Post by: dizzyfugu on April 03, 2012, 06:18:46 AM
Sorry, but I have to vent some steam. As dreadfully expected upon purchase, my orange RX-1 (1st drilling) cracked after 15 months without reason while sitting in a ball cup in my ball rack. Temperate surroundings, no oil extraction so far, low mileage and frequently turned in the cup to prevent pressure building up between the ball elements - but to no avail.
Fed up. The ball cracked from the pin through the intergrated engravings, obviosuly the ball's weak spot on the shell. It was a try, but this lack of structural integrity leads me not to purchase any Motiv ball in the future anymore - and I suspect the ever-thin shells of only 0.5" to be the general source of this trouble. Built-in obsolescence, eh? Thanks a lot for taking care of my equipment!
Fed up. The ball cracked from the pin through the intergrated engravings, obviosuly the ball's weak spot on the shell. It was a try, but this lack of structural integrity leads me not to purchase any Motiv ball in the future anymore - and I suspect the ever-thin shells of only 0.5" to be the general source of this trouble. Built-in obsolescence, eh? Thanks a lot for taking care of my equipment!
I expect my Hell Raiser to be the next, while "old school" stuff like my vintage Elimator, Renegade or VBP stuff keep literally solid and reliable as rocks.
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
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Post by: WOWZERS on April 03, 2012, 07:58:03 AM
Although you or I have no scientific proof one way or the other, I could not agree more with your assessment of thin shelled balls. I always have issues with thins shells while me thick shelled stuff never cracks. Amazing, right?
Wowzers
Post by: LuckyLefty on April 03, 2012, 10:19:23 AM
A guy on here one day claimed it was stuff that came from a San Antonio plant I forget the reason, I forget the guy(claimed he worked there maybe?).
In general I have only had problems with one or two manufacturers that I believe were using a plant in San Antonio, but often I love their balls so I keep buying them! For these brands I am very careful about rounding off my finger holes to prevent what is often the first split in the fingers. Other companies I'm pretty cavalier about it!
Regards,
Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.
James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana
Edited by LuckyLefty on 4/4/2012 at 5:08 AM
Post by: Xx 12 X 300 xX on April 03, 2012, 11:35:22 AM
My suggestion is to really bevel the finger holes good. Just doing the basic bevel to knock off the sharp edge is not enough anymore. If you really get in there good and bevel the holes, this seems to stop the cracking from the fingers.
The beveling makes the ball look a little funny, and you may have to change your insert sizes since the hole is notw a bit larger at the top of the hole.
Post by: qstick777 on April 03, 2012, 12:17:49 PM
I didn't think Motiv had any engravings?
"Patent pending, NeoMark™ technology allows a solid filled multi-color reactive urethane graphic to be unified with the reactive urethane coverstock. This revolutionary technology not only provides visually distinctive logo marks, but also gives MOTIV™ bowling balls improved performance and a quality advantage.
NeoMark™ graphics are highly resistant to cracking and chipping and wear just like the coverstock because they ARE part of the coverstock. The most notable advantage of NeoMark™ graphics is that they allow the bowling ball to maintain consistent reaction down the lane, even as the track area passes over them. NeoMark™ is only available on MOTIV™ brand bowling balls."
Post by: Track_Fanatic on April 03, 2012, 12:52:41 PM
Just to be clear on my post, I didn't reference a specific manufacturer, just a plant.
Edited by Track_Fanatic on 4/3/2012 at 1:44 PM
Post by: zmansmustang on April 03, 2012, 01:35:48 PM
since this is an open forum and supposed to be educational (to a point I guess), who uses the san antonio plant??
Post by: Walking E on April 03, 2012, 01:50:18 PM
Post by: WOWZERS on April 03, 2012, 01:50:59 PM
900 Global owns the plant in San Antonio ( old Columbia 300 stuff before Ebonite bought Columbia). 900 also pours balls for AMF and Lane 1.
Post by: arickdm on April 03, 2012, 01:53:49 PM
Post by: TheGame300 on April 03, 2012, 02:35:18 PM
GPS member (Lerro's Pro Shop - East Orange, NJ)
900 Global.......The Future is in your hands.
Choo-Choo.
Post by: WOWZERS on April 03, 2012, 03:57:04 PM
It may not be the ONLY issue, but I feel it contributes. How can anyone explain that after using the SAME driller from the same shop over the past 20 years that the only balls to crack (about 5) have been balls with a thin shell? Different companies? Check. So its not a single company either, which means we have elimanated several issues which boils down to only a few common denominators, one of them the thin shell.
My Visionary and Lane Master thick shelled stuff...no cracks...ever.
Post by: qstick777 on April 03, 2012, 04:03:27 PM
900 Global, AMF, Lane #1, Seismic, Radical.......others.
Post by: charlest on April 03, 2012, 04:22:15 PM
Nope, sorry.. Just like Lanemasters, some are 2 piece and some are 3 piece/have fillers.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Edited by charlest on 4/3/2012 at 2:24 PM
Post by: arickdm on April 03, 2012, 05:00:08 PM
Post by: mainzer on April 03, 2012, 06:18:42 PM
We have all seen stuff from EVERY manufacture crack at some point...it happens, as far as not buying a another ball from the same company I believe that is folly.
I use Seismic poured by 900G and I have had one ball an Epicenter Crack after I left it in the car in the winter here in WI then brought it into the bowling alley and used it then back into the car to freeze for another extended period of time that one is on me. But I have not had a issue with anything else cracking. And the shells are "thin" like any other companies stuff.
My thoughts on the reason for cracking? Luck and design, you have bad luck you might have one crack just like a car that gets recalled you will have lemons in every batch. And the Design of the covers sounds more and more intricate every year, everything is so finely tuned that maybe the covers are becoming a little more brittle than they were ten years ago.
Just my thoughts.
MainzerPower
Post by: badbeard on April 03, 2012, 07:03:04 PM
Post by: kidlost2000 on April 03, 2012, 07:51:11 PM
"1 of 1."
Post by: Djarum on April 11, 2012, 11:59:35 AM
I have a Fired Up and Jolt Pearl which I still throw. The fired up is older and starting to crack around the thumb. Both balls have thick shells. I had an attitude shift with only abou 50 games on it, sat in the closet off and on and it cracked from the finger all the way around. It had a thin shell. However, I have a track freak and hammer saw blade and both have thin shells and are still in good shape.
So, is there any tread left on the tires? Or at this point would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway? - Stewie Griffin
Post by: CRSmith on April 13, 2012, 05:36:54 PM
I have lost balls from cracking that were made by Columbia, Brunswick, AMF, and Track. One was only a year old. Yet I have an old AMF King Cobra that still remains intact, while far newer AMF balls have bit the dust. Cleaned after every set, and rotated on a rack in a heated basement. Unfortunately, I think it just happens for whatever the reason.
Post by: Graaille on April 23, 2012, 01:03:14 PM
Post by: charlest on April 23, 2012, 09:27:14 PM
Sorry, Thomas, but I believe your assumption about thin shells being THE responsible factor for that shell cracking does not really hold water.
There have been many factors that have been ascribed to be potential causes for a coverstock to crack. That is not one of them, as far as I have learned/seen/could discern.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Post by: Xx 12 X 300 xX on April 23, 2012, 09:43:05 PM
I just had another one crack. A Storm Meteor from 1997. I've been throwing it faithfully for the last few months. Choose to go back up to 15lbs and took the Meteor and removed the inserts and put it in the upstairs bedroom closet with the rest of my balls.
Within a month it cracked from the seam where the resin and outer core meet, up and out all the way out about 3 inches.
This was after I removed the finger inserts, and cleaned up the hole.
Ball lasted 15 years with no problems. Used it a bunch this year, as soon as I put it away it cracks. As of today it's still cracking, making its way around the ball slowly each week.
No bowling ball is safe. Doesn't matter who makes it, or what its made when it comes to thickness of resin.
Edited by Xx 12 X 300 xX on 4/23/2012 at 7:45 PM
Post by: DON DRAPER on April 24, 2012, 08:01:51 AM
Post by: dizzyfugu on April 24, 2012, 08:54:26 AM
Maybe not THE factor, Jeff, but it is IMHO certainly a big influencer. Besides, I believe that the molded engravings from Motiv are another major factor in my case. While the surface/material looks like one solid block, there are still seams between the different colours which I'd call a built-in weak point. Anyway, I am still wondering why the ball cracked... no matter, I am done with that brand.
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section