Alpha DC PLUS mounting system, metal snapped in half.

[Liam Grennon]

Hey All,
I had a big team match yesterday and had a bunch of rackets to string last night, but this morning I noticed that the mounting system had broken. I didn't leave a racket on it, or anything like that.

That's not my photo but it helps to describe what happened. If you look at the middle knob, right above it, on that piece of blue metal that is covered by the black rubber pad, broke right in half. In fact, the clean break lines up with the yellow peice and severs the connection of the two sides. I never heard a loud noise, never carried it from anyplace but under the base. I'm not really sure why it happened. Does anyone know of something like this happening? I mean it's a metal piece, so I don't know how it could have just broken in half. How hard will it be to replace this piece? I can post pictures here if it's helpful.

 

[Irvin]

Don’t understand what you’re trying to say but if the metal snapped under normal operation then it is defective. Call Alpha tennis and first discuss it with them. Do not under any circumstances try to repair it before Alpha has had a chance to respond. Even if it was out of warranty call them before you do anything.

 

[Liam Grennon]

Don’t understand what you’re trying to say but if the metal snapped under normal operation then it is defective. Call Alpha tennis and first discuss it with them. Do not under any circumstances try to repair it before Alpha has had a chance to respond. Even if it was out of warranty call them before you do anything.

Yeah, I understand. I could take pics as that might be an easier way to explain it. Basically, the mounting system broke in half at the center on one of the sides.

 

[Irvin]

I think I understand but still I’d call Alpha.

 

[StringGuruMRT]

So are we talking about the "screw" on portion of the post that supports the inside of the head at 12 or 6? Where the rod connects to the post?

 

[Irvin]

I’m guessing he is talking about the top of the standard between the billiard and the billiard adjustment knob. So the standard split in half.

 

[Liam Grennon]

I’m guessing he is talking about the top of the standard between the billiard and the billiard adjustment knob. So the standard split in half.

If I knew the names of any of those parts I would tell your right, but I don't. But this sounds right. I called Alpha and they asked me to send pictures, which I will do tonight. I can post them here as well. Not so much looking for suggestions on how to fix it I'm just not sure how it could happen!

 

[Irvin]

The billiard (as I called it) is the portion with the yellow pad. That billiard goes through the standard and has a black adjustment knob on the outside. The blue post that’s connected to the turntable is the standard. The side supports connect to the top of the standards also.

 

[StringGuruMRT]

I’m guessing he is talking about the top of the standard between the billiard and the billiard adjustment knob. So the standard split in half.

Wow, I've never seen that before. I have seen the screw break from the post or billiard, that was easy enough to replace/repair. A broken standard... Not so much. I'll be eager to see what Alpha's response is... Hold old is the machine?

 

[am1899]

It sounds to me like OP is saying the tower itself is cracked. Well anyway, whether it’s the whole tower, or just the standard...Alpha should be able to supply you with replacement parts. They have top notch customer service. Give them a call.

 

[Liam Grennon]

Hey All,
Thanks so much for all the help! I have sent pictures to Alpha and spoken to them over the phone and they seemed to know what had happened but wanted to see the crack before advising a course of actions. I figured I would post pictures here for anyone interested! Apologies if photos are too big!

 

[StringGuruMRT]

Wow. That's a first for me. My very first stringer was an Alpha Pioneer II dropweight, and it was like a piece of steel forged by the Gods! I'm sure Alpha will get you going in the right direction for the repair

 

[Irvin]

@Liam Grennon did you call Alpha or not? If you didn’t you’re wasting time. Don’t try to fix it.

EDIT: You standard has cracked in half. That what I assumed you were talking about I just could not imagining it happening. My guess is if you call Alpha they will wonder what you’re talking about too.

 

[Liam Grennon]

@Liam Grennon did you call Alpha or not? If you didn’t you’re wasting time. Don’t try to fix it.

I did and they are sending a replacement!

 

[Irvin]

I did and they are sending a replacement!

Good did they believe you knew what you were talking about at first?

 

[darklore009]

Thats one hell of a crack due to material failure. Now im scared if it were to happen to mines as I strung many rackets on it for so many years.

Alpha CS is always good. They even sent me parts to fix my DC plus even its past its warranty period.

 

[struggle]

Good did they believe you knew what you were talking about at first?

What? I'm guessing a picture was worth a thousand words. Even "at first".

 

[am1899]

Holy smokes. You weren’t kidding when you said broken!

Just for giggles, on the tower that’s cracked - are those Allen head screws all tight?

Anyway, glad to hear Alpha is helping you get it straightened out. Mark Gonzalez is awesome. I can’t remember the other guy’s name, but he’s great too. They’re always willing to help and they stand behind their product 100%, no questions asked. Can’t say the same for all of their competitors.

 

[am1899]

Good did they believe you knew what you were talking about at first?

I’d be very surprised if either of those guys at Alpha would question a customer’s intelligence, or express any skepticism toward a customer. Besides, that picture speaks for itself - don’t need to know anything about stringing machines to figure out that that thing is FUBAR.

 

[Irvin]

I’d be very surprised if either of those guys at Alpha would question a customer’s intelligence, or express any skepticism toward a customer. Besides, that picture speaks for itself - don’t need to know anything about stringing machines to figure out that that thing is FUBAR.

When @Liam Grennon first said his standard broke I just couldn't imagine that. That meatballs is 1/2" thick, but I didn't think he was lying. I admit I did want to see a picture, even though I also thought it should be replaced under warranty or even goodwill if something broke.

My question was asked because I wanted to know if this was a freak occurrence or is it something that happens a lot? If it was a freak occurance Alpha would have asked for a picture to help them understand the problem. If on the other hand it happens all the time they may not have. BTW the pictures were not available until after he called Alpha

 

[Liam Grennon]

When @Liam Grennon first said his standard broke I just couldn't imagine that. That meatballs is 1/2" thick, but I didn't think he was lying. I admit I did want to see a picture, even though I also thought it should be replaced under warranty or even goodwill if something broke.

My question was asked because I wanted to know if this was a freak occurrence or is it something that happens a lot? If it was a freak occurance Alpha would have asked for a picture to help them understand the problem. If on the other hand it happens all the time they may not have. BTW the pictures were not available until after he called Alpha

Yes I didn’t send a picture until after the call but he informed me he thought he knew what happened but needed to see a picture to confirm that it was what he thought it was!

 

[am1899]

When @Liam Grennon first said his standard broke I just couldn't imagine that. That meatballs is 1/2" thick, but I didn't think he was lying. I admit I did want to see a picture, even though I also thought it should be replaced under warranty or even goodwill if something broke.

My question was asked because I wanted to know if this was a freak occurrence or is it something that happens a lot? If it was a freak occurance Alpha would have asked for a picture to help them understand the problem. If on the other hand it happens all the time they may not have.

Relax. All I was getting at was your original here:

Good did they believe you knew what you were talking about at first?

Didn’t make a lot of sense, and one could easily could have easily interpreted it as a condescending swipe at OP. (But I know, you would never do such a thing).

BTW the pictures were not available until after he called Alpha

Again, take it easy. I wasn’t talking about you when I mentioned the photo. I was simply saying that Alpha wouldn’t need to decipher any description of the problem from OP - it’s all right there in the photo. If that was unclear in my previous statement, my apologies.

 

[10shoe]

When @Liam Grennon first said his standard broke I just couldn't imagine that. That meatballs is 1/2" thick, but I didn't think he was lying.

Is this spellcheck Cupertinoing your post?

 

[dhnels]

That broken piece looks like it's made of weak potmetal. I'm surprised more don't break.