Adjustable Spring Tension
After coming up with the Roller Release I was trying to experiment with different springs and the ones I had weren't fitting too well. This solved that problem and allows me to fine tune the gripper spring tension. I drilled a hole through the side of the TOM and threaded it and the brass hook... It works out even better with the Supermatic (just tapped the existing hole with a 4-40 tap)... Modding the Supermatic II requires an additional piece.
With this mod, the roller release, and latex surgical tubing on the gripper, the machine can make any size filtered cigarette without adjustment (i.e. with the release plate removed). Increase spring tension until you start tearing tubes (any size) and then back the adjuster off one turn. The surgical rubber gripping properties are consistent because its more durable than the stock gripper and its 'give' can accommodate variations in tobacco/packing without the need for a release plate. You could try this without the roller release. Without the roller, the increased spring tension will make the action stiff/tight, especially during cutter retraction.
Comments [ new ]
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Jeffo on Monday, 03-Mar-2008
I have a Top-O-Matic on the way from LBSS..I wonder if anyone has tried the adjustable spring mod on the TOM or found the ideal gripper spring for this machine? I'm very happy with my C-Series Supermatic. It does a great job but after all the posts about the new Magnum machine and the EXP1000 I decided to buy a new machine myself but with all the problems with these two latter ones I'm going to wait on them. Also there isn't enough advantage in pushing the Magnums lever over the "Cranks" handle and lose all the control, mods inexpensive parts and longevity you get with the "Crank Machines". The scale still tilts to the "Cranks" side for me.
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Don't forget to have "Fun" here...Jeff
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Freddie on Tuesday, 22-Jan-2008
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Here is mine.... eye screw made from a coat hanger and tapped with 4-36.
just turn nut to increase/decrease tension... everything on bottom and out of the way.
Sorry about blurry pic.... best I could do.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Dave L on Wednesday, 23-Jan-2008
Clever idea. Is that UHMW Polyethylene on the release plate? What's the screw above for?
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- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Freddie on Wednesday, 23-Jan-2008
Dave, that's a .010 teflon washer on the plate and teflon stock on the bumper too.... but I think poly would work as well.
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The screw above retains the bottom SS shim stock lining which give a smoother/cleaner surface to contact cutter/compaction bar.... I also have SS shim stock attached to cutter/compaction bar which serves as a very sharp knife too.... I milled/releived the cutter/comp. bar to compensate for the additional SS stock thickness.... this results into a smooth slide and clean tobacco shear.
This Super II with all my mods and hopper/filler is much faster than my Electric Fresh Choice machine when it comes to consistant and evenly packed and well made cigs.... and ....it is much more convenient, portable and dependable.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Jeffo on Tuesday, 22-Jan-2008
In regards to the correct size latex surgical tubing available here: [gone] would the 1/8" ID. 1/4" OD. x 1/16" wall thickness be the best choice? The stock numbers are in amber (RS250-RA10) in black (RS250-R10).
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I can't find the tubing anywhere around here. I'd have to drive 40 miles into San Diego.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Freddie on Tuesday, 22-Jan-2008
Jeffo, I used black vac. hose, 1/8 , thick wall... and routed one side to fit around cig. tube nozzle.
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Instead of a flat contact, it wraps around paper tube for a better grip over a larger gripping surface.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Dave L on Wednesday, 23-Jan-2008
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Yes (...1/4x1/8x1/16). The latex conforms to the tube so no shaping (e.g. vacum hose) is needed. It also has more 'give' (7sec YouTube video) than other types of tubing. Because there's more surface area contacting the tube, you may need a slightly stronger spring. With adjustable spring tension you can shape the gripper face (pictured) to get an even better/more distributed grip, you will need to tweak/bend the gripper a bit
Yes (...1/4x1/8x1/16). The latex - Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Rob S on Thursday, 09-Aug-2007
I modified my Supermatic today. I repositioned the crank...added a roller release...removed the release plate...and installed an adjustable spring tension mechanism, but the way I did it, it truly is adjustable, and the access to the adjustment is on the outside of the machine.
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This is what I did:
I tapped the existing hole with a 4/40 tap, as Dave suggests, but instead of using a hook, I used a long 4/4O flat head screw.
I drilled through the casing opposite the tapped hole on a straight line axis. I had to disassemble the two main housings to do this by bending the tabs back. The actual drilling was a pain in the ass because you're drilling on a curved surface. I made the hole just slightly bigger than the diameter of the screw to prevent binding and left it untapped.
Then I got a long 4/40 screw, and threaded it through from the inside out. In other words, the head of the screw is inside the machine. I then took the spring and snipped off one of the perpendicular loops and attached it to the head of the screw. Actually, I did that first before screwing into the housing, because if you cut the loop off the spring in just the right way, it leaves a cross section that fits almost perfectly on the screwhead. You have to push the screw throughout the spring from the other side. It's hard to explain without pictures.
Anyway, I screwed it through both holes of the housing (one of them being tapped) and then attached the other end of the spring to the gripper plate. Then I tuned it up to tension.
I then took a metal hexagonal standoff that came pre-tapped with a 4/40 hole and screwed it on the part of the screw that's sticking out the side of the frame on the outside of the machine, and used that as an adjusting knob.
Now all I have to do is stick a paper between the gripper and the nozzle and fine tune it by turning the knob accordingly. Works great...isn't too obtrusive...and I can make tension adjustments when there are discrepancies between manufacturers, or different environmental conditions.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 10-Aug-2007
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That's cool. While the 1/2 turn increments on the hook setup works fine, I like the idea of external adjustment. With the Top-O-Matic its easy because you can go through the flat part of the housing. I used a hook and an untapped hole.
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Rob S on Friday, 10-Aug-2007
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Wow. Thats pretty much what mine looks like...and I agree, it is does look easier to drill. Mine was a royal PITA, but I'm glad I did it, and twice as glad that I took my time, and it came out decent. I could have really made a mess of my machine. I definately don't recommend this type of modification on a supermatic if one lacks patience, generally speaking.
By the way, Dave, can yout tell me where I can get a shorter spoon?
- Re: Adjustable Spring Tension
- Posted by Rob S on Friday, 10-Aug-2007
Belay that last request Dave, it just dawned on me that a parts list and order form came with my Supermatic, and I only want to take a few millimeters off, if that, so I'll just buy a replacement spoon for $3.75 and play around with that. Actually, I might as well buy a couple since the shipping and handling costs more than the spoon does.
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- surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Thursday, 25-Jan-2007
What is meant by surgical rubber? I'm currently using a piece of oxygen tubing that was left over from my son's previous O2 machine.
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- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 26-Jan-2007
Its an amber latex tubing called surgical tubing (OP edited). Its used for a lot of things that aren't medical, e.g. slingshots.
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- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Friday, 26-Jan-2007
ok. I know what you are talking about.
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- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by Jderringer on Friday, 26-Jan-2007
Hobby stores are great for that stuff. If you go to a hobby store, make sure its one that sells gas r/c airplanes or cars, just ask for silicone gas line, and they will probably have 6 sizes in 6 different colors to show you. I use it all the time.
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- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Friday, 26-Jan-2007
AH HA! I bet my brother has some of this stuff. He has a RC truck and I bet he has some of that hose.
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Thanks for the info guys.
- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Saturday, 27-Jan-2007
I wonder how well those rubber replacement caps that auto parts stores sell for engine vacuum ports will work? I might try to pick some up and try them out.
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sj
- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by Jderringer on Friday, 26-Jan-2007
Yeah, I think it works well enough. I cut off a piece big enough to cover the gripper and slide it on. After about 20 cartons, it wears a flat spot in the tubing, so I flip it and rotate it as needed. I don't even have the release "set"... It just kinda slides off when it's injected well, but this is the only supermatic I've had that works that way. I can't inject tubes with thick paper and oversized filters (ramback tubes), but I only use one tobbacco and one tube now anyways. (Wingate Gold in a Rizzla deluxe tube)
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- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Monday, 12-Feb-2007
I picked up some silicone R/C gas line. Works well enough. Seems to be better than the stock gripper.
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$1.79 for 2ft I think.
- Re: surgical rubber?
- Posted by scott johnson on Thursday, 15-Feb-2007
After a carton of smokes I think this is what I will stay with for the gripper. It's working really well and I have a lifetime supply of it.
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Note. I was looking at the gripper mods here and checked my machine. The arm doesn't need bent and the opening didn't need filed. Mine has plenty of clearance and a good grip, so far. I might look into the stiffer spring and the tensioner option though.
sj