How do I disassemble a Prince NEOS 1000 clamp?

[dak95_00]

I promise I searched the Internet first.

Has anyone done this? I have some that I picked up second hand that are filthy. I’m certain that a THOROUGH cleaning and lubing would have these things restored. I just need some assistance before I begin this endeavor. I don’t want to break anything either and usually find things are simple when given proper instructions.

Thank you!

P.S.
I don’t want to send them to Tennis Machines. I want to do it myself.

 

[Rabbit]

Why yes, I have! You have to loosen the adjustment wheel until you can get the lever to flip up. That takes a little working with as you have to pull the lever up then push down on the assembly (from memory) and then slip it out. Once the lever is flipped up, you can remove the clamp from the glide bar. If the clamp is off the glide bar with the lever flipped, the teeth will be opened up enough you can get your cleaning implement, Q-tip soaked in alcohol or cleaning stone, in between the teeth to clean. There's really no need to completely disassemble the clamp.

If, for some reason, you can't do this, you can take a shoestring soaked in alcohol and clamp it in the teeth several times. I always found the cleaning stones to work really well.

 

[dak95_00]

I decided to also send JC an email. I’ll report back if I get a response.

 

[dak95_00]

Why yes, I have! You have to loosen the adjustment wheel until you can get the lever to flip up. That takes a little working with as you have to pull the lever up then push down on the assembly (from memory) and then slip it out. Once the lever is flipped up, you can remove the clamp from the glide bar. If the clamp is off the glide bar with the lever flipped, the teeth will be opened up enough you can get your cleaning implement, Q-tip soaked in alcohol or cleaning stone, in between the teeth to clean. There's really no need to completely disassemble the clamp.

If, for some reason, you can't do this, you can take a shoestring soaked in alcohol and clamp it in the teeth several times. I always found the cleaning stones to work really well.

Thank you for your response but I’m not that inept. Trust me. These need a complete disassemble. A previous owner put lead tape and other materials on the opening where it would come in contact with the rails. There’s also just gunky filth on the clamp. Picture a an 90s racquet grip that was synthetic and now is a gooey mess but in metal form.

 

[MAX PLY]

Rather than taking it apart at first, maybe just soak the whole thing in denatured alcohol for a couple of hours and then clean it completely. If you loosen it as Rabbit says, you should be able to reach every surface without a complete disassembly. The bar gripper portion sounds like a holy mess--if there's lead tape there, you are going to have to remove it likely with razor knife--but that too should be easier after a drenching. I am amazed when I see Neos-type machines that people have "fixed" with their unique remedies--it's a machine that is rather simple in its design and requires only regular cleaning and minor adjustments from time to time. But if you need to take it apart--p. 35 of the Neos Manual shows you the disassembled clamp.

 

[dak95_00]

Rather than taking it apart at first, maybe just soak the whole thing in denatured alcohol for a couple of hours and then clean it completely. If you loosen it as Rabbit says, you should be able to reach every surface without a complete disassembly. The bar gripper portion sounds like a holy mess--if there's lead tape there, you are going to have to remove it likely with razor knife--but that too should be easier after a drenching. I am amazed when I see Neos-type machines that people have "fixed" with their unique remedies--it's a machine that is rather simple in its design and requires only regular cleaning and minor adjustments from time to time. But if you need to take it apart--p. 35 of the Neos Manual shows you the disassembled clamp.

Can you send me the manual? My email is dak95_00 at yahoo dot com

Thanks.

 

[Rabbit]

Thank you for your response but I’m not that inept.

I'm sorry, I certainly didn't mean to imply anything. I just remember that the 1000 clamps were somewhat of a pain to deal with.

 

[MAX PLY]

Can you send me the manual? My email is dak95_00 at yahoo dot com

Thanks.

Just sent. Please confirm you got it (a return e-mail is fine--no need to clutter this board up further).

 

[dak95_00]

Just sent. Please confirm you got it (a return e-mail is fine--no need to clutter this board up further).

Got it.
I went looking through my garage for cleaning supplies, etc trying to find some good alcohol, solvent, etc. I found some wallpaper remover concentrate that’s likely 19 years old since I’ve been in my house that long. I’m soaking them now.

@Rabbit You are probably correct. I think they’re going to be a major pita to take completely apart. I’m going to soak for a while and then go after them with some elbow grease and cleaning stones. I bet they come out great in the end.

 

[dak95_00]

JC emailed me back after I’d already had them soaking. I ended up using isopropyl 70% alcohol, a razor blade, and my wire brush for my golf clubs along with elbow grease and I got them all cleaned up. They’re both looking and working great. This gives me 5 Neos style clamps. 4 of them weigh approximately 1.5 lbs and the last one weighs less than 1 pound. They all work but I find it weird. What do you know about this?

 

[Thorswhisper]

For really difficult to clean clamps you can disaasemble them and have the aluminum components wet blasted with small sieve glass beads. It does not remove metal and it will clean it up better than new. A lot of motorcycle repair shops utilize this process to clean aluminum parts.

 

[mad dog1]

I promise I searched the Internet first.

Has anyone done this? I have some that I picked up second hand that are filthy. I’m certain that a THOROUGH cleaning and lubing would have these things restored. I just need some assistance before I begin this endeavor. I don’t want to break anything either and usually find things are simple when given proper instructions.

Thank you!

P.S.
I don’t want to send them to Tennis Machines. I want to do it myself.

Just buy a new machine. Like a baiardo or something equivalent.

 

[Rabbit]

For really difficult to clean clamps you can disaasemble them and have the aluminum components wet blasted with small sieve glass beads. It does not remove metal and it will clean it up better than new. A lot of motorcycle repair shops utilize this process to clean aluminum parts.

That sounds like a great deal for what the OP needed.

 

[Rabbit]

JC emailed me back after I’d already had them soaking. I ended up using isopropyl 70% alcohol, a razor blade, and my wire brush for my golf clubs along with elbow grease and I got them all cleaned up. They’re both looking and working great. This gives me 5 Neos style clamps. 4 of them weigh approximately 1.5 lbs and the last one weighs less than 1 pound. They all work but I find it weird. What do you know about this?

Congrats on the clean up. Regarding the clamps' weight, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it does bother you, keep the one that weighs 1 pound in reserve as a clamp of last resort. If it works as well as the others, you're good to go. Maybe someone who has experience with aluminum fabrication can weigh in on why one clamp would be one-half pound off -- possibly it's from a period when something was different in the aluminum "mix"? There are several parts in those clamps. If you really want to get to the nitty gritty, I would suggest weighing each component separately, the two halves, etc. Then compare the clamps component weights.

 

[dak95_00]

Congrats on the clean up. Regarding the clamps' weight, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it does bother you, keep the one that weighs 1 pound in reserve as a clamp of last resort. If it works as well as the others, you're good to go. Maybe someone who has experience with aluminum fabrication can weigh in on why one clamp would be one-half pound off -- possibly it's from a period when something was different in the aluminum "mix"? There are several parts in those clamps. If you really want to get to the nitty gritty, I would suggest weighing each component separately, the two halves, etc. Then compare the clamps component weights.

I sent a picture to JC and he said it was a Model H clamp. The Model H clamps and original Neos clamps look identical but weigh differently.

 

[Rabbit]

I sent a picture to JC and he said it was a Model H clamp. The Model H clamps and original Neos clamps look identical but weigh differently.

Kool Mo D!