Clicking in Victor Free Core Handle

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stupendous_man

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I have a pair of Victor TKFE, and noticed that the handle in one of them has started making a clicking noise, sometimes during play, and most noticeably if I apply a twisting force to the handle.

I've removed the grip and there's no obvious issue, the clocking is definitely towards the top of the handle. There's no visible movement, but obviously there's some play there.

Just wondered if anyone has experience of this and whether it's anything to be concerned about?
 
Common issue with these free core handles. If it's during hard swings then you get is unlikely the shop u have purchased from will help you with the claim unless the shop is the authorised dealer.

If it's from a parallel importer then your chances are near impossible unless ur purchase was just few days ago.

I understand Victor has some what addressed this issue. However I have friends whom bought the Iron man and Thor rackets and the Iron man racket has this clicking sound once u swing it. Sounds like a pea inside the racket, it was a PI racket.

The shop reluctantly say he will attempt to get a replacement for him but shipping is involved back to Taiwan. It will take a long long time but my friend wasn't discouraged and decided heck and just wait.

I didn't follow up with him as he is at another club.

But so far I've never heard of any serious incident though.

But nobody like to pay for a top end racket and have these clicking sounds coming from it. Victor needs to improve and hope this is not the end of Free Core handle.

Some say WD40 at the cone helps, but I don't like doing that to a top end racket.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
 
Thanks, I've had the racket around 18 months, so I'm well outside the warranty period for a claim in any case.

Tbh if it's just a sound I can live with it. I was about to get it restrung so I guess I was just worried that it would be a waste of the handle was about to snap off lol.
 
stupendous_man said:
Thanks, I've had the racket around 18 months, so I'm well outside the warranty period for a claim in any case.

Tbh if it's just a sound I can live with it. I was about to get it restrung so I guess I was just worried that it would be a waste of the handle was about to snap off lol.
Click to expand...
I'm very sure it won't snap. Wooden handle will snap easier due to our sweat. God Speed.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
 
just to chime in, my auraspeed 90k2 has also developed a clicking tik tak sound when i’m bending it (testing shaft stiffness kind of bend) but doesn’t feel like there is any other issues when playing.
 
But I really feel this tick tak sound is not acceptable for a high end racket. Victor better get their act together. Just like the early days of JetSpeed.
But Victor didn't bother till much later after all it was selling. Break faster means can sell more.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
 
Bieffe said:
Common issue with these free core handles. If it's during hard swings then you get is unlikely the shop u have purchased from will help you with the claim unless the shop is the authorised dealer.

If it's from a parallel importer then your chances are near impossible unless ur purchase was just few days ago.

I understand Victor has some what addressed this issue. However I have friends whom bought the Iron man and Thor rackets and the Iron man racket has this clicking sound once u swing it. Sounds like a pea inside the racket, it was a PI racket.

The shop reluctantly say he will attempt to get a replacement for him but shipping is involved back to Taiwan. It will take a long long time but my friend wasn't discouraged and decided heck and just wait.

I didn't follow up with him as he is at another club.

But so far I've never heard of any serious incident though.

But nobody like to pay for a top end racket and have these clicking sounds coming from it. Victor needs to improve and hope this is not the end of Free Core handle.

Some say WD40 at the cone helps, but I don't like doing that to a top end racket.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Actually WD40 does help. One of my previous TKFE had the same clicking sound (the HS sign version). A bit of WD40 and... the sound was gone.
 
my less than 6 months ryuga 2 has the clicking/creaking sound. but not on my tkfe. i notice the ryuga sound came from the butt cap section. the cap doesn't lock firmly to the handle and has a little play to it. but i never bothered to fix it, unless if the sound getting more audible.
 
mo_ritz said:
my less than 6 months ryuga 2 has the clicking/creaking sound. but not on my tkfe. i notice the ryuga sound came from the butt cap section. the cap doesn't lock firmly to the handle and has a little play to it. but i never bothered to fix it, unless if the sound getting more audible.
Click to expand...
Seldom I hear this, at my club players has been swapping the butt caps just for fun and looks. So far didn't hear this b4. Mainly will swap for the full clear butt cap. For LN they do it because they say the red/white logo is fuggly and want the black carbon version. But the shaft click at the cone is common. Many say is due to poor QC for the free core. That's why 90k is using wooden handle.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
 
Bieffe said:
Seldom I hear this, at my club players has been swapping the butt caps just for fun and looks. So far didn't hear this b4. Mainly will swap for the full clear butt cap. For LN they do it because they say the red/white logo is fuggly and want the black carbon version. But the shaft click at the cone is common. Many say is due to poor QC for the free core. That's why 90k is using wooden handle.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

last night we had our weekend badminton session and tried to observe again. yes, the sound do come from the butt cap. it seems doesn't fit tight. the clip/lock mechanism does locked to it position though. bad QC i guess. and now im intrigued with the butt cap swapping you've mentioned. gonna try this soon haha
 
mo_ritz said:
last night we had our weekend badminton session and tried to observe again. yes, the sound do come from the butt cap. it seems doesn't fit tight. the clip/lock mechanism does locked to it position though. bad QC i guess. and now im intrigued with the butt cap swapping you've mentioned. gonna try this soon haha
Click to expand...
Maybe during the next grip change tape a ring around the butt cap and handle? Then apply grip over it? That should hold it or apply double sided tape to the handle base before you put in the butt cap? Ultimate will be to glue it. Those butt caps on wooden handles are stapled on. But after changing ppl just wrap the grip over. Sometime fit as not as good we use double sided tape just to hold it there are we wrap the grips.

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Has anyone
mo_ritz said:
my less than 6 months ryuga 2 has the clicking/creaking sound. but not on my tkfe. i notice the ryuga sound came from the butt cap section. the cap doesn't lock firmly to the handle and has a little play to it. but i never bothered to fix it, unless if the sound getting more audible.
Click to expand...
Did this have an effect on the gameplay?
 
mo_ritz said:
not really. but you'll find the sound is quite annoying. anyway, i kinda manage to 'fixed' it by using the T8000 glue (the only fluid glue i have around). not sure how long that would hold it.
Click to expand...
May I know where did you glue it? Is it on the cone shape of handle that connects to its shaft?
 
Has anyone found a good fix for the clicking free core handle? I have a click in my BS12SE but can't seem to remove the cone without damaging it. Would be good to know if anyone has found a way to fix it without destroying the cone/handle.
 
R20190 said:
Has anyone found a good fix for the clicking free core handle? I have a click in my BS12SE but can't seem to remove the cone without damaging it. Would be good to know if anyone has found a way to fix it without destroying the cone/handle.
Click to expand...

i just accepted the click since there's no performance issue, it's just annoying.

don't recommend spraying the original WD40 down the cone since it doesn't interact well and may degrade plastics so you might make it worse.
you could try silicon grease which is a good lubricant for plastics, WD40 makes it too.

i'm guessing it's to do with plastics drying out overtime
 
R20190 said:
Has anyone found a good fix for the clicking free core handle? I have a click in my BS12SE but can't seem to remove the cone without damaging it. Would be good to know if anyone has found a way to fix it without destroying the cone/handle.
Click to expand...
Try wrapping some electrical tape around the little bits directly beneath the cone where it meets the handle.

I found a lot of mine were clicking and that was the part that was loose. Once it was wrapped with tape tightly that stopped it.

Hope that helps.
 
Rebascra said:
i just accepted the click since there's no performance issue, it's just annoying.

don't recommend spraying the original WD40 down the cone since it doesn't interact well and may degrade plastics so you might make it worse.
you could try silicon grease which is a good lubricant for plastics, WD40 makes it too.

i'm guessing it's to do with plastics drying out overtime
Click to expand...
This is actually what Victor recommends... Still, it feels a bit weird to spray silicone spray on the handle of a $150+ racket 😅

Apparently, though, the issue is caused by friction from the plastic.
 
- иεvvεи٭т -ツ said:
Try wrapping some electrical tape around the little bits directly beneath the cone where it meets the handle.

I found a lot of mine were clicking and that was the part that was loose. Once it was wrapped with tape tightly that stopped it.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
I do something similar to both free core and wood (moisture could weaken wood) handles on my rackets.
Being Canadian, I use one layer of water resistant clear hockey tape over the wood. Then i apply over that, 1 layer of regular black cloth hockey tape. For the Canadian's wondering, no i do not use "Howies" branded hockey tape, but i should ask for a sponsorship LOL =)

Sometimes I put a layer of pro/foam wrap before applying the overgrip on. The regular cloth hockey tape is textured enough that overgrip wouldn't slide/move around. This would not be the case if i had applied it over the water resistant clear tape (smooth). Being how particular i am, this setup didn't mess around with my BP and weight of the racket when strung and having original grip (I certainly weighed and measured).

Good Alternative:
1) duct tape - very strong and waterproof and seems most common here in Canada for players that put towel grip over it as it's mess free removal.
If handles break often for you when playing this would likely be the most economical solution as your base setup for all rackets.
 
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