Predator Roadline cue making a rattling noise. Doesn’t have a weight bolt in it.

[cuetechasaurus]

Making a new thread for visibility.

Bought this cue a few years ago. It was mentioned that it was most likely a loose weight bolt but I looked inside and my cue doesn’t have one. The cue I bought is light, I think 18.5oz or something close to that. Not sure if I had it removed at some point or if my cue simply came without one.

If it’s not a loose weight bolt what would it most likely be? I tested the REVO shaft and butt separately by tapping on them and don’t hear the rattle on either part, it only rattles when it’s screwed together.

I thought it could possibly be caused by the Predator extension bumper/adaptor I put on it not fitting perfectly but I screwed back in the original bumper and still get the rattle. I also cleaned the unilock joint with a cue tip and rubbing alcohol because someone mentioned it could be that but no luck.

I was hoping I could figure out how to fix it without sending the cue to Predator because I’ll be without a playing cue while they fix it.

 

[sudocrushms]

Making a new thread for visibility.

Bought this cue a few years ago. It was mentioned that it was most likely a loose weight bolt but I looked inside and my cue doesn’t have one. The cue I bought is light, I think 18.5oz or something close to that. Not sure if I had it removed at some point or if my cue simply came without one.

If it’s not a loose weight bolt what would it most likely be? I tested the REVO shaft and butt separately by tapping on them and don’t hear the rattle on either part, it only rattles when it’s screwed together.

I thought it could possibly be caused by the Predator extension bumper/adaptor I put on it not fitting perfectly but I screwed back in the original bumper and still get the rattle. I also cleaned the unilock joint with a cue tip and rubbing alcohol because someone mentioned it could be that but no luck.

I was hoping I could figure out how to fix it without sending the cue to Predator because I’ll be without a playing cue while they fix it.

Do you have another Revo you can try on it, or swap with a friend? Narrow down where the rattle is coming from. Once you know, open a case with Predator.

 

[muskyed]

I would say then the shaft. Either a loose ferrule or a loose weight. My understanding is that Revo shafts are weighted. To track down, you need to try your butt with another shaft, and your shaft with another butt.

 

[Poolplaya9]

You said you tapped the shaft and butt and don't hear any rattle but if you don't do it a certain way you might not hear it that way. Hold the shaft near the joint collar end and then with the bottom of your fist hit the shaft near the middle several times fairly firmly trying to get maximum vibration in the shaft so that whatever is rattling will rattle audibly. Still gripping near the joint collar end, now hit your fist all along the full length of the shaft trying to create maximum vibration while you listen for the rattle. After that, now grip the shaft near the middle and do the same, hitting fairly firmly all along the length of the shaft on both sides of your hand. Now hold the shaft near the tip end and do the same, hitting all along the length of the shaft to cause maximum vibration while listening for the rattle. Follow the same steps for the butt. It is the norm for whatever is rattling to not rattle when you are holding the shaft or butt in certain places, or to not rattle when you are tapping in certain places, so you have to cover all the where you are holding it/where you are tapping it combinations.

If that doesn't find it, you can also tap each end of the shaft and butt lightly against the bed of the pool table, and do it while holding the butt and shaft at several places along their full length while you tap both ends as you did above. Do it at your own risk, and only do it fairly lightly if you do, because too hard could cause finish chipping, especially near the joint and joint collar.

Check the ferrule and joint collar closely for signs of the glue bond being broken. It can be very hard to see. I've seen a joint collar where the glue bond was broken for about half of its circumference but you couldn't see it unless you looked very closely and this can cause a buzzing or rattling sound.

The weight bolt is also a big culprit. You say you don't have one, but if you can't very clearly see the bottom of the hole and see that it is bare wood then do this to verify. Take a piece of small diameter metal rod or large diameter stiff metal wire (something along the lines of the wire from the old style wire coat hangers would do) and feed it to the bottom of the hole and tap it several times listening and feeling for the "clink" sound/feel of it hitting the metal head of a weight bolt, or the dull thud sound/feel of it hitting the wood at the bottom of the hole.

I had your exact issue once where there was a distinct rattle/buzz every time I hit a ball. Told a custom cue maker and he said the joint just needed to be refaced. I was highly skeptical that could be causing the type of rattling/buzzing I was hearing, but I let him do it and wouldn't you know, that was the problem. The resurface fixed it and it never came back. Still not sure how that worked but it did. As a last effort before sending it off to the manufacturer, it is probably worth the $20 gamble to have a local cue maker resurface the joint face/s unless that voids your warranty or something.

The foam core could have come loose inside. Don't know of any way to verify this yourself other than when everything else has been ruled out, that is all that is left.

I would also post your issue in the "ask the cue maker" section as well and see what ideas they have.