Table counter balance springs

[LancerLanesMech]

Well, I put it off long enough, I'm going across the house changing out the worn out rollers. Looks like I waited too long, some are broke through eating away at the pin on the frame. I have the repair kit just in case I get any that break or if I find one that's on the verge. My question is last night I took one of them off and the hook on the spring itself was eaten half way through so I replaced it. The one I replaced it with was a Vantage one and it looked different than all my others. The 2 ends were different, one side was fixed and the other had the hook that flops around on the inside ( <---technical terms again). Also the end with the non-fixed hook was more pointed. Turns out this spring has way more tension to it, even when the table is up. Is this going to be bad?? Too much tension? Is it ok to run it with the other kind on the other side?

[Ar Rar]

Re: Table counter balance springs

I have no experience with the Vantage spring you describe, but what I would probably do in a case like this is put 2 Vantage springs on a machine and use the ones I removed as spares for the other style springs. If you only have the one Vantage spring for a spare, I don't think it will hurt anything to run it until you can get another.

Roger

[poplarpetey]

Re: Table counter balance springs

Unfortunately, the Vantage springs seem to fatigue and break after a short time. I put 6 on over a 2 year period and 4 of them have broken. Stick with AMF if you can.

Pete

[LancerLanesMech]

Re: Table counter balance springs

Thanks! The only thing I'm really concerned with is the extra tension with weakened pins. This one wasn't too bad, but some are. That was the only Vantage one and the only spring that was bad so far that's I've found. After that I'm going through Sure Piks then who knows. We have city tournament this year. We're a 20 laner, only me working on them, just got scoring and they've been neglected for many years before I got there. I've seen a lot worse though. But business is down, new owner this year and it's imperative that this tourney goes well. Sorry had to vent a little.