Question about Valley tables--making them better

K

KMRUNOUT

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm curious. I saw the "make a valley play like a diamond thread". Someone mentioned tightening the bolts at the corners in the frame or something. I've also hear RKC mention these as well.

Could someone please explain in as much detail as they can exactly where these bolts are, and how they are accessed? Is it possible to get at them without removing the slate?

Also, the table at my home bar has a problem where both ends of the table roll slightly towards the middle. Like a bowl shape. The amusement company guy had trouble believing that was possible, since it is one piece slate. It was hard to get his head around the idea that slate can flex too, expecially if it is bolted down to a bowl shaped frame lol. So what is the fix for this? Shimming in the middle, or something else?

Any info or *pictures* would be MOST appreciated.

Thanks,

KMRUNOUT
 
No one knows anything about this? Not even some of the posters in the make a valley play like a diamond thread?

Hole someone will help,

KMRUNOUT
 
I take it you have never seen a Valley table with the slate removed? The "frame" of the table is nothing like most 9' tables. There essentially is no "frame". Just the sides bolted together at the metal corner pieces. If those bolts are loose, the whole table is loose. You really have to remove the slate to get at them properly. But, removing the slate in a Valley table is no big deal.

If the slate is bowed on a Valley table, there is no fixing it that I would know of outside of getting a new slate.
 
You can tighten the bolts by taking the pocket liners out. I believe it's a 5/8" or 9/16" wrench that fits. It's a bit of a pain to get at but it can be done. I've even replaced bolts this way. Johnnyt
 
Middle - our table does too. You can slow roll on either of the short rails and miss horribly - rolls to the center.

For the rails, we've taken the aluminum that slides under the rail caps off and there are screws that pull the rails tighter if I recall. Sometimes though it isn't possible. There is some type of backing between the rail and the rubber. On one for us, it was missing and no way it could be tightened enough.

How to improve it? gas can and a match maybe.
 
Neil said:
If the slate is bowed on a Valley table, there is no fixing it that I would know of outside of getting a new slate.
Click to expand...

There's a relatively even fix that works for most Valley tables.

Anyone that has recovered a Valley knows that the slate is only supported by the 2 aluminum rails across the middle and the small 1"x1" lip of wooden strips around the perimeter at the rails. To secure the felt to the slate, glue is sprayed on the underside of the slate. After many recoverings, there begins to be quite a build up of glue, right where the slate rests on those 1"x1" wooden strips. If the glue builds up high enough, the slate is sitting only on those wooden strips, not on the aluminum rails... for a while, until the slate slowly sags down under its own weight until it contacts the aluminum rails. Now you have a bowled slate.

To fix this, next time you recover, flip the slate over and scrape off the old glue with a torch. Flip it back over and recover as normal. It very well may solve the bowled slate problem.
 
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sounds like your slate is bowed which btw your amusement guy is either an idiot or playing dumb. Either way if it is warped or bowed youre screwed. The cost of new slate is far exceeding the cost of just going to buy some used valley table that a pub or bowling alley is selling for $500 or under and parting the two tables together to make a better table. Sounds fun.. good luck.
 
Why valley can't change that wretched CB on the latest models is odd
to say the least. Perhaps they carry around 5 lb cell phones also..
 
Thanks...some useful replies. I will try and access those bolts via removing the pocket liners. I will try and talk with the amusement people as well.

Thanks again,

KMRUNOUT
 
KMRUNOUT said:
Thanks...some useful replies. I will try and access those bolts via removing the pocket liners. I will try and talk with the amusement people as well.

Thanks again,

KMRUNOUT
Click to expand...

It might be time to get another vending company. Johnnyt
 
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