Mounting Frames on Tourna CS-350

Hey everyone. I've done 3 frames so far on my new Tourna CS-350 stringing machine and it feels like I have to mount the racquets extremely tight or else the racquet will move when I pull tension (more noticeable nearing the end of the crosses). I notice that even when the racquet feels "tightly" mounted the little pieces can still swivel ever so slightly before beginning the stringing process. I don't want to overtighten and damage my frames, but it feels like the mounting system on this machine is difficult for me to gauge. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
OP...if by "little pieces" you're referring to the four side mounts of the 6-pt mounting system, I've yet to encounter that issue with those specifically with my 350-CS. Now I did have a problem with both my towers ever so slightly coming loose after a string job and this happened on a few occasions. I saw no impact to the racquet or string job as the movement was very slight...but movement nonetheless. I removed both my towers and checked the bases of the towers very closely, etc, etc and found nothing that stood out...checked the turntable area as well and found no runout, no low/high spots from the casting, deviations, etc there. My remedy for this slight tower movement was blue Loctite on the threads when I set the towers back in place. I can't remember the exact measurement from the very ends of the turntable where I re-mounted my towers (they went right back in the same position as before the blue Loctite was applied to the threads). I think I mounted the towers, but don't quote me until I check again and get back with you after work today, either 1 1/2" or 2" from the end of the turntable to the backside of the towers closest to the turntable ends, for both towers. Where I mounted the towers will accommodate all racquet sizes from 85, 95, 97, 98, 100, 105 sq in without the need to move the towers again (never mounted anything larger than 105 sq in but I'm sure the Loctited tower positions will be fine for larger than 105 racquets as well).

My towers have not moved since cranking them down using blue Loctite on the tower mount threads. And this could very well be related to where you're seeing 'side mount' loosening of contact with the frame, albeit my side supports were fairly snug against the frame during all stringing. As the side support pivoting arms are directly mounted to the towers, when the towers move they have to follow, they don't have any choice. Again, I never noticed any side mount loosening per say, but it could've been there the entire time with mine as well and never paid no attention to it. Check your towers and measure exactly from a fixed reference point (very ends of the turntable) and see if you get any movement/loosening before and after stringing. If that's the case, I would tackle the tower issue first and foremost.

Just a little FYI...if you do need to Loctite the towers in a fixed position, use blue Loctite only, do not use red Loctite. If you choose to use red, to get the towers to loosen in the future, you'll have to use heat and I'm not talking a gal's blow dryer either to get the tower bolts to break free from the nutsert that's pressed inside the towers that they tighten into...you may not like your finished paint job with the machine afterwards, so go ahead and invest in a can of white Krylon gloss or semi-gloss one because you're gonna need it.

I'll chime back later with the exact measurement/position my towers are located from the ends of the turntable. If this doesn't help, we'll resort to Plan B next, which I don't know exactly what that is shy of you sending me your machine and I'll weld every moving piece in place and that'll cure its' little issue once and for all. Lol
 
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Not that you mention it, I tried to move the towers gently with my hand and noticed there is some give to them. This may be what I mistook for the mounting points moving. I tried to hand tighten as much as I can and it still moves slightly during the stringjob. I will have to try out the blue loctite you mentioned. Coming from stringing on a Bairdo at work, I feel like I have to mount the frame much tighter and it's psyching me out bit. Thank you for the thorough response. I appreciate it.
 
Not that you mention it, I tried to move the towers gently with my hand and noticed there is some give to them. This may be what I mistook for the mounting points moving. I tried to hand tighten as much as I can and it still moves slightly during the stringjob. I will have to try out the blue loctite you mentioned. Coming from stringing on a Bairdo at work, I feel like I have to mount the frame much tighter and it's psyching me out bit. Thank you for the thorough response. I appreciate it.
The backside of both my towers measure exactly 1-1/2 inches from the squared off ends of the turntable. Give the ol’ blue Loctite a try and see if that don’t cure the problem, and don’t need to Loctite the entire grip length of threads, just the first 3/8” or 1/2” of thread length would be plenty…anything more you’d just be wasting the Loctite.

Let us know how it works out.
 
This isn't that abnormal. Plus, there's a lesson in observing this too. As you mentioned, it's most noticeable as you near the end of the crosses. As you start pulling crosses, the racket is getting squeezed just a tiny bit inward with each pull. Usually, the frame will tighten up in the machine near the top, as you'll notice when you start to remove the racket. The lesson--this is why you don't string crosses from the bottom to the top. The racket is stronger near the throat. If the mains ended at the throat (many 16x19 frames have this pattern), you might be tempted (when doing a 1-piece) to just string the crosses starting at the throat. As you work your way up to the top, the weakest part of the racket's head, you risk snapping the racket, probably at the 2/10 area. I've done it. Thankfully on my own racket. I called the manufacturer and they (Pro Kennex) explained how an ATW pattern works, and why it should be used vs stringing from the bottom to top. This was back in the 80's, when manufacturer's had real customer service. I was stringing a Dominator Comp.
 
The backside of both my towers measure exactly 1-1/2 inches from the squared off ends of the turntable. Give the ol’ blue Loctite a try and see if that don’t cure the problem, and don’t need to Loctite the entire grip length of threads, just the first 3/8” or 1/2” of thread length would be plenty…anything more you’d just be wasting the Loctite.

Let us know how it works out.
Just found this thread because my CS-350 tower keeps moving too. Can you specify where you are putting the loctite? Not sure what you mean by "threads". Is that around the base of the tower on top of the turntable? Underneath where you tighten the screw? Thanks.
 
Just found this thread because my CS-350 tower keeps moving too. Can you specify where you are putting the loctite? Not sure what you mean by "threads". Is that around the base of the tower on top of the turntable? Underneath where you tighten the screw? Thanks.
Just seeing your post. Yes, where the screw with black handle comes through the bottom and tightens into the base of the tower. You only need to apply BLUE Loctite to about the first 3/8-1/2 inch of the end of the threads, no sense in using Loctite on the entire length of threads…that’s about all the engagement you’ll get into the nutsert that’s in the bottom of the tower. Use BLUE Loctite, DO NOT use RED Loctite. Set your towers where they’ll accommodate most common racquet head sizes and crank ‘em down…if you can, let the Loctite set up for 24 hrs.
 
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Personally I would not use either, I’d make sure sure all the surfaces were clean on the top and bottom, and use a locknut if necessary.

EDIT: A locknut will wear out but better than replacing the loctite every time you want to move a support in or out

EDIT: your best bet is to call Tourna. They should be able to correct the issue for you.
 
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Not really... But I don't believe I did what you were explaining. Are any of these what you meant?
Negative...none of the pics are what I'm referring to. Blue Loctite thread locker is what you want. Is there an O'reilly's, Advance Auto, or Auto Zone anywhere near you?...if so they'll have it, all you need is a little net wt .20 fl oz tube. And apply it to the end 3/8" or so of the threads opposite the black handle end.
Personally I would not use either, I’d make sure sure all the surfaces were clean on the top and bottom, and use a locknut if necessary.

EDIT: A locknut will wear out but better than replacing the loctite every time you want to move a support in or out

EDIT: your best bet is to call Tourna. They should be able to correct the issue for you.
If you set the towers 1-1/2" from the very end of the turntable to the backside of each tower, that position will handle all 95, 97, 98, 100 sq in racquets...and no need to move anything. Worst case scenario, the bottom of his towers may not be machined and trued 180 deg's flat...that's a horse of a whole nuther color if that's the case.
 
@USMC-615 whether you feel the feature of moving towers is necessary or not, I would still not Jerry rig the machine with Loctite on the threads.
 
Negative...none of the pics are what I'm referring to. Blue Loctite thread locker is what you want. Is there an O'reilly's, Advance Auto, or Auto Zone anywhere near you?...if so they'll have it, all you need is a little net wt .20 fl oz tube. And apply it to the end 3/8" or so of the threads opposite the black handle end.

If you set the towers 1-1/2" from the very end of the turntable to the backside of each tower, that position will handle all 95, 97, 98, 100 sq in racquets...and no need to move anything. Worst case scenario, the bottom of his towers may not be machined and trued 180 deg's flat...that's a horse of a whole nuther color if that's the case.
@USMC-615 whether you feel the feature of moving towers is necessary or not, I would still not Jerry rig the machine with Loctite on the threads.
Thanks to both of you for your help. I did clean the top and bottom surfaces, I did reach out to Unique Sports (Tourna), and even purchased the blue Loctite, but did not apply it.

I believe I (more or less) solved the problem though. I had been recently trying out stringing mains 3 on one side then 6 on the other, etc. I usually do 2, 2, then alternate 1 per side until the end. I went back to my original method and the one tower giving me the most trouble moved a millimeter as opposed to a centimeter.
 
Now now Irvin....follow me on this! I've 'jerry-rigged' God only knows how many things on this planet in the past decades, and not one time have I ever considered using removable-with-common handtools, blue Loctite on fastener threads an act of 'jerry-rigging' something. Nor do I know or run with anyone who would think such.

What we're trying to afford this young man here is a possible remedy to his tower movement...at less than a $10 expense. This simple, common sense fix cured my towers from moving. I'm simply kinda sorta thinking it's a gamble this fella might wanna throw at his machine...beats throwing the same coin at a little Burger King combo meal.
 
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I appreciate everyone's responses on this thread. I found the blue Loctite offered a decent solution. I laso needed to get used to mounting frames on this particular machine as I am used to a Baiardo at work and purchased the tourna machine for home use.
 
@RolledMyAnkle How are things looking a year since the Loctite solution worked? Did you reach out to Tourna for help or is the Loctite solution still working out for you? I'm considering buying this machine and wanted to understand how you're doing with it in 2025. Thanks!
 
Chiming back in with an update. My towers started moving again pretty soon after my last post here. I decided to just live with it. I only had to move them back into position every 10 or so stringjobs. But this week one of the towers would move like 5 mm every time. So, frustrated, I did a little more researching, and google AI led me to an old TT thread about tower creep on another machine.

The commenter mentioned changing the knobs out for hex screws in order to be able to tighten them more. Fortunately I had some lying around and took this advice. I used the washer that came with the knob and tightened the screw as much as I could by hand. And I believe this might be the solution! I've now done over 10 stringjobs and neither tower has moved a millimeter. It's awesome.

Just thought I'd share. Feels great to finally have the answer.
 
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