DC Drive Motor Maintenance

All Kegel lane machines are driven by DCV drive motors that are designed with two carbon style brushes, one on each side of the motor.  As the brushes wear down over time, carbon dust particles build-up inside the head of the motor between the stator (field) and the rotor (armature).  This build-up can cause a short inside the motor.  To prevent a dangerous build-up, it is important to routinely remove the carbon brushes, and blow out the motor with air to remove any carbon build-up.

Note:  If you use an air compressor, please insure that the air-lines are free of moisture before evacuating the motor.

If the brushes are several years old, they may need to be replaced.  Each brush is manufactured with a tension spring that keeps the brush in constant contact with the rotor of the motor.   The shorter the carbon fiber brush becomes the less tension there is on the rotor.

Lane Maintenance 101

Bowling lane maintenance is more than just pushing a button on a lane machine and applying oil to the surface. Its also requires giving attention the approaches, gutters and capping which all get dusty. Maintaining all of this area on a daily schedule is important to provide the best service to your customer. Your lane machine also benefits from keeping all of this clean.

Here are a few suggestions that should be followed to maintain your bowling center.

1. One of the first things that should be done each morning is a walk across the approaches, break out the coffee. This is when you find out if the lanes, gutters and approaches were dusted the night before. This is also great time to inspect the approaches for any kind of possible problems that just jump out at you.

2. Walking the lanes each morning also gives you a chance to see what left over oil looks like in the applied area and what it looks like on the backend as well. It is possible to see many things from unusual amounts of dirt to possible stripping problems with the lane machine, who knows what can be found.

3. Dust gutters, caps, and division rails each and every day. This will help reduce the amount of dirt that the lane machine pulls in to the conditioning compartment. Its sounds like a lot of work but so what, it just needs done. If you want to provide the best it will take time and besides, it’s just easy to remember if it’s done every day.

4. Dust your approaches no less than three times a day if not four. Some areas of the world or the country will require this just to keep them from looking like they can plowed to get ready for planting.

5. Dusting your lanes in-between conditioning is another big bonus that seems to be kind of a lost art. High lineage and dusty lanes are a bad combination especially if your lanes are synthetic. Dust will increase the wear on the surface and reduce the life of your lanes - not including the changes that will result in just the way the lanes play.

6. The approaches are very important to good customer satisfaction and should be paid attention to very closely. Besides frequent dusting, buffing with a rotary buffer can improve the slide consistency and cleanliness of your approaches when done regularly.

7. The lane machine should be kept spotless - the only side effects from doing so is finding problems before they become nightmares.

Another thing that affects the cleanliness of your lanes is your pinsetters and ball returns or anything that the bowling ball comes in contact with. All kinds of dirt come from these things along with grease and oil which is very difficult for any lane machine to clean off.

Aluminum Oxide Polishing Procedure for Brunswick Laminate Lane Surfaces

Materials and Tools Required:

• *180 Grit 3M Black Sanding Disk for Rotary Sander

• *320 Grit 3M Black Sanding Disk for Rotary Sander

• Rotary Buffing Machine

• Rotary Buffing Machine Sanding Pad

* One sheet per pair
 

Area to be Polished

The entire lane is polished unless the pine is the early configuration, non-laminate printed pine. At centers having printed pine, only the maple laminate is polished.

At centers having maple and pine laminate, the lane is divided into three sections. The first section is maple, the second section is 1-1/2" pine panels in the center of the lane, and the third section is the remaining pine laminate.

1. Clean lane with a lane duster starting at the foul line with a clean surface. Ratchet duster at pin deck and pull back to foul line.

2. Clean entire lane. A vacuum lane stripper is recommended for this procedure.

NOTE: Using a combination machine make sure it is on stripping only.
 

Polishing Pattern & Procedure

Use a crossing pattern in the first 8 feet of the first section as shown in figure 3 until you hear the noise from the screen begins to dissipate. From there going with the lane at a slow but steady pace, polish the out side right through the section and return back towards the foul line in the left track area. Proceed down the outside left and return up the right-hand track area as shown in figure 2. Continue back down the middle of the section to the next section and use the same pattern there. After completing all sections polish straight back to the foul line through the middle of the lane. At this point flip the screen over and use that side for the next lane. After completing the procedure with the 180 grit repeat using 320 grit disk.

Cleaning Procedure:

1. Clean entire lane with a duster.
2. Strip entire lane with a vacuum stripper.
3. Condition lane.

NOTE: The screens should be "burned "before using. This can be done by quickly running both sides of each screen against a concrete area to take the edge off the screen. When starting the buffer it is a good practice to pull the buffer across the lane. This avoids scratching the surface during start up.

Duster Cloth: The Replacement Restart

If you are experiencing poor cleaning of the lanes, duster errors, and are using more cloth than normal, check to see if someone changed the duster cloth and failed to reset the duster unwind time. Failure to reset the unwind time when the cloth is changed will result in too much cloth being unwound from the new supply roll.

If the cloth unwind time is accidentally reset and the cloth was not replaced, the supply roll will not unwind enough to allow the cushion roller to contact the lane properly.

To reset the unwind time after changing the cloth:

Go to the “DUSTER” setting in the menu. (Your machine display may be different from the photos below)

This should be done every time the cloth is changed, along with oil and cleaner head bar lubrication.

If you have questions about this procedure, call our 24/7 free tech support line.

1-800-280-2695

The Pipe Dream

One of the most forgotten parts of the lane machine is the Duster Cloth Support Pipe. It is often removed during a cloth change and not replaced into the new roll.

This metal support is there to support the inner core of the duster cloth as the roll becomes depleted. When approaching the end of the roll, the inner core can bend due to the pressure applied to it by the ever-increasing size of the take-up roll.

The metal support pipe is especially important if you are using K3 duster cloth. It is recommended that there be a pipe in both the take-up and supply rolls when using this product.

The Restriction Affliction

If you start hearing the vacuum motor sounding like an F-18 jet, there might be a restriction in the vacuum system. This sound is usually accompanied by poor cleaning of the lane.

Check the filter in the recovery tank. This filter is sometimes overlooked and needs to be cleaned and or replaced when it becomes obstructed.

Every place that the air changes direction is a place for a potential restriction. Check the elbows by removing the clamps and hoses. Often a large “Lint Monster” can be found in these places.

On battery operated machines, restricted airflow can cause the vacuum motor to draw more power and shorten the battery life.

Mic Check

Doing a weekly volume check for both conditioner and cleaner is an easy way to be certain that your lanes will play consistent from week to week. It only takes a few minutes and will give you peace of mind knowing that the machine is putting out the correct amounts. Performing these checks will also let you know if there might be maintenance issues that need to be addressed. 

Every Kegel lane machine is sent out with a set of graduated cylinders to allow you to check the volumes of conditioner and cleaner.  

Testify to Verify

Verify your run and valve times at least once a week. (daily, if you really want to keep on top of things) Log those number into a notebook and note if these number change. Tracking this information will let you know if speeds and valve times are consistent from day to day.

(This photo shows the screen for a Flex machine. 2 tanks= 2 valves.)

Tanks for Everything

Use a black marker to highlight the word “EMPTY” on the recovery tank. Also mark an arrow to show the direction to empty the tank.

You can also mark “Conditioner” and “Cleaner” on the appropriate tanks for your machine and make a “Fill to here” line to prevent overfilling.

Oil and Cleaner Head Bar

When the time comes to install a new roll of duster cloth in your machine, do not forget to add a few drops of oil to the metal bars that the oil and cleaner heads travel on.

Get Your Hardware in Order

Every 3 months, check for loose hardware on your machine. Nuts, bolts and setscrews can become loose with the day to day jostling the machine goes through. Check the setscrews on the squeegee and brush lift cams, along with the drive wheels.

Some basic hand tools and a few minutes of time can prevent issues in the future.

Save Your Back, Save Your Toes!

If you use a walker lane machine, move the machine away from you so you can see the bottom set of caster wheels before you lay the machine down.

Rough Transitions or Rough Ride

When rolling your lane machine while it is in transport position, always pay attention to any drop-offs. The impact of even a small drop can eventually cause some serious damage.

The castors themselves will absorb a tiny amount of the shock but will deteriorate quickly if the transition from approach to storage area has even the slightest sharp edge.

The frame where the castors are mounted can slow become bent with time and soon the machine will not roll correctly.

The numerous electrical and mechanical connections in the machine can become loose with repeated small impacts while being rolled to the storage area.

To prevent the above-mentioned problems, Check the condition of the ramps leading to the area behind the pin setting equipment. What seems like a small drop to your eyes, is like falling off a cliff to your lane machine.

Fill in gaps between the ramp and the floor. Make the ramps longer if possible, this will allow for a smooth transition from the ramp to the floor and will be a easier on the person moving the lane machine.

Speed (or a Lack of It) Kills

Do an auto speed adjust once a month to help keep your speed accurate. Slower speeds will affect your patterns’ lengthwise taper front to back.

Get a Handle on Your Handle

After pressing the start button for the 2nd time on the handle of your Kegel lane machine, lower the handle onto the stops. Do not let it freefall. Dropping the handle will put stress on the mounting hardware for the stops.

Dust in the Wind

variable speed buffer machines only

It is recommended the buffer motor be blown out monthly; you will want to be sure to keep your buffer motor free of carbon dust which accumulates due to the motor brushes deteriorating over time.

It is best to blow your motor out first then calibrate your speeds. Blowing the motors out once a month will keep all your motors running in tip top shape.

Check That Cord So You Don’t Get Floored

Once per month, inspect the cord on your non battery powered Kegel lane machine. Look for nicks, cuts and wires showing through the outer sheath.

Check the tightness of the screws that secure the wires inside both ends.

This is also a good time to give the cord a good cleaning with a very diluted mixture of lane cleaner and a dry towel.

Making a Clean Sweep

Do a test clean at least once a week to make sure your machine is getting the lanes clean.

Checking once a week will allow you to notice little problems before they become big problems.

Do Not Forget to Brush!

While a quick wipe with a dry rag on the buffer and transfer brushes is great for daily cleaning on your machine, deeper cleaning can be done. Once a week, turn on the buffer brush and use compressed air to blow out dirt and debris from the buffer brush and the transfer brush.

Accumulated dust, hair, and other litter will slow the flow of conditioner from the transfer brush to the buffer. This will affect your pattern.

Battery Compartment Inspection

Once a month, open your battery compartment and give it a good cleaning. Remove the battery, inspect the motors for oil leaks, as well as blow the area out with compressed air to remove any accumulated dust.

This is a great time to inspect the wiring, fuse holders and other components for wear or loose connections.