Problem with my new gamma drop weight...

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claudiacardoso

New User
Hi all,

I got the gamma drop weight machine a week ago and have strung a handful of rackets for practice, yesterday as I was pulling tension on the last cross string there was a loud clang and the tension was lost, the strings got all tangled with by loosening the grip I got them out. Just about managed to finish stringing it.

I tried starting a new racket today and as I try to pull tension there's the same loud noise and no tension being pulled, seems like the grip stops griping and the string slips behind the knob. I've fiddled with it and have tightened and loosened the grip but no luck.

Any ideas or similar problems? Google was no help!

Thanks in advance!
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
Are you making sure to have the string make one full rotation around the barrel before putting it through the gripper?
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
Make sure the part that bits down is on top but pointed maybe 20 degrees right. That way you should get an immediate clamp down on the string once the bar starts dropping.
 
C

claudiacardoso

New User
Thanks for the replies!

It's the gamma progression II. I have been putting the string through as it said on the manual that came with it and as per videos that I have watched which is the same as you guys suggested above. It worked perfectly well for the other rackets.. it's just stopped now after the loud noise doing the last one.
 
Herb

Herb

Semi-Pro
check to make sure the surface between the jaws is still rough. Sounds lie the string is slipping due to lack of grip. The rough strip may have come out or the surface came off. May need cleaned. First time it slipped it may have left a residue that is preventing it from gripping again.
 
jwocky

jwocky

Rookie
claudiacardoso,

You wrote "... pulling tension on the last cross string there was a loud clang and the tension was lost ..." and "starting a new racket today and as I try to pull tension there's the same loud noise and no tension being pulled".

If this is a brand new machine, may be you have an assembly issue. Or, a part is broken. Why not contact Gamma directly?
 
Herb

Herb

Semi-Pro
claudiacardoso said:
Still seems pretty rough, I'll give it a go cleaning.. Any recommendations on how best to clean it without causing any damage?
Click to expand...
When I had a Gamma drop weight, (even the ELS I have now) I take the screws out to disassemble the gripper head and use a tooth brush and 91% alcohol. If you do this watch out for the springs.
 
esgee48

esgee48

Legend
claudiacardoso said:
Any recommendations on how best to clean it without causing any damage?
Click to expand...
Use an old shoelace soaked in 91% alcohol and run it between the jaws. Or use a soaked paper towel and clamp/hold. Dry. What you are trying to do is remove any string buildup.

That clanging sound COULD be a piece of metal shearing off inside or external to the gripper assembly. You may want to disassemble the gripper but be careful about parts inside like springs. When you wrap a string around the gripper assembly then thru the gripper, do the 2 pieces come together as you lower the dropweight? Can you move the 2 pieces together with your fingers?
 
brownbearfalling

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
Sounds like you either have too much slack or not enough string in the gripper. With two much slack (between the racquet and tension head) the tension weight will "bottom out". And yes you will not have any tension. To good guideline is that you want the weight arm (the part that you are swinging up and down) to point out 180* (parallel) degrees from the racquet. If you are still having the problem, take a picture when you hear the loud noise or take a video of your technique.
 
esgee48

esgee48

Legend
Easy to check if bottoming out. Start with the weight down when you put the string in the gripper. Then ratchet the assembly up. If you can tension the string, then you were bottoming out. But I would assume you can see the weight assembly touch the table if this were the case.
 
adista4

adista4

Semi-Pro
claudiacardoso said:
Hi all,

I got the gamma drop weight machine a week ago and have strung a handful of rackets for practice, yesterday as I was pulling tension on the last cross string there was a loud clang and the tension was lost, the strings got all tangled with by loosening the grip I got them out. Just about managed to finish stringing it.

I tried starting a new racket today and as I try to pull tension there's the same loud noise and no tension being pulled, seems like the grip stops griping and the string slips behind the knob. I've fiddled with it and have tightened and loosened the grip but no luck.

Any ideas or similar problems? Google was no help!

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I have the same problem, on a brand new Gamma X6 FC Pro. Have you been able to find out what the problem was? I am planning sending it back, if there are no real solutions to this. Thanks in advance!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
adista4 said:
I have the same problem, on a brand new Gamma X6 FC Pro. Have you been able to find out what the problem was? I am planning sending it back, if there are no real solutions to this. Thanks in advance!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Is the string slipping in the gripper, or is the ratchet mechanism faulty?
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
Well, it needs to be said, that circular gripper is inferior to a linear.

Never had a linear lose pull on anything that wasn't fully through it!

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
loosegroove said:
The Gamma gripper is actually very dependable, and not prone to slipping.
Click to expand...
I couldn't trust it on gut or syn, or if it was a short piece.

Made the switch about 2 yrs ago and never looked back!

This was on the cheapest x-2 device, and the 2 point holder may have something to with that as well.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
2nd Serve Ace said:
I couldn't trust it on gut or syn, or if it was a short piece.

Made the switch about 2 yrs ago and never looked back!

This was on the cheapest x-2 device, and the 2 point holder may have something to with that as well.
Click to expand...
Well I can't argue with your experiences. But I didn't have many issues on my X-2, as long as I was able to fully go around the barrel before putting the string in the gripper. Probably helps I've been going lower in tension the past years. And although just anecdotal, I seem to have encountered more peeps who have had issues on their Klippetmate for one reason or another.
 
G

gazz1

Semi-Pro
I own an X2 6pt and the strings slip through the gripper occasionally...typically after I have strung up coated strings and/or used high tensions. The arm just drops suddenly and can make a clunking noise.

Each time I run the edge of a wet T-Towel through, pushing the clamps together gently as I moved the towel through so that both sides are being cleaned. It removes enough residue to solve the problem. I imagine that alcohol would do an even better job as recommended above.

I do the same thing for the floating clamps as they will usually have residue built up as well and the strings will tend to slip through slowly which is often hard to notice...it's worth just watching after you clamp the first couple of mains to check.

Best of luck.
 
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gmatheis

Hall of Fame
loosegroove said:
Well I can't argue with your experiences. But I didn't have many issues on my X-2, as long as I was able to fully go around the barrel before putting the string in the gripper. Probably helps I've been going lower in tension the past years. And although just anecdotal, I seem to have encountered more peeps who have had issues on their Klippetmate for one reason or another.
Click to expand...
Same here , never had a problem with Gamma tensioner on the dropweight. I will say that if I didn't put the string in the gripper correctly a couple times it did slip but it was operator error.
 
G

gazz1

Semi-Pro
gmatheis said:
Same here , never had a problem with Gamma tensioner on the dropweight. I will say that if I didn't put the string in the gripper correctly a couple times it did slip but it was operator error.
Click to expand...
Well I should probably apologise because I have a gamma progression II not X2.

I’m very happy with it and rarely have a problem with the gripper. I imagine it’s just normal maintenance having to clean the gripper after several string jobs?
 
S

stapletonj

Professional
" But I didn't have many issues on my X-2, as long as I was able to fully go around the barrel before putting the string in the gripper. "

just starting with one, same here
 
G

gazz1

Semi-Pro
I strung a racket on the weekend and had this happen again (hasn't happen for probably 6 months)...I'm pretty sure that I've figured out the problem.

It happens when I string with coated strings...head velocity black in this case.

I use the Black Velocity and I think some of the black coating rubs off in the tensioner clamp...it's a gummy type of coating if that makes sense?

I have the same problem with the clamps. I also have to tighten them more than usual because this string stretches far more under tension than most so it becomes thinner.

I think that I have had the problem with a coated natural gut also, but not as bad.

Either way, when I clean the clamps, the problem is solved so it's not the gamma stringing machine.
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Hall of Fame
I had bolts break inside the gripper assembly in my cirvular gripper for the klippermate dropweight machine,, this after 1yr of use,,
dif machine I know, but the wear and tear of metal friction will expose weak points on all machines!
ultimately, the manufacturer should be able to guide you best,, and/or suggest a part for replacement..
good luck
and as othervhave said
KEEP YOUR MACHINE PARTS CLEAN..
 
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