Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

[Androooo]

Ok guys, got a good one here. My former Head Tech. has asked me to post this, as he doesn't have access to the net.

The problem is our ball return on 5-6. starting about 3 months ago, we had the belt come off the top pulley. No big deal right? WRONG!!!

After installing a new belt, a flat, black AMF belt, we are still having problems. At least 2-3 times a night, the belt will just come off, and the strange thing is, it only happens with reactive balls. We don't have a problem with oil soaked plastics or urethanes anymore (phew!).

As you could imagine, they are getting really sick of this, so much to the point that they completly ripped it apart and installed another lanes return in. They completly exchanged 5-6 with 23-24, but would you beleive it made no difference. The origainal from 5-6 works without a hitch in 23-24, but the replacement from 23-24 which is now in 5-6 is still having the same problem. He has since replaced the belt with an old green, solid V belt, but to no avail.

Any suggestions??.....He, I and the rest of the techs are lost. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]

[Lampie]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Wow, this brings back old bad memories... hearing a somekind of whistling sound, seeing bowlers getting affraid looking at an allmost smoking and bad smelling ball return...
It happened indeed(most of the times)with the reactive balls that pushed the new cheap belt(with only rubber on the inside instead of rubber with Canvas)to the sides. The only temporary solution I can give is to put a litlle baby powder on the inside of the belt(don't use oil !!!)to keep the belt on the pully's. Then look at wich side it's coming off and put te black fiber site-plates on that side a little bit more towards the belt(with washers).
But I'm glad I don't have the Sure Piks Anymore.
Wish him good luck!
Martin

[ November 27, 2001: Message edited by: Lampie ]

[8270king]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

The new black belt from AMF handles the oil well. However, it v portion on the bottom is not as large as its orange and green earlier models. Try an old orange belt and see if the problem goes away.

On 7/8 I have a black belt that lost 1/2 the v on the underside. Couldn't find anything misaligned and had to put a new one on it.

Good luck,
Jerry

[Coors]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

with the AMF black belts and the grabby resin balls, the sure-pik belt is deflecting beneath the ball and as it gets to the top, the deflection causes it to pop off.

throw a few balls and as it comes up, watch to which side the belt deflects beneath the ball. if the belt is deflecting to lane 6 side, lower the lane 5 side of the leather strap pressure plate. this will center the ball more toward lane 6 side the belt will deflect less, or none, and no more pop-offs.

[TheGMan143]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

I think Coors nailed it right on the head... there's probably uneven tension on the leather, causing the ball (and the belt) to deflect, after which it "walks off" the side of the ball and the pulley.

Sounds obvious, but make sure that the uptrack didn't come loose and get bounced crooked by a ball, and the track covers are on properly... a missing cover on the uptrack causes that problem, too.

[Dutch]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Have you tried to “cup” the leather? If you have any problems at all with a sure-pik, that should fix it.
For instructions on how to do it, e-mail me directly.

Dutch

[ November 28, 2001: Message edited by: dutch ]

[8270king]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Dutch...please post the cup directions.

Jerry

[Androooo]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Thanks guys for the help....It seemed to get better.......until the motor blew up!!!!!!

Oh well, it is AMF!!!

Will post on the results, after we get a motor!

[Dutch]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Good idea King, it's been over a year since I last posted it.

Instructions for cupping Sure-Pik leather...

Cupping the leather allows it to make full contact with the ball instead of just the narrow strip down the center. We cupped a couple of ours as a last resort to fix a problem but quickly realized that it was something that should have been part of the original design, so we did all of them & never had another problem with them.

This works best if you have a spare leather, since the process takes a few days to complete. If you're doing this to a new leather, skip the 1st step.

1 - With the leather removed from the Sure-Pik, scuff the surface with a wire brush. (A rotary brush on a grinder or drill works best.) Coat it with oil-out or fine grain kitty litter to remove as much oil as possible. Stir it often (every 2 hours or so) to keep the dry stuff in contact with the leather, then before you go home, change it & let it sit over night. The more oil you can get out of it, the better it will work.

2 – After you've removed as much oil as you can, soak the leather in a bucket of water for about 15 min. Once it's good & saturated, TIGHTLY cup the upper 2/3 & secure it with rubber bands about 6” – 8” apart. Allow it to dry for 2 days. (You can use it in 1 day if you have to but it won't hold its shape as well) Cut the rubber bands off & install it.

Don't worry if it looks like it's cupped too much, it will conform to the shape of the ball.

Dutch

PS - Original GE motor for Sure-Pik - Grainger # 6K576 - $81.05

[8270king]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Thanks Dutch....Does this does help with undergrounds?

Jerry

[Dutch]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Not so much undergrounds, as the notorious “ball spinning half way up the belt”.

The best way we found to eliminate undergrounds was to set the pressure plate at its highest setting that would still allow a 6 lb ball to firmly wedge itself under the plate. Test this with power off so that you can see how far it goes before the Sure-Pik has to take over.

Dutch

[jomno69]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Hi Guys....

I have the same problem on 2 pairs of lanes...they can go fine all week until 1 league comes on with 16lb reactive balls & almost guaranteed to get a belt off 1 or 2 times ...very interested to see idea of cupping , only problem is that I have the Swinger modification which drastically cut down underlanes being able to pick up 2 balls at a time...

The 2 problem sure piks have been rebuilt , used black , orange & even the old green belts , but still do it....C90's on the new year wish list !!


Jomno

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Sure-Piks are "kind" of like the back-end ball lifts except upside down. Make sure you have 1/4 to 3/8 gap between the ball and belt at the bottom and use the pressure plate to center the ball going up the lift. I do it different then Coors by adjusting the plate left to right instead of dropping one side or the other. Use the secret modified Bin part to clean the straps once a week and you wont have undergrounds caused by the lift. There are other reasons. Track, downsweeps, etc..

[GeorgeC]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Almost embarrased to post this but it worked
We were having the typical ball spinning problem after the pressure plate(aprox 6 " past),on a lark we cut a 1x4 board and pushed it between the plate and the strap,tie wrapped it to the strap and to the spring bar (to keep it centered)the board extends about 6" above the pressure plate.
Haven't had an underground on that pair since.

[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[GeorgeC]

Re: Sur-Pik Problem....Help ASAP

Almost embarrased to post this but it worked
We were having the typical ball spinning problem after the pressure plate(aprox 6 " past),on a lark we cut a 1x4 board and pushed it between the plate and the strap,tie wrapped it to the strap and to the spring bar (to keep it centered)the board extends about 6" above the pressure plate.
Haven't had an underground on that pair since.

[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]