Topic: new bearings

[sirlynxbub]

i got new bearings in my update kit, but i cant see any difference between the new ones and the ones that came with my table.

[snake eyes]

They are a thinner lower profile bearing if it's the newest bearing.

[sirlynxbub]

the ones on my table are thin also. i wonder if it had the new bearings on already? it came from the 2008 worlds.

[bbtuna]

hold an old half in your hand and then mate it with the new one and you should see the lower profile face on the new one...its not much but that is all that they need to keep the ball from passing behind the man up on the wall

however, there was an unintended conciquence in that they actually play better...I have now experienced it on 3 tables which switched from old to new and the rods are smoother and play better-i have my theory on why but i am not certain but it is a fact and I HIGHLY recommend them

here are some pictures that came out bad and one turned sideways when I saved it but you'll get the idea

[bbtuna]

2008 worlds is a maybe but I don't think they were available until beginning of 09...can swear the release time...you can borrow a half from someone you know has the old ones and do the mating thing above you and you will know

[PatRyan]

I think the tables at the 2008 Worlds had the low-profile bearings in them.  I seem to remember Dave Courington mentioning that they had to replace all of the bearings in all of the tables before the tournament.

And the problem was really not the bearings, but the bumpers that caused the problems.  The bumbers arrived a little wider than spec. (or right at the top end of the spec) and the bearings were right at the top end of the spec. already.  That combined to allow the ball to squirt through on a tight wall pass.  And since they were getting ready to replace the bearing mold anyway, that was easier to change than to reject thousands(?) of bumpers. 

But the new bearings (I think) were not ready for worlds 2008, so they "shaved" the old bearings down to the new spec. and installed them on the tables. 

Ed G might have a little more info about this.