Meucci 21-5 needs some work

[Monk Slayer]

Hello, I've recently purchased a Meucci Century 21-5 while I was in Afghanistan. I'd hoped to have it mailed there but never made it. Several months later and a few days ago, I've finally been able to put it thru it's paces. I've noticed the butt has a rattle, I'm assuming it's a loose screw in weight bolt and the joint doesn't line up perfectly. All this AFTER I changed the tip. (Doh!) Having done a little research in this forum, I've seen several opinions about the brand and they've not been good. (Oh well... :wink: ) Having had a Meucci Sneaky Pete in my younger days, running racks with it, I figured I couldn't lose. So, I need to make the best of it and see if I can fix these flaws. Flaws not withstanding, it seems to hit fairly well, so I have my hopes up. I currently live in the Anchorage, Alaska area, and could use a good recomendation for finding a reputable Cue Maker/Repairer. Any thoughts or suggestions would be very useful as well. Like waiting till you get home to test drive the cue prior to purchasing a cue would make a great tip! :grin: Hey! I was desperate to beat the other players!! LOLZ Well, thanks in advance!

 

[ratcues]

Check the weight bolts. There are usually a series if 1 inch grub screws in the butt of the cue and one may be loose. Use a 3/8" allen wrench to remove all of them and then put them all back in, making sure they are tight.

 

[JCIN]

Who did you buy it from? They may take care of it for you but you would have the hassle of shipping it.

Only cuemakers I know in Alaska are Thomas Wayne and Mike Bender. If you take your cue to them please take a picture of their face when you pull out the moochie.

In all seriousness Meucci's back in the day were better made than the ones of today. Modern ones have a bad rep as you now know. Good luck with the mystery rattle. If is a weight bolt it will be an easy fix, if not you are probably gonna have to send it to Meucci or the retailer.

 

[Monk Slayer]

Thanks for the help, I went ahead and tighten the weight bolt. You're right tho, I took it out first, and it was about an inch long by 3/4 of inch wide aproximately. The guy who drilled it and threaded the plastic insert(looked like a phenolic insert) didn't blow out the crud left behind. I did the best I could, and reinserted the bolt, screwed it down till it seemed tight. Interestingly enough, the bolt traveled farther down the hole than where it originally was at. Either it was meant to be at that distance, or screwed all the way down, I can't tell. Probably meant to be adjustable. I think I'll play with the distance a bit and see if it improves the sweet spot. I think after I decide where I want it, I may use a semi permanent glue, such as lock-tite (I work on weapons, so I have plenty of it) so as to ensure it doesn't move or rattle. Hmm... Just had a thought, I might be able to use pipe tape, no mess and easy to remove. Anyhow, that leaves the joint issue. I'll be sure to bring my camera along, assuming one of them will be willing to fix it. :smile: By chance do you have their contact information? If not, I'm sure I can get it from the local cue dealer. I'm not so sure I'll be able to return the cue to the online retailer that I purchased the cue, especially after playing with it and changing the tip out. I know any self respecting dealer that I've dealt with in the past wouldn't. At least it plays alot better now, and I don't have the rattle disturbing my focus everytime I swing the cue. Well, thanks for your time, and here's hopin I can get back up to running racks again! :grinning-moose: <--- lotsa those here!

 

[rhncue]

Thanks for the help, I went ahead and tighten the weight bolt. You're right tho, I took it out first, and it was about an inch long by 3/4 of inch wide aproximately. The guy who drilled it and threaded the plastic insert(looked like a phenolic insert) didn't blow out the crud left behind. I did the best I could, and reinserted the bolt, screwed it down till it seemed tight. Interestingly enough, the bolt traveled farther down the hole than where it originally was at. Either it was meant to be at that distance, or screwed all the way down, I can't tell. Probably meant to be adjustable. I think I'll play with the distance a bit and see if it improves the sweet spot. I think after I decide where I want it, I may use a semi permanent glue, such as lock-tite (I work on weapons, so I have plenty of it) so as to ensure it doesn't move or rattle. Hmm... Just had a thought, I might be able to use pipe tape, no mess and easy to remove. Anyhow, that leaves the joint issue. I'll be sure to bring my camera along, assuming one of them will be willing to fix it. :smile: By chance do you have their contact information? If not, I'm sure I can get it from the local cue dealer. I'm not so sure I'll be able to return the cue to the online retailer that I purchased the cue, especially after playing with it and changing the tip out. I know any self respecting dealer that I've dealt with in the past wouldn't. At least it plays alot better now, and I don't have the rattle disturbing my focus everytime I swing the cue. Well, thanks for your time, and here's hopin I can get back up to running racks again! :grinning-moose: <--- lotsa those here!

The weight bolt may be at other places than at the bottom of the threaded bore, for balance, however, when this is done there should always be 2 bolts locked together instead of 1. That way they can not move and strip out the threads from inertia.

 

[JCIN]

Thanks for the help, I went ahead and tighten the weight bolt. You're right tho, I took it out first, and it was about an inch long by 3/4 of inch wide aproximately. The guy who drilled it and threaded the plastic insert(looked like a phenolic insert) didn't blow out the crud left behind. I did the best I could, and reinserted the bolt, screwed it down till it seemed tight. Interestingly enough, the bolt traveled farther down the hole than where it originally was at. Either it was meant to be at that distance, or screwed all the way down, I can't tell. Probably meant to be adjustable. I think I'll play with the distance a bit and see if it improves the sweet spot. I think after I decide where I want it, I may use a semi permanent glue, such as lock-tite (I work on weapons, so I have plenty of it) so as to ensure it doesn't move or rattle. Hmm... Just had a thought, I might be able to use pipe tape, no mess and easy to remove. Anyhow, that leaves the joint issue. I'll be sure to bring my camera along, assuming one of them will be willing to fix it. :smile: By chance do you have their contact information? If not, I'm sure I can get it from the local cue dealer. I'm not so sure I'll be able to return the cue to the online retailer that I purchased the cue, especially after playing with it and changing the tip out. I know any self respecting dealer that I've dealt with in the past wouldn't. At least it plays alot better now, and I don't have the rattle disturbing my focus everytime I swing the cue. Well, thanks for your time, and here's hopin I can get back up to running racks again! :grinning-moose: <--- lotsa those here!

I was just kidding with you a little about the cuemakers. Thomas Wayne is impossible to get in touch with (or so goes the legend) and Bender lives just south of Nowhere. Neither are guys you would probably ask to fix a broken Meucci unless you had some previous relationship.

Depending on who you bought it from they should offer some help on an issue such as a bad joint. That has nothing to do with you changing a tip or hitting balls with it. It makes more sense for them to just swap you a new cue than have a pissed off customer as they are making plenty of money on Meucci's . If they don't offer any help I would not buy from them again.

Judging by your posts I am guessing you are current or former military. Next time you are looking for a cue PM me. I can get most any production cue cheaper than you are likely to find it online and from someone who will stand behind it, if you want to go custom just start a thread saying "What should I buy..." and hang on for dear life.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Palmetto cue]

Moochie Issue

Unless Meucci has a new weight system, it should bottom out. It shouldn't just seem tight, It should be tight! Depending on the Meucci model, and weight requirements. I have seen some weight bolts that were installed so deep that I couldn't see the head. Just had get my longest/largest flathead screwdriver, and hope it was a simple slotted bolt. Can you send pics of the joint you are having issues with? Good luck:smile: