Star 4 Tension Sensor

[vbranis]

Long story short, I have diagnosed my Star 4 with a damaged tension sensor. I tried e-mailing Nate at Babolat, but he doesn't seem willing to help. He only replied once with calibration instructions that I had already tried, and didn't reply to any of my subsequent e-mails. Anyone know how I can get a hold of a new tension sensor? Any help would be appreciated.

BTW, I am 99% sure it's the sensor. Regardless of how I calibrate it, the machine pulls erratically. Not necessarily higher or lower, but all over the place.

 

[uk_skippy]

Hi

unfortunately this could cost you. My Star 4 was pulling correct. I took it to the service agent he in the UK form them to have a look at. They said it was either the Sensor or the chip. 1 is more expensive than the other, and in my case it as the more expensive piece. It cost me around £145 ($275 at the time) to get fixed. Even if you can get hold of a new sensor I would not want to replace it myself.

Maybe Albert Lee who visits these boards, and is a great machine engineer, can help you further. Alternatively, nip across to grand slam stringers website and post you question there.

Regards

paul

 

[abllee2198]

Star 4: Load Cell Diagnosis

vbranis: If you do not get consistent readings from a spring calibrator, then perhaps your load cell is bad. NOTE: You must measure with a spring calibration gauge. Digital gauges will give erratic measurements like the load cell is bad.

You can only buy the load cell from Babolat or Tennis Machines. Cost is around $400 for a new load cell, then you still have to replace it. The labor requires some soldering and attention to detail.

If you can't get a hold of Nate Bickel at Babolat, try calling Tennis Machines in St. Louis, MO. Perhaps they stock the load cell and will sell it to you.

Good Luck,

Albert

 

[vbranis]

UPDATE: I checked it again, and the pulley doesn't want to move at all anymore. It doesn't beep, either. Basically, the machine is completely dead.
What started with erratic tension management has apparently evolved into something worse.

I'll try to call Tennis Machines and see if they have the sensor in stock. I don't think it's the load cell.

 

[abllee2198]

Star 4 stopped moving?

vbranis: OK, so the tension head has stopped moving. You need to adjust the machine off-set.

The Offset is like a balance adjustment for the load cell. When this adjustment drifts too far from the ideal "100" setting, you will need to adjust this. There is a port hole in the machine cover for the off-set adjustment screw.

Give me your email address and I will send you the instructions for Star 4 offset adjustment.

You will need a small jeweler's screwdriver to make the adjustment.

Only other thing wrong could be the main relay block which is on the motherboard.

Albert

 

[vbranis]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have the offset instructions and followed them on my Star 4. Unfortunately, I was not able to adjust the screw to within the ideal 95-105 range. No matter which way or how much the screw was adjusted, the offset values would not budge.

As for the relay block, I borrowed one from a working Star 4 at my club, and it did not make a difference. Still nothing.

Obviously, I'm completely stumped here. I've pretty much eliminated every possible cause, aside from the tension sensor. I noticed on the Tennis Machines website that you can send your machine to them for an estimate and repairs. I guess that's my only option at this point. Has anyone done this and if so, what was your experience?

 

[iplaybetter]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have the offset instructions and followed them on my Star 4. Unfortunately, I was not able to adjust the screw to within the ideal 95-105 range. No matter which way or how much the screw was adjusted, the offset values would not budge.

As for the relay block, I borrowed one from a working Star 4 at my club, and it did not make a difference. Still nothing.

Obviously, I'm completely stumped here. I've pretty much eliminated every possible cause, aside from the tension sensor. I noticed on the Tennis Machines website that you can send your machine to them for an estimate and repairs. I guess that's my only option at this point. Has anyone done this and if so, what was your experience?

I have done it with my prince 3000, they replaced the board. They did a good job, were quick about doing it and shipping and I remember it being rather reasonable. I would use them again even if i had another option

 

[abllee2198]

Starr 4 Jammed? One last thing to try!

vbranis:

Here is simple temporary repair, as you have tried nearly everything else.

Get an electronics grade soldering iron and reflow the solder joints on each limit switch. There are two limit switches and the action of resoldering burns off oxide build up on the internal contacts. The switches are obvious and are tripped by the motion of the tension head.

Problem with this machine is when one thing fails, the problem can be anything in the chain.

If this works, then you have to go back and do the calibration and offset adjustment.

Tennis Machine guys are great! They sold me my Star 4.

Albert

 

[vbranis]

All right, thanks for all your help, I'll try this ASAP and let you know what happens.

 

[iplaybetter]

All right, thanks for all your help, I'll try this ASAP and let you know what happens.

Best of luck, hopes it all gets sorted

 

[vbranis]

Well, I went to Home Depot and bought a soldering gun, but it didn't seem to be powerful enough to do much to the switch joints. It was only able to get marginally hot, and sure enough, the machine is still dead. I'll just call Tennis Machines and work with them in finding a solution. Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[abllee2198]

Dead Star 4

vbranis:

Sorry that everything you tried, failed. I think it best to send the machine to Babolat-USA or Tennis Machines. They have to spare boards and can do the traditional plug and swap until they discover the problem.

I hope, when you get it fixed, that you post what the problem was and how it was resolved.

Albert

 

[vbranis]

vbranis:

Sorry that everything you tried, failed. I think it best to send the machine to Babolat-USA or Tennis Machines. They have to spare boards and can do the traditional plug and swap until they discover the problem.

I hope, when you get it fixed, that you post what the problem was and how it was resolved.

Albert

Will do, I'll post the solution (hopefully there is one) when I see my machine working again.