"Bonk" Sound From Vally 7-footer Rails

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I was getting a "bonk" sound and the sound of a vibration on most of my rails on a 7-foot Valley when I had to hit the rail head-on, even with a new set of rails. At first I thought I didn't tighten them enough or some cloth or staples were not letting them seat right?that wasn't the case. What I found was 5 out of the 8 corner bolts were a few turns loose. These are the bolts you can get at from each pocket with a 9/16 wrench. I know the table mechanics know this happens, but I never saw it on this forum. I don't know how often it happens on Valley's, but by rails sound and play much better now. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I was getting a "bonk" sound and the sound of a vibration on most of my rails on a 7-foot Valley when I had to hit the rail head-on, even with a new set of rails. At first I thought I didn't tighten them enough or some cloth or staples were not letting them seat right?that wasn't the case. What I found was 5 out of the 8 corner bolts were a few turns loose. These are the bolts you can get at from each pocket with a 9/16 wrench. I know the table mechanics know this happens, but I never saw it on this forum. I don't know how often it happens on Valley's, but by rails sound and play much better now. Johnnyt
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That's because the corner pocket castings are bolted to the frame side panels with a bolt on each side of the casting. The casting helps hold the side panels from moving when balls hit the cushions. Most mechanics overlook making sure those 8 bolts are tight when they recover the slate. In time, if they're loose, they'll even fall out into the bottom of the table.

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
That's because the corner pocket castings are bolted to the frame side panels with a bolt on each side of the casting. The casting helps hold the side panels from moving when balls hit the cushions. Most mechanics overlook making sure those 8 bolts are tight when they recover the slate. In time, if they're loose, they'll even fall out into the bottom of the table.

Glen
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The only thing this mechanic didn't overlook was stopping at the my bank around the corner and cashing my check as soon as he left. It's my own fault. After having 2 heart attacks and 3 strokes 5 years ago, along with high B/P and a irregular heartbeat, I stopped smoking and drinking. All of a sudden I was just about back to normal. I couldn't wait to play again. Didn't want to chance the poolrooms and bars, fearing I might fall off the wagon when around friends. So I saw this guy was in business since the year of the flood and told him to come do the job. Johnnyt
 
Also, many times the wood has become compressed to the point that the washer and bolt are bottoming out, or seating, on the corner casting metal without putting any pressure on the wood. A quick solution is to replace the washer with a dome style internal/external lock washer like the ones used on 3/8" x 16 tpi rail bolts. You will have to replace the bolt as well, with one that is 1/4" longer. I have found that a 9/16" Gearwrench saves a bunch of time when working on these corner casting bolts. I have the dome washers in stock if you want to try them.

Kerry
 
kyther said:
Also, many times the wood has become compressed to the point that the washer and bolt are bottoming out, or seating, on the corner casting metal without putting any pressure on the wood. A quick solution is to replace the washer with a dome style internal/external lock washer like the ones used on 3/8" x 16 tpi rail bolts. You will have to replace the bolt as well, with one that is 1/4" longer. I have found that a 9/16" Gearwrench saves a bunch of time when working on these corner casting bolts. I have the dome washers in stock if you want to try them.

Kerry
Click to expand...

Thank you, that makes sense. Johnnyt
 
I advise anyone that has a Valley to check the tightness of these corner bolts when you change your pocket liners. What a BIG difference it made on my table. Now I can bank on it using english, hard, or any other kind of stroke. The table plays like new. Just like Glen said, there was a bolt missing also on the last corner I tightened. Johnnyt
 
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