New Support Band - No Horizontal Spin Now

[MatthewJ]

I just got a new support band for my Powerball Pro. When I first replaced the old band and washers the rotor barely moved at all. I couldn't even get it to spin a full rotation without using the cord, and I had been very consistent at using my thumb to start it. Since there was no round washer with my original assembly I decided to remove that, but it didn't really help so I tried the 2 old square washers with the new support band. I was able to get it started, but only with the cord, and I couldn't maintain any speed. Now it will only spin vertically so it's impossible to accelerate.

Unfortunately I was only able to remove the old support band by virtually destroying it -- the "teeth" that hold it to the counter weight (or magnet?) made it extremely difficult to remove -- so I'm stuck with the new support band. I used to be able to spin the rotor horizontally when it was at rest (the rotor was fairly loose) but now it only moves vertically except for a very brief horizontal rotation when I use the cord to start it. Can anyone offer suggestions to fix this problem?

[MatthewJ]

Testing it with the top speed setting I can only reach about 1,900 RPM using the cord to start, and that only lasts a few seconds.

I think the support band is causing too much friction to allow enough horizontal rotation for acceleration beyond 2,000 RPM.

[Adrena1in]

Are you sure it's a "genuine" support band? I recently picked up some cheap knock-off "powerballs", which were Neons. I took the rotors with their support bands out of the casing, (which I had to break!), and put them into the casing of my genuine Powerballs, and they would act exactly as you're describing. Only by using the string to start them could I make the support band slide along the inner track of the casing, and my top speeds were in the order of about 3000 rpm.

[MatthewJ]

I'm pretty sure it's genuine. It came from RPM.

Also, I noticed when I was putting the rotor back in the case (moreso when I used the new washers the first time) I had to snap it into place, whereas when I put it back together with the original support band it fell into place with zero resistance. It's almost as if the support band is a millimeter too big so it doesn't fit properly.

[Adrena1in]

Interesting. Not all Powerballs are the same size. For a laugh I took apart a blue and an amber, and swapped the lower halves so that I would have two blue/amber Powerballs. One pair went together fine, but the other wouldn't...one of the halves was too big to fit inside the other.

It could be that this support-band you have is just that siny bit too big. I've never had a problem swapping RPM support bands about though.

[MatthewJ]

Any other ideas? My PB is now useless. Breaking in the new support band is out of the question considering it's impossible to exceed 2,000 RPM or maintain any speed at all for more than 5 seconds.

[MatthewJ]

I tried one more experiment today. After removing one of the square washers (now there is only one) I am able to start the Powerball as usual. However, there is significant knocking and it's more difficult to maintain the direction. I don't want to leave out one of the washers because I've read that it will cause the hole in the support band to expand over time, which is why I requested a new support band in the first place.

Also, as a result of the numerous attempts to take apart my Powerball one of the screws has stripped the threads of the screw hole. Should I just give in and buy a new Powerball?

[Autolupus]

I would ask for another support band(possibly duff?/it happens) and or send the whole ball back to RPM for an evaluation.

[MatthewJ]

I think I fixed it!

Today I drove home (5 hour trip) and decided to do a little strength training in the car (with only 1 washer). After a few 20-minute sessions for a total of 400,000 revolutions I put the 2nd washer back in, and now I'm able to start the Powerball with my thumb as usual and generate some real speed. I guess this new support band just needed to be worked a little in order to make the edges more smooth.

As for the stripped screw hole, I should be able to get away without that screw. Really the case holds together very tightly with no screws at all. Once I master this thing I might get a Metal though.

[Killjoy]

My problem is im struggling to get my Neon pro over 10500rpm, I have even stripted totaly down, and washed it and left it to air dry, and even used the hair dryer on it etc, and its no different, the support band is quite loose around the rotor, but im not sure if thats why I cant get it up to speed.

I will use my other balls for a while before coming back to this one, and maybe (starting tomorrow) give my arms a three day rest.

How hard can it be to not pick this little ball up?...