Topic: fix bent rods? and upgrades to whirlwind

[derbartman]

I just acquired a whirlwind table. A couple of its rods are bent somewhat noticeably.  This table is mainly to get me playing again, and get my kids into the game - so it doesn't have to be perfect but I think I need to improve a couple of them.  Is there a decent method to fixing them, or is my only option buying new ones for ~$30?  This leads me to my next question - which is - if I have a whirlwind, can I upgrade to better bearings, and rods.  If I buy new rods it would be nice to get the thicker walled ones.

Thanks!

[mudfarmer]

excepting merkels, i was also wondering if tornado uses basically the same rods on all their tables as i have a chance to buy some used ones.

[snake eyes]

The bearings are for sure a no. Whirlwinds don't have split hex 2-piece bearings. Only storm and cyclone have those in home model tables. The rods are a maybe. Not sure if O.D. Measurement is same as commercial models. I guess they would be since you can put counter weighted men on them. You could get the sweet new yellow and black rubber coated handles and clear side strips. Tip, add some weight like sandbags underneath the whirlwind for weight it will help the table stay solid when ripping hard pull shots.

[alaskan thunder]

I don't think the commercial rods fit on a whirlwind....

[mudfarmer]

apparently there is a difference. this is from the tornado parts page linked to this site:

"Commercial grade: .156 wall thickness, heat treated
We only sell the commercial heat treated replacement rods from the manufacturer. Used on all Tornado tables. Thicker than the .125 wall thickness, non-heat treated rods used on the home tables...harder to bend!"

 

[PatRyan]

The rods SHOULD be the same overall outside diameter for all Tornado brand tables.  The only difference in the rods is the steel tube wall thickness, and the heat-treating.  The two-piece bearings will definitely NOT work though.

[bbtuna]

if you haven't already purchased the whirlwind stop and slow down...how much are you paying and/or willing to spend and did you read What Table should I buy?  Pat Ryan is right about the rods and bearings

i highly do recommend NOT spending money on this table...my church has one and it is not good

[foosdragon]

bb, can you be more specific on the flaws in the Whirlwind ?  I found one on CL for $300 and I love it. What should I be looking out for as possible hangups in developing my play? The table weighs over 200 lbs so I'm not having a movement problem (actually, I think people who do have problems with table movement, need to develop their finesse game), but for the price and condition (like new), I couldn't pass it up.

[snake eyes]

FD-Thats the same table as I started on so I will tell you the differences I encountered. 1st Non-counter Weighted men are a pain in the a**.#2 The Total weight of the table is substancially less than a Coin-Op. #3 The side walls are not as thick as a Coin-Op so it's not quite as solid and the walls are not as live. Pull shots take alot of force so jarring the table off the Toss on a Whirlwind is pretty easy. I noticed the legs more than anything being a problem, We were constantly pulling them back out due to the table shifting. My advice hang some sandbags underneath the table like we do on Warrior tables to give stability. I learned the Snake shot on that table and it's not terrible to learn fundamentals on. Shooting from the goal will be a problem as your 5 bar and 3 bar men will fall down on a hard shot. Hope this helps.


Snake

[foosdragon]

  Thanks Snake for the input. I will give the sandbags a try, but I must use a lighter touch and more palm on my shots as jarring isn't a problem (except on my five row, which I think I've got under control ). I usually just pull the bumpers out for goal shot practice, but for $300, I couldn't pass this table up.

[bbtuna]

could have had a coin op for between that and $100...no comparrision...snake said it right...do you have any local foos where you are at...99% of that is on coin ops, you could go check the difference yourself

they have one of these at my church and it is awful, even after i brought some real Tor foosballs, which improved things, it is bad in more ways than i want to take to explain (especially after the previous long-winded post) - just this, thinner rods, not heat-treated, thinner side walls and surface, no split bearings, non-balanced men, overall cheaper construction, end table call returns, goal box is cheaper materials, and the table overall weighs nearly 200 lbs less

you can learn how to play on a table like that, that isn't the issue..it is the quality of play, the quality of the build, can't compare when you can get a used coin op for just the same or a couple bucks more

[foosdragon]

Thanks BB. I don't doubt your wisdom, I just had no idea that a coin op would be that inexpensive. I've had 8 different tables through the years of various makes, and all have been home models except for one late 70's Dynamo. I can see your point if I wanted to be the next "it" dude on the tour, but I just love to play the game, and at the ripe old age of 57, my ship has sailed as far as being a "contender". I enjoy reading your posts and the occassional banter that erupts from the whippersnappers. Keep up the good work.

[snake eyes]

Dragon-Nice to see you still have some passion for the game.that Whirlwind will treat you right. What color is the cabinet old style dark or the newer light blonde?

[foosdragon]

It's one of the older style dark and also the logo is old style with the word TORNADO in red above the swirling tornado. It was in pristeen condition due to the fact that the shop that assembled it put the rods on backwards and the guy I bought it from just played it that way (so he didn't play that often), but I understand bb's reasoning in getting the same table you will compete on. I'm just a lover of the game and an occassional bar hacker .

[bbtuna]

dragon,

i don't want to make you feel bad about your purchase, i'm just saying there is a big difference...i play with plenty of for fun bar hacks but i would still recommend the same thing

i'm 52, i'm not going to win and Open title before i'm done but you can be very competitive even at your ripe age but even if you didn't want to do even local tournaments i would recommend the same

but, that doesn't matter, like i said, not trying to make you feel bad, whats most important is that you love what you have and you love to play and you got an older model which with Tornado, old is better in most ways

foos on drag on