmk where I can find these threads again @MAX PLY and @Rabbit I know you two have contributed quite a bit to us Prince Stringer users.!!

Thanks!

P4.jpg
P1.jpg
 
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That looks like the rare Ektelon Neos (Model J). The serial number for it is on the tool tray etched with an electric pencil. I have the same machine!

I picked up my Ektelon Neos for $25 and it works great!
https://www.reddit.com/r/RacketStringers/comments/1p4n77p/howd_i_do_for_25

You can get new clamps for it at Tennis Machines (google it) and all the spare parts you'll need. I'd go ahead and get new clamps, and probably get the tension head refurbished. Tennis Machines is a great service for NEOS. Looks like you're going to need to get a lot of rust off of it too.

Ektelon was acquired / morphed into Prince in the late 80s and the Ektelon Neos / Model J was the last branded Ektelon machine and afterward it became Prince NEOS --- but it is the exact same machine - just the branding changed.

It's a workhorse that will outlive you and you can leave it to your grandchildren.

Feel free to DM me and I can help if needed.
 
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@Cobra Tennis that's quite a nice machine!! At that price I'll take two!! Appreciate your words of wisdom too.
I have gone through most of the mechanical stuff and mine is rounding into shape; clamps and tension head have been calibrated. Rust has been cleaned from critical areas, and moving parts lubricated so it is functional again. Over the coming days I get to start making it beautiful again.
There was at least one thread I read but cannot find documenting the cleaning and refurbishing of these Ektelon / Prince machines but I can't seem to find it.
BTW I think mine is a J I'll confirm when I work on it later.
 
These may be a couple of threads you were thinking of:

B

Thread 'General advice on Ektelon Model H'

Hi all! I just purchased an Ektelon Model H originally seller was asking $500 but upon looking at the machine, there looked to be some significant rust on the glide bars and some other parts. Renegotiated down, hopefully it was a good price because it also included several dozen packs of strings and many grommets. Do you guys think that this amount of rusting is really bad? Second, my concern is that upon calibrating the tension head, it does not seem to consistently lockout at the same tension. I also can't seem to get it correctly calibrated because it keeps changing even if I do not...

JDogg

Thread 'Ektelon Stringing machine - Craigslist - Need info'

Hi All,

Just came here for some quick info. I found a good deal on this stringing machine on CL, but there is not much info and I haven't even been in contact with the seller yet. Can anyone identify this model and let me know if it will work for tennis racquets? I assume he used it for racquetball. There is no info listed other than "in proper working order"
00g0g_1lWsh1jAQO9_600x450.jpg


UPDATE**** I have posted a video below with a quick overview.
KDAuz
 
Cobra Tennis said:
That looks like the rare Ektelon Neos (Model J). The serial number for it is on the tool tray etched with an electric pencil. I have the same machine!

I picked up my Ektelon Neos for $25 and it works great!
https://www.reddit.com/r/RacketStringers/comments/1p4n77p/howd_i_do_for_25

You can get new clamps for it at Tennis Machines (google it) and all the spare parts you'll need. I'd go ahead and get new clamps, and probably get the tension head refurbished. Tennis Machines is a great service for NEOS. Looks like you're going to need to get a lot of rust off of it too.

Ektelon was acquired / morphed into Prince in the late 80s and the Ektelon Neos / Model J was the last branded Ektelon machine and afterward it became Prince NEOS --- but it is the exact same machine - just the branding changed.

It's a workhorse that will outlive you and you can leave it to your grandchildren.

Feel free to DM me and I can help if needed.
Click to expand...
got lucky and snagged it off FB marketplace. What a deal. Nice guy just wanted it gone after years of use and did me a solid.

I’d also recommend looking through the Neos manual (google) as it’s a good starting point.

The neos has been discontinued so parts for them will start drying up at some point but who knows when. These machines last forever —- probably why they discontinued them as no one needed one anymore.
 
I strung my first racquet with it today and it was awesome. The Neos clamp is so much heavier and better than the Ektelon clamp. Sometime I would like to pick up an extra Prince Neos clamp, but no rush at the moment - everything is working.
I got stringing tools from my other machine, but need to put together a small tool kit for maintenance and stringing on this one.
I knocked off most of the surface rust, greased the bearings, and screws and figured out how to calibrate the tension head.
Since I never used a glide-bar machine before it was a little different- pretty easy to figure out.
Even determining string length was a little different, but not so much. Pretty straight-forward and easy to use.
Today I continued the cleaning and began painting. It's fully functional, but esthetically lacking at the moment

I'll post some in progress pics in the next few days.
 
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Here is an in-progress update ! After some basic maintenance and stringing my first racquet on it I started working on making it a bit prettier.
First step was some black paint and cutting our some new mats for the trays.
I also modified my Ektelon clamp with a split lock washer sandwhiched between two flat washers and topped by a wing nut. The split washer adds some give and tension, while the wingnut makes adjustments a breeze.
I started to try to clean up the outside of this clamp too.

Next up I have some more (custom) painting, polishing and work on some custom throat pieces for my specific racquets. I'm also on the lookout for a manual, additional clamp, possible a short bar and cover.
All help and/or guidance, advice (or comments) has and will be appreciated.
I didn't realize how much fun /work this would be. Really loving this journey /machine!!

Q4.jpg
Q2.jpg
Q3.jpg
 
Thanks for the link @Cobra Tennis !! Little by little it is coming together.
I put together a custom throat piece today. Not really so necessary but thought I'd treat myself.
Tomorrow it is time to string some racquets before I start working on anything else !
 
Just seeing this . . . very nice find. When I have re-conditioned used Ektelon/Prince I have always removed all of the rust -- mostly with elbow grease, navel jelly and alcohol (or other mild solvents). Once the parts are super clean (I am excluding the glide bars (save the end pieces) and any of the other non black parts--so we are really talking about the aforementioned end pieces, the mounting tray, the tool tray, the base and the column) I applied several coats (fully drying in between coats) of black appliance paint on all parts other than the column which, if needs painting, I use silver appliance paint. Note I also, carefully clean the glide bar rails on the mounting tray and run a thin line of painters tape inside--I do not paint that area, as I don't want any friction from new paint in that area. From the looks of things, I looks like you've already painted.

It looks like your tension head is in great condition. The string clamps look a bit weathered but as long as as they work and you keep them clean, they should be fine for a while. To the extent you need new parts (string clamps, throat and tip clamps, pads, throat retainer pack, etc.)Tennis Machines is your best bet (but since Prince is no longer making these machines, the parts are getting fairly expensive . . . but at least you can still get them). I assume you have been able to calibrate the tension?

Anyway, looks great--feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions--I will answer what I can.
 
MAX PLY said:
Just seeing this . . . very nice find. When I have re-conditioned used Ektelon/Prince I have always removed all of the rust -- mostly with elbow grease, navel jelly and alcohol (or other mild solvents). Once the parts are super clean (I am excluding the glide bars (save the end pieces) and any of the other non black parts--so we are really talking about the aforementioned end pieces, the mounting tray, the tool tray, the base and the column) I applied several coats (fully drying in between coats) of black appliance paint on all parts other than the column which, if needs painting, I use silver appliance paint. Note I also, carefully clean the glide bar rails on the mounting tray and run a thin line of painters tape inside--I do not paint that area, as I don't want any friction from new paint in that area. From the looks of things, I looks like you've already painted.

It looks like your tension head is in great condition. The string clamps look a bit weathered but as long as as they work and you keep them clean, they should be fine for a while. To the extent you need new parts (string clamps, throat and tip clamps, pads, throat retainer pack, etc.)Tennis Machines is your best bet (but since Prince is no longer making these machines, the parts are getting fairly expensive . . . but at least you can still get them). I assume you have been able to calibrate the tension?

Anyway, looks great--feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions--I will answer what I can.
Click to expand...
Thanks @MAX PLY !! I am doing the same ... rubbing alcohol. elbow grease, blue tape and a couple coats of paint so far.
It is functioning well, but will be working on some clamp upgrades / misc. spares and aesthetics.
 
Thanks @Rabbit @MAX PLY and @Cobra Tennis . Here s my latest - a pic of the throat pieces I've made.
If any of you ever need to do this vinyl plank flooring is perfect for this. Easy to work with, works perfectly, just as sturdy and its inexpensive - especially if you have some scrap pieces.
It's nice so that you can make just the shape you need. I created two for a standard round hoop and the Yonex isometric since I see a lot of Exones and VCores..
I'm making a rounder / curved piece for some other throat shapes I frequently see.
These two were made to fit my personal racquets.
Keep the advice / suggestions coming!

PS in search of another Neos Clamp - so if any one has one out there let me know! My Ektelon clamp works very well, but the Neos clamp is elegant and effortless.

Throat-pieces-made.jpg
 
@Cobra Tennis I agree Tennis Machines is awesome and we need to support awesome businesses and people!
I am really love this machine, now that I have most everything in order it is a pleasure to string on. Still getting used to it but, what's not to like?
 
If our tanks were built as well, the US Defense budget would be lower.

Seriously, my H was purchased by me in 1985 and I have kept great care of it--did replace the clamps and the dogs and a re-paint or two--but honestly, it looks almost new (I also added casters years ago when I brought it to my home (part of what I agreed to in my marriage vows)). I have owned several others (including a few Neos machines) (a former retail business)--all of which now are in pretty good shape and owned by tennis buds of mine. Truly amazing. That all stated, it is also quite a pleasure to string on the modern electronic machines--particularly the Wilson Bairdo and the Babolat Evolution (love the clamps).

Best advice I can give----keep it clean and covered when not in used . . . the rest is gravy.
 
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