has anyone made their own prince neos glide bar rods? i need a pair of glide bars..

[Young Pete]

tennis machines has been out of glide bars for a while now. they have been backordered for a long time.

i read somewhere that someone made the glide bar rods on their own but can't find that post.


i might reuse old ektelon model H half glide bar ends and try to locate the metal rods locally from a metal shop...

 

[struggle]

Buy them from Tennis Machines dot com

 

[gmatheis]

Buy them from Tennis Machines dot com

Read the post, he said they have been backordered for a long time

 

[Steve Huff]

Any good machine shop should be able to make them. I think the person you're referring to made swivel clamps, along with a base, to fit on the glide bar base. I can't think of his name either.

 

[Steve Huff]

His name is David Sperling. You could look up David Sperling posts to see if he's still doing this.

 

[Irvin]

His name is David Sperling. You could look up David Sperling posts to see if he's still doing this.

Known on the forum as @David 110

 

[Rabbit]

@Young Pete , if you haven't, it might be worth a phone call to TM. Someone else on the boards was looking for something and while their website showed BO it was in fact in stock. Some retailers don't religiously update their website. I certainly wouldn't rely solely on that if I were you.

------What is the issue with your glide bars? Is it that the clamps are slipping? The clamps on a NEOS 1000 will wear out way before the glide bars.

 

[struggle]

Read the post, he said they have been backordered for a long time

Haha, it was the first line even!! My bad, guess i just skipped over that (eye roll).

 

[Turbo_Bob]

You can learn more about David Sperling's upgrades by googling "DT stringers" and picking the first item that shows up. He sells a swivel clamp upgrade which is an alternate solution to fabricating the glide bars.

 

[Young Pete]

i already called tennis machines and talked to jc directly yesterday. he said they have been backordered with most all neos parts for months now including glide bars!!!!!

i need to look into DIYing it myself.

and i do not want swivel clamps from david sperling. i am not referring to david sperlings upgrades when i was talking about someone who fabricated their own steel glide bars. this tt poster said he went to a metal shop and got these rods in bulk quantity and the metal shop even cut it to size for him. i can't remember his tt name so whoever fabricated glide bar rods please answer...

 

[Young Pete]

@Young Pete , if you haven't, it might be worth a phone call to TM. Someone else on the boards was looking for something and while their website showed BO it was in fact in stock. Some retailers don't religiously update their website. I certainly wouldn't rely solely on that if I were you.

------What is the issue with your glide bars? Is it that the clamps are slipping? The clamps on a NEOS 1000 will wear out way before the glide bars.

i bought a prince neos without glide bars!! and yes tennis machines according to jc has been on a shortage of prince neos parts for months now. something to do with taiwan cannot fulfill their orders. i did not even check their glide bar listing on the tm website. i called jc directly..

 

[Young Pete]

You can learn more about David Sperling's upgrades by googling "DT stringers" and picking the first item that shows up. He sells a swivel clamp upgrade which is an alternate solution to fabricating the glide bars.

personally i do not like to modify my prince neos i believe its fine the way it is. so i am not interested in david sperlings upgrades.

what i specifically am looking for is that someone here made glide bar rods by themselves. but i cannot find that original post.

 

[Young Pete]

Any good machine shop should be able to make them. I think the person you're referring to made swivel clamps, along with a base, to fit on the glide bar base. I can't think of his name either.

i do not want swivel clamps. i do not want a redesigned neos. i just want to get glide bar rods and maybe attach them to my older model h half glide bar ends.

 

[10shoe]

I just measured the diameter of the glide bars on an Ektelon H. Should be the same as Neos since the Neos clamps fit. The diameter was pretty variable, between .55855" and 5599" after half a dozen random measurements. Assuming you can purchase stock at a place like McMaster Carr you would still need to machine it down, cut it to length, drill out the ends and tap them. Of course it can be done, probably an expensive DIY job though and just trying to decide what grade of steel to choose will be a job in itself. Good luck.

 

[Young Pete]

tennis machines has been out of glide bars for a while now. they have been backordered for a long time.

i read somewhere that someone made the glide bar rods on their own but can't find that post.


i might reuse old ektelon model H half glide bar ends and try to locate the metal rods locally from a metal shop...

if anyone has a pair of prince ektelon neos glide bars i would love to trade you your glide bars for a pair of neos clamps!!

please let me know..

 

[dak95_00]

Why not just use floating clamps?

I have both long and short model H bars and short neos bars I don’t use. I use my long neos bars.

 

[Steve Huff]

Dak--the short bars are great for an ATW pattern. Of course, I use a true box pattern, stringing the last, or 2nd to last cross, when I do the ATW. It gives you a hard weave and soft weave every other cross, so some people don't like it. My customers swear that the strings don't move as much, which they like.

 

[esgee48]

personally i do not like to modify my prince neos i believe its fine the way it is. so i am not interested in david sperlings upgrades.

what i specifically am looking for is that someone here made glide bar rods by themselves. but i cannot find that original post.

That post involved someone who had a Winn II Pro, which is a clone of the Neos 1000. Anyway, did not read thru the entire post, but the poster mentioned that the glide bar diameters were between 0.58"-0.60" diameter. That and what lengths you need are all the a machine shop would need to know. Better yet, just bring in your old bars and let them measure and make the replacements. 3¢

For what you need [tensile strength, corrosion resistance, etc.] any of the cheaper grades of Stainless Steel will do. Max tension is only 90 lbs which is nothing to a steel rod that thick.

 

[dak95_00]

Dak--the short bars are great for an ATW pattern. Of course, I use a true box pattern, stringing the last, or 2nd to last cross, when I do the ATW. It gives you a hard weave and soft weave every other cross, so some people don't like it. My customers swear that the strings don't move as much, which they like.

I've decided I don't really like stringing for other people. It's not that lucrative when I'm not interested in building a large base of customers. In the end, I think I'd be just as happy stringing on a Klipper or X2. I am the LEAST string sensitive player I know. For that matter, I can play just about any racquet from a thrift store with strings and be a better than average 4.0 player on any given day around here.

 

[Young Pete]

That post involved someone who had a Winn II Pro, which is a clone of the Neos 1000. Anyway, did not read thru the entire post, but the poster mentioned that the glide bar diameters were between 0.58"-0.60" diameter. That and what lengths you need are all the a machine shop would need to know. Better yet, just bring in your old bars and let them measure and make the replacements. 3¢

For what you need [tensile strength, corrosion resistance, etc.] any of the cheaper grades of Stainless Steel will do. Max tension is only 90 lbs which is nothing to a steel rod that thick.

thanks i will give the machine shop a try!

 

[Irvin]

thanks i will give the machine shop a try!

$$$$$$

 

[MAX PLY]

^^^I suspect Irvin may be right about the price--I'd be interested to know once you find out. A set of new glidebars will cost you $130 once they are in stock--so that is your bogey. My suggestion would be to consider buying a flying/floating clamp to tide you over until you are able to get the real glidebars from TM (my guess is that the short bars and the flying clamp will make stringing possible in the meantime--and when you are done you will have a flying clamp (they're only about 40 bucks for the Gamma which should be fine for now). That stated, maybe you can find a broken down Ektelon that you can cannibalize but that would be more random and fortuitous. The other alternative (which I understand you've dismissed) is David110's after-market clamping system. Good luck.

 

[10shoe]

For what you need [tensile strength, corrosion resistance, etc.] any of the cheaper grades of Stainless Steel will do.

Someone posted a picture of a badly rusted Ektelon H here recently and I could swear the glide bars were rusted. Pardon my ignorance but does stainless steel rust?

 

[Steve Huff]

When I had a machinist make posts for a couple of clamps, he charged me around $100. If you take him a glide bar, explain what it is used for and how it works, he may be able to come up with a solution that is fairly inexpensive. Seeing the ends of the glide bar will surely help.

 

[Young Pete]

^^^I suspect Irvin may be right about the price--I'd be interested to know once you find out. A set of new glidebars will cost you $130 once they are in stock--so that is your bogey. My suggestion would be to consider buying a flying/floating clamp to tide you over until you are able to get the real glidebars from TM (my guess is that the short bars and the flying clamp will make stringing possible in the meantime--and when you are done you will have a flying clamp (they're only about 40 bucks for the Gamma which should be fine for now). That stated, maybe you can find a broken down Ektelon that you can cannibalize but that would be more random and fortuitous. The other alternative (which I understand you've dismissed) is David110's after-market clamping system. Good luck.

no freaking way i would go back to flying clamps. not in a million years. my very first machine waz a alphia pioneer 2 which waz a drop weight flyng clamp system. did not like it at all. my next machine waz a alpha pioneer 3 with glide bars and double adjustable turntable. now that alpha pioneer 3 is a great machine!!! i've now sold my alpha dropweights and am now in the prince / ektelon machine territory. i just want to really love my prince neos the same way i loved stringing on an alpha pioneer 3 glide bar system. the only con with the alpha pioneer series was that clamping the head and throat of the racquet is not very secure and could lead to accidentally not locking the mount (ask me how i know) leading to racquets that split and crack! the prince neos / ektelon de w upgraded kit racquet mounting system is so superior and frankly the drop weight system of the alpha pioneer 3 was getting tiring to string at. but i had sooo much fun and very consistent string jobs with the old alpha pioneer 3. i just wish i can get the same kind of feeling with my ektelon de with h mounts, prince neos, and prince p100!!

 

[esgee48]

Someone posted a picture of a badly rusted Ektelon H here recently and I could swear the glide bars were rusted. Pardon my ignorance but does stainless steel rust?

Short answer is Yes, they all do. The iron in SS will always rust. Some takes more time than others and it also depends on the environment.

 

[MAX PLY]

no freaking way i would go back to flying clamps. not in a million years. my very first machine waz a alphia pioneer 2 which waz a drop weight flyng clamp system. did not like it at all. my next machine waz a alpha pioneer 3 with glide bars and double adjustable turntable. now that alpha pioneer 3 is a great machine!!! i've now sold my alpha dropweights and am now in the prince / ektelon machine territory. i just want to really love my prince neos the same way i loved stringing on an alpha pioneer 3 glide bar system. the only con with the alpha pioneer series was that clamping the head and throat of the racquet is not very secure and could lead to accidentally not locking the mount (ask me how i know) leading to racquets that split and crack! the prince neos / ektelon de w upgraded kit racquet mounting system is so superior and frankly the drop weight system of the alpha pioneer 3 was getting tiring to string at. but i had sooo much fun and very consistent string jobs with the old alpha pioneer 3. i just wish i can get the same kind of feeling with my ektelon de with h mounts, prince neos, and prince p100!!

I was only suggesting it as a temporary and perhaps, more economical, work around until TM gets them back in stock. I believe I was clear that I did not mean flying clamps as a permanent solution at all. In fact, I am a die-hard glide bar devotee--and to that end, I cannot believe that you are going to get a glide bar made by someone that is superior (or equivalent) to the originals at a reasonable price but best of luck in your search.

 

[Young Pete]

Can anyone tell me the length of the Glide bar rods on a prince Neos please I know they are different from the Model H the prince NEOS Glide bar rods are longer if you can give me the length of the stainless steel Glide bars that would be great the measurements

 

[Steve Huff]

If you make them longer, they won't fit the base of your H model. So be careful.

 

[RobS]

If you just need the metal rods, you can purchase 9/16" stainless steel rod and have a machine shop cut, drill and tap the ends. You can get the rod online for $20-$30 if you can't find it local. I made a pair of complete glide bars a while back. I used 316 stainless but you could also use 303 or 304. 316 gives you the best corrosion resistance followed by 304. I also used 316 for the bar ends but if I had to do it again, I'd probably use a grade of steel that's easier to machine. I'm not a machinist but have access to the proper tools. The entire project took me a few hours with the drilling and tapping of all of the pieces being the most challenging. The materials cost me a total of $60 and I went premium. A machine shop could probably fabricate you a couple bars in a couple hours or less.

 

[mmk]

Someone is selling Ektelon stringer parts on the 'bay, including rods.

 

[Young Pete]

Someone is selling Ektelon stringer parts on the 'bay, including rods.

Yea but they arw are for a model d and h, not a neos

 

[Young Pete]

If you just need the metal rods, you can purchase 9/16" stainless steel rod and have a machine shop cut, drill and tap the ends. You can get the rod online for $20-$30 if you can't find it local. I made a pair of complete glide bars a while back. I used 316 stainless but you could also use 303 or 304. 316 gives you the best corrosion resistance followed by 304. I also used 316 for the bar ends but if I had to do it again, I'd probably use a grade of steel that's easier to machine. I'm not a machinist but have access to the proper tools. The entire project took me a few hours with the drilling and tapping of all of the pieces being the most challenging. The materials cost me a total of $60 and I went premium. A machine shop could probably fabricate you a couple bars in a couple hours or less.

Any chance you can make and send me a pair of rods? I just need the two rods and i will use ektelon model h /prince p100 rod ends so thise i would not need. Please let me know

 

[MAX PLY]

Yea but they arw are for a model d and h, not a neos

They should work on a Neos with no problem. Honestly, the **** purchase is the best option I have seen for you given the lack of stock at TM. And the seller is in your state. Those parts will likely go quickly.

 

[Rabbit]

and, don't the rods need to be etched (for lack of a better word). Plain, smooth rods may not give the clamps the friction they need to prevent slipping.

Looking at the spare parts on the large auction site, the rails are identical to those found on the NEOS 1000. I'd jump all over that.

Is Prince Machines kaput now?

 

[jersey34tennis]

i might have some for you . will get back to you later

 

[MAX PLY]

and, don't the rods need to be etched (for lack of a better word). Plain, smooth rods may not give the clamps the friction they need to prevent slipping.

Looking at the spare parts on the large auction site, the rails are identical to those found on the NEOS 1000. I'd jump all over that.

Is Prince Machines kaput now?

Did you mean Tennis Machines? They are still rocking as recently as a couple of weeks ago (I was helping a friend restore a used H and had a question and needed an estimate on tuning the tension head). I think the issue has been getting a stock of certain parts from Prince (you can still get a new Prince (1000, 1500 or 7000) machine without much problem).

 

[Rabbit]

@MAX PLY, no I probably wasn't clear. I know Prince had their machines manufactured along side Alpha. With the demise of Prince, I was asking about their stringing machine business. It Tennis Machines can't get parts......well that ain't good.

 

[manirban]

David made some glide bars for me a while back in 2014 and they work perfectly fine.. i did have to scrounge around for new glide bar clamps. if you're willing to consider Eagnas they actually have the glide bars but good luck to you

 

[RobS]

Any chance you can make and send me a pair of rods? I just need the two rods and i will use ektelon model h /prince p100 rod ends so thise i would not need. Please let me know

Sorry but I don't have any stainless rod left over. You can order the rod cut to length and pay by the inch at a lot of places. Speedy Metals sells it cut to length for a little over $1 an inch. They might even be able to drill and tap the ends. McMaster-Carr sells every kind of stainless rod imaginable including high spec. tolerance but I don't think they will cut to length. Before you buy material, you may want to call a machine shop with what you need and ask them for a price to provide the material and perform the work.

 

[Young Pete]

They should work on a Neos with no problem. Honestly, the **** purchase is the best option I have seen for you given the lack of stock at TM. And the seller is in your state. Those parts will likely go quickly.

No no no that auctions site item does have glide bars, but the length of the rods is shorter compared to a neos. Please try to understand that the neos and the h and model d have different glide bar lengthss

 

[Young Pete]

i might have some for you . will get back to you later

Please let me know

Would b great if they are a complete set with no modifications or additions needed.

 

[MAX PLY]

No no no that auctions site item does have glide bars, but the length of the rods is shorter compared to a neos. Please try to understand that the neos and the h and model d have different glide bar lengthss

I’m sure you know best (btw the H will work on the Neos, the D's are indeed slightly too short (but I think that modification would be simpler than a manufacturing a whole new bar--again, I was simply offering a workable solution until TM gets the actual bars in stock again). Good luck in your quest.

 

[Rabbit]

I’m sure you know best. Good luck.

I'm with @MAX PLY

 

[dak95_00]

I think you guys are mistaken too. I have a Neos and I also have owned Model D with upgrades, etc. The bars are shorter on the H through A than the Neos.

 

[dak95_00]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MAX PLY]

^^^just double checked on some parts I have and the H bar is about 1 3/4 shorter than the Neos bar. So I stand corrected. That stated, I still think the OP’s best solution is finding a stopgap until he can get actual Neos bars. I wish him good luck.

 

[Young Pete]

I think you guys are mistaken too. I have a Neos and I also have owned Model D with upgrades, etc. The bars are shorter on the H through A than the Neos.

thank you very much!

 

[Rabbit]

^^^just double checked on some parts I have and the H bar is about 1 3/4 shorter than the Neos bar. So I stand corrected. That stated, I still think the OP’s best solution is finding a stopgap until he can get actual Neos bars. I wish him good luck.

I stand with @MAX PLY , sorry about that chief

 

[MAX PLY]

Bump. Any update?