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Author Topic: Rival dying???  (Read 4321 times)

mrteach3

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Rival dying???
« on: January 03, 2008, 10:42:02 AM »
Hey all,

I am not one to complain about "ball death."  In fact, I truly believe that some over-exaggerate what really happens to their equipment.  Usually, I even like when the balls "slow down."  With that said, I hadn't drilled up anything Columbia for a long time, but thought the Rival suited my needs just fine.  Drilled one up and it was exactly what I was looking for.  Key word in the previous sentence is "was."  At about 35 - 40 games, it truly has "died."  Sanded it back to box finish, put it in a Rejuvenator, and still nothing even close to what it was in the beginning.  

Question being is this a bad luck experience for me or is this happening to others as well.
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tdub36tjt

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2008, 07:13:20 PM »
Probably 70 games on mine, still like new.

CHawk15

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2008, 09:23:09 PM »
I just had mine baked and cleaned out in the pro shop today after it lost reaction. It still rolled in the midlane, just didn't turn on the back nearly as much.  My friendly pro shop operator put it in the "bowling  ball oven" for nearly an hour and then used some Power Wash (Powerhouse) to clean out the pores using a ball spinner, you wouldn't believe the amount of stuff that came out of that ball. It absorbs a lot more oil, grime, etc than I thought it did.  

 I haven't thrown it yet, but I will tommorrow night and I'll let you know how it turns out.  I expect it'll be just fine.  I've probaly put somewhere between 75-100 games on the ball before I noticed the loss in backend, but it's much more of an "Ebonite Sponge" than I expected.  


Brian Green

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2008, 10:03:23 PM »
I've got 200 plus games on my rival....  and this is the best All around ball i have thrown in at least 5 years.......

after about 50 games i noticed the ball to start to weaken a bit.......  i hit it with the 4000 abralon pad  and it worked for about 5 games......  after that i put the ball in the revivor oven........ and hit the ball with a grey scotch brite pad and then 4000 abralon..........  it still shined up a lil too fast for my liking.........   my trick with this ball is  after about every 15 games i hit the ball with 1000 grit wet sandpaper.....  then use react-a-clean on it  then hit the ball with a grey scotch brite pad...  and the ball is as good as new...........


the rival  does require a lil bit more care than most other balls  but its so worth the time and effort to see this ball roll down the lane
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charlest

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2008, 10:41:24 PM »
I wonder (really do not know) if these Ebonite-based coverstocks need the Hook Again process rather than any other process to "rejuvenate" them?

MrTeach3,

* Did you see or did the pro shop report how much oil was removed by the Rejuvenator oven?
* Was the ball sanded rough (320 - 400 grit) before it was processed?

I am really curious, as I was contemplating getting one of the newer  Columbia/Track balls in the near future.

If the status of your ball does not change, it would certainly dampen my enthusiasm. I know you have "no axe to grind", one way of the other.
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cmurder300

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2008, 10:57:35 PM »
In my proshop we see this quite often, make sure that before it is put into the revivior that it is taken to 400 grit to open pours of the ball. The revivior pads have to be changed religously or you not remove all the oil and if the ball is completely saturated, 2hrs at 150 degrees should do the trick. After that the ball should be placed in the haus machine for resurfacing for at least 15mins, this will help release any residue or oil left. At this point take the ball to the desired cover prep and you should be almost as good as new!!!

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mrteach3

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2008, 12:37:25 PM »
Thanks for the replies guys.  Working in a shop, I was the one who put it in the Rejuvenator.  Yes, there was a lot of oil that came out of it.  Just like the Columbias of old.  I did indeed wetsand it before I put it in the Rejuvenator.  That always seems to work best for us.  I will keep this posted as I put it in the Rejuvenator again today and took the surface back to original again.
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Who needs a 300 or 800, when I have a 294 and a 295!?!?!

Steven

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2008, 03:59:50 PM »
mrteach3: As an aside, what has been you experience with treating other Columbia balls in the revivor? I could be wrong but my understanding is that Columbia discourages the use of heat to extract oil. Sometimes it's hard to know what to believe anymore.
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wulfpackbwlr

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2008, 05:03:11 PM »
Unfortunately I would not be surprised if it was dying as there was a resurgence brought into my local shop after 3 weeks that had basically started going straight.  Was saturated with oil.  Of course this kid probably had already put about 100 games on it in that short amount of time.  Ebonite makes some of the best equipment out right now.  Would just be nice if they could find a way to make them last a little longer.
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86camaroman

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2008, 05:13:17 PM »
I have said it before and I will say it again I have a total nv wich people also say dies quickly. Now it has about 600 games on it. I usually rejuvenate it every 50 games but got behind in doing so. It took 3 hours to get all the oil out this time then I sand with 1k 2k 4k and then powerhouse polish and it rolls just as good as new everytime.

CHawk15

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2008, 10:32:12 PM »
Got a chance to throw my Rival after it was put in the Revivor and Powerhouse Power Wash on a spinner to emulsify the oil with 1000 abralon pad.  Ball was then taken back to 4000 abralon and "it's back".   It rolls just like it did before.  My friendly pro shop operator said to bring it in about once every 35-40 games in order to maintain it.

justdale

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2008, 10:45:08 PM »
Have over 120 games on my Rival, no problems with it
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mrteach3

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Re: Rival dying???
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2008, 08:00:44 AM »
Hey guys, it is a little better after messing with it yesterday.  Still not close to what it was in the beginning.  Heck, my new Bash is only 2 and 2 straighter at this point.

Steven,
I know what you mean, but we have used our Rejuvenator with many Columbia balls and have had success with them.  

Such is life guys.  Time to find something else.  Thanks again.


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Who needs a 300 or 800, when I have a 294 and a 295!?!?!