Excel Repair
You can send your machine to ARBRO Inc or get parts from them and fix it yourself. May 06: Added a couple of images (1 and 2) that may help when reassembling an Excel..
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- Worn Tube Release
- Posted by platoslostdialogue on Tuesday, 05-Dec-2006
I took apart my Excel the other day to see what was wrong with it since I was getting voids at the end of my stoges, and I realized that the tube release mechanism has been worn down so far that it is missed by the arm at the end of the stroke. Has this happened to anyone and does someone know how to fix it? Thanks.
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- Re: Worn Tube Release
- Posted by scott johnson on Tuesday, 05-Dec-2006
you can buy the part cheap. i bought an extra one myself.
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- Gripper Mod
- Posted by Dave L on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006
Since his problem is the gripper (no release != voids) would you recommend your mod?
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- Re: Gripper Mod
- Posted by platoslostdialogue on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006
Hmm... That sounds like it might work. Could you possibly post a picture, Scott?
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- Re: Gripper Mod
- Posted by scott johnson on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006
here ya go.
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[link]
- Re: Gripper Mod
- Posted by scott johnson on Thursday, 07-Dec-2006
Platoslostdialogue: if you try my mod, do not remove any material from the gripper surface. only roughen slightly to accept the glue and apply the rubber. you will need the extra thickness to set back the post on the gripper so the crank arm will touch it.
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- Re: Gripper Mod
- Posted by platoslostdialogue on Friday, 08-Dec-2006
Thanks for the tip and the photos, Scott, I'll let you know how it works out.
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- Broken Spring
- Posted by Slack on Monday, 18-Oct-2004
I'm curious to know if this has happened to anyone else. My excel machine broke today. The spring snapped, but the thing is without the spring it works as well as it ever did and it actually seems a bit smoother aside from it not (obviously) springing back into position at the end of the stroke. It's only been a day so I don't know if there's liable to be long term consequences but I'm considering not even replacing the spring. Anyone have any experience with this happening to them?
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- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Kurt Wall on Thursday, 21-Oct-2004
Not here. When my Supermatic went south, I sent it and a $5.00 (USD) check to CTC in Plattsburgh and got back a repaired Supermatic in a week. I can't say enough good things about CTC's machines.
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- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Slack on Friday, 22-Oct-2004
Thanks for the reply, I might have given the wrong impression though if it seemed I was critical of the machine itself. I've been really happy and very impressed with the Excel. The spring breaking I chalk up to "stuff happens". It's a well made and solid piece of work I'm just surprised how well it works without the spring and it does seem a bit smoother. While I'm not partial to CTC's tubes their machines (based on my experience with the Excel) are great.
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- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Kurt Wall on Wednesday, 27-Oct-2004
I didn't think you were criticizing the machine. My own point, which I failed to make, was that you can likely get the Excel repaired and "tuned up" for $5.00 and the postage to CTC.
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Kurt
- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Slack on Thursday, 28-Oct-2004
I was in the area today anyway and ran into ACE hardware and picked up a spring. I got to thinking that since it's designed to work with the spring using it without could damage it for all I knew. (As you may have picked up, I'm no engineer) anyway it's got a spring on it again and continues to work fine. I gather CTC has some great customer service from what you've said and others as well, hopefully I won't need it but it's nice to know they stand behind their products.
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- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Jennifer on Wednesday, 01-Dec-2004
The supermatic 2 I use I got on ebay. I only recently noticed it was missing the big spring. I have been using it for months without the spring. I am going to hit up ACE hardware to pick up a new spring. I don't know if the lack of a spring would damage an excel. But I have been using a supermatic 2 without the spring just fine.
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- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Dan on Monday, 10-Jul-2006
The spring in my Excell broke. I replaced it but had the same kind of problems you all have been describing. I futzed with it for a while but I couldn't get working smoothly. I've had the thing for less then a year so I sent it off for repair. I should have done this before the spring broke they replaced the spoon and cutter plus some other part. The thing works great, I might even say better then new. I am very pleased.
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Dan
- Re: Broken Spring
- Posted by Dave on Thursday, 17-Aug-2006
One of the main reasons for the return spring on this and the other machines.. is to automatically retract the spoon back into the machine.
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Spoon sticking out of machine, you lean over the table / bench, and spoon your eye out.. then it could be considered that the machine is lacking a safety feature and the makers are in trouble.
However... if you remove the return spring as so defeat the 'safety device' then it would be a lot harder to file a successful claim
- Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by jeff on Sunday, 26-Jun-2005
It's a little complicated to describe the details and to try and describe the moving and non moving parts, but yesterday I opened the machine to clean it. (I'm a new MYO smoker and after about 1,000 cigs I opted to open it, oil it and clean it and there was a dust and gunk buildup.)
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Anyway, before I reconnect the Excel to the bottom base and cover I test the crank mechanism and it works fine. After reassembly the crank doesn't turn.
I doubt that there's any broken or damaged pieces.
Anyone else had this problem in their "newbie" phase and what is likely the cause/rememdy?
TIA
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Jason on Sunday, 26-Jun-2005
I had a similar problem after cleaning mine once. If it's the same situation you should be able to move the crank possibly half the normal travel distance which will close the cutter but not move the spoon due to a binding of the spoon/arm connection. When I had this problem I found that the orientation of the arm pivot connection to the spoon can be 1 of 2 ways. When viewing the insides from underneath the pivot will either be angling to the left (the incorrect way) or angling to the right (the correct way). Correcting this pivot angle should resolve it, as that really seems to be the only piece that can accidentally be set incorrectly.
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Good luck to you, hope this helps.
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by jeff on Sunday, 26-Jun-2005
Thank you. Yes, I can turn the crank about half way.
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I think I know what you're describing, the pivot is the smallest of three connecting metal parts, the crank arm being largest, correct? You can sort of flip the pivot up or down and in its correct position a v shape forms between the pivot and the center piece and at that point you can turn the crank. Again, after doing this, and putting the machine back together again, either it locks up totally, or it locks up and then loosens as you turn the crank, and/or the metal cutter sticks out of the nozzle. Regardless, it's not happening. I wish there was a smoke shop in Queens where I live where they'd know how to reset the pieces correctly.... At least i have a few packs left, figuring it might take a few days to get this sorted out. Jeff
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Ralph on Sunday, 26-Jun-2005
It took me more than a couple of tries to reassmeble the thing. The rectangular pieces on the inside need to slot vertically (i.e. the rectangles needs to be long on the vertical axis). Hope this helps.
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- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Ralph on Monday, 27-Jun-2005
Check out http://www.arbroinc.com/ They have the full parts list with diagrams. It almost sounds like the spring that pulls the spoon back isn't attached or you have that elbow in the wrong position on the spoon. You could probably call that guy at Arbro and he might help you over the phone. He's really friendly and I wouldn't be surprised if he gave you a hand. You definitely want the whole thing screwed together again.
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- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by jeff on Monday, 27-Jun-2005
Good idea - I'm not going to mess with it right now, I'm going to leave well enough alone but I should make the phone call and maybe I can be walked through setting it up right. There are two springs - a large one that attaches to the middle metal part of the crank on one end and is affixed to a plastic post. There's a smaller spring that is set before the nozzle or whatever you call it, where you attach the tube. They're both attached.
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You're totally right - the base should be connected.
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by jeff on Monday, 27-Jun-2005
Update - I guess final update on this stuffing episode.
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I fixed it completely. I'm not exactly sure what I did that differs from other reassembly attempts these past few days but I have some ideas and direction. I think that the next time I have to go through this it will be a less of a "hands up in the air, better post to the message board" type of scenario.
Thanks for the input guys.
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by jeff on Monday, 27-Jun-2005
Ah.. relief, BLESSED relief! After tinkering, tinkering, and more tinkering (just one more try) I somehow got the contraption together and working....AS LONG AS I DO NOT SCREW IN THE BASE. Which is fine. I can live with that.
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Somehow tightening the base throws the thing off, in my case.
Last night I handstuffed a few with my Top machine and it was OK but no where as good as the cigarettes the Excel produces.
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by ZoCrowe on Tuesday, 30-May-2006
having this same problem. 1st week and a hhalf no problems, now with nothing in it i can move it with any amount of tob. in it it jams half way. Try to allign the cutters like prev. mentioned hop it works. I like the machine and savings before this happen
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- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Ralph on Thursday, 01-Jun-2006
There's a plastic insert at the base where the handle attaches. I can't remember if it has to be horizontal or vertical. Try both. That plastic insert has to lie flush inside the machine or it cranks goofy.
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- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 02-Jun-2006
It may not be noticeable so I'll paste it here. Is the second pic what you mean?
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May 06: Added a couple of images (1 and 2) that may help when reassembling an Excel.
- Re: Excel - after reassembly crank won't turn
- Posted by Ralph on Sunday, 04-Jun-2006
Yes, exactly. Even with pics, it's nearly impossible to describe. Based on the pics, it looks the insert is vertical and I found that if that isn't aligned, you get the strange cranking problem.
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