I string two piece, top down for crosses. My machine is a drop weight, pro's pro challenger 2. I really don't like the side supports on this machine and often find them blocking my grommets on the way down when doing the crosses. Do you guys think it is ok to remove the side support blocking the way temporarily and putting it the slot position next to where it previously is, so that for example it will block the grommet I passes through on the previous line. I'm worried about damaging the frame by removing the support and placing it in a slightly different location. This machine has two locations for each removable side support, of which there are 4. Please help me on this guys, really need some advice. Also after getting past the blocked grommet and tensioning it, should i then again move the side support back to its location where it blocked the grommet. I am tempted to do this because i like to keep the side supports as close to the corners of the racket as possible. Thanks for advice guys.
I think this has been covered before, but in case it hasn't: Firstly, don't panic - this happens to EVERYBODY. It's permissible to loosen the side supports in order to thread into a blocked hole as long as you DON'T pull tension before tightening it back up - thread your string, tighten the support and only then pull the cross. I am about to get a set of side supports that will hopefully do away with this necessity altogether - I'll post pics in this thread when they get here (if a mod hasn't closed it).
thanks for advice Mark. I just cracked a racket, when i loosened the cupport and didn't tighten it back up, this is a big lesson to learn. Just a bit tentative because sometimes you move a support and you see the racket shift/move a little. Also could you tell me where I could buy the supports you're about to get, i doubt however that they would fit on my pro's pro machine, but you never know.
This is a cardinal sin, that is moving the side supports to ease a cross string through a grommet in the middle of a stringing job. The most vulnearble side supports are the two bottom supports. If you don't crack the frame there is a likelihood that the wasit of your frame has suffered micro tears.
Pro's Pro Challenger-II (http://www.arfaian.com/default.asp?ArtNr=4050) is actually Eagnas Challenger-II machine. I have almost similar machine, but mine is upright and crank (Eagnas Combo-912, http://www.eagnas.com/lilylee/c912.html) so far it never happened to me that side-support block the grommet .... maybe you should adjust position of side-support. in addition, I also use the load-spreader at head and throat posts.
this is why i hate stringing sometimes, is no one able to come up with a solid in depth guide, in one place, a reliable source. I'll try keep the side supports in place then, i just don't like tensioning strings when they come out of the grommet and are not directly going into the string gripper, but deflected slightly by the presence of my side supports
Lostatse, here's a link to the support suppliers: http://www.fst.co.uk/ Look in "Stringing machine accessories" -> "Hand tools" -> Eagnas V-shaped side support kit. I emailed and asked if they'd fit a Pro's Pro Pilot and was told they'd defeintely fit an Eagnas Combo, of which the Pilot is a clone, so we're fine.
thanks so much Mark, these look great, they are really going to do my drop weight machine the world of good, they are the only features that i really would like on the machine, don't know how to say thanks enough. They should fit i think, fingers crossed.
lostatse, I suggest you first learn how to use your existing machine properly. Your machine has everything right now to string a racquet well. Any more money spent in "chasing the rainbow" is foolish and will get you no where. Your machine is a 6-point suspension system, but is strictly a 4-support system only. In other words only the side supports are real supports, not the two north/south poles. Replacing your present side supports with V-shaped supports is merely a cosmetic change because you will still have blocked grommet problems. You can solve the blocked grommet problems easily by: 1. Pre-weaving your strings 2. By moving and adjusting the two north/south poles when mounting the racquet into a position where the side supports do not block the critical grommets. A machine like yours, being a suspension mounting system, must have at all times all the side supports secured firmly. Never, ever, loosen any one. This is very important.
I have Eagnas Combo-912 which is also suspension, 6-point. But now I modified the head and throat support using hold-down, so it is now as like Victor C-7026 machine .... I bought the hold-down from AEF
I totally agree. I have a chalenger II machine and since I took almost 3 hours because of a blocked grommet (the worst are the ones behind the K's closer to the throat) , I always adjust the supports before starting the job. Even then it might not be easy when you get there. The safest way is to pre weave there. You should never release the supports. I never did that and I wont try thats for sure!!