I am going to string an Ektelon O3 Blue racquet and noticed via visual inspection with the strings still in, that the top tie off location for the cross is on a cross string. I looked at the instructions for this racquet on the Ektelon site and even the instructions are incorrect for the crosses on this model.

Ektelon instructions are for the crosses are:

Crosses
1. Tie starting knot at 6H-R
2. Start at 5H-R and weave across to 5H-L, then down to 6HL
and across to 6H-R
2. Continue installing cross strings conventionally. Finish and
tie off at 2T-L.
* It is recommended to use a table-brake when stringing cross
strings.

The cross tie off is actually on 7H-R and is a cross string location and not a main string like all of their other racquets.

Since there is no string at that location, you can't tie a starting knot there.

The only option I can see is to use a starting clamp or in my case a flying clamp (I use a X-2 stringing machine) on the outside of 5H-R and leave enough string to reach the tensioner and then proceed to string the crosses until I tie it off at 2T-L. Then I go back and retension the string at 5H-L and tie it off at 7H-R.

Has any one strung an Ektelon O3 Blue and is this the way you had to do it?

Maybe a fellow stringer can look at the stringing instructions on the Ektelon site and see if I am correct or not.

http://www.ektelon.com/racquetball/files/product.aspx?cid=13&ProductId=61

Thanks

I just strung one of these about a month ago, and yeah Ektelon messed up big time. I didn't actually look at any stringing instructions from Ektelons website. So I didn't realize how different it was until after I had the mains in and then went to do the starting knot for the crosses.

The easiest way to explain what I did was I used the same method that you would do for a E-Force Launchpad to start the crosses. That is, thread the string through the top cross with about 4 inches extra to tie a starting knot (this should be on the same side as the hole indicated for the starting knot). Thread the remaining string (long end) through the second and third cross. Once you thread the long end you can then use the extra 4 inches from the top cross to bring through a tie a starting knot. You can then tension the cross and it should secure the knot in place.

Because you're tensioning three crosses to make the starting knot happen it may take a couple of pulls before the knot secures. I think I may have tried to tension the first or second cross at some point but I can't recall off the top of my head how that went.

Anyways, if you've ever done a Launchpad you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, take a look at the instructions at the Eforce website to get a visual. The concept is pretty much the same but Ektelon requires three crosses whereas Eforce only requires two crosses in order to get the starting knot going.

Thanks for the information Hilario, I will give that a try.

BTW, since you can't tension the strings at the bottom, do you add 4 or 5 lbs of tension when doing the mains and then go back to the desired tension when doing the crosses?

I want to get a 32 lb tension, so would I do the mains at 37 lbs and the crosses at 32 lbs?

or do I just string everything at 32 lbs ?

Not being able to pull mains at the bottom is causing me to guess.

Thanks

I don't worry about adjusting tension when I have to double pull the mains. It's guesswork trying to figure out how much a double pull will affect the overall outcome of the mains. I think it's more important to be consistent with the overall tension and then make necessary adjustments the next go around doing everything the same way.

If they say it is a little loose than I would take it up 1-2 lbs the next time but let them hit with it and see. Honestly, I've never heard a single complaint from players I string for who have racquets designed for double pull on the mains (Ektelon and Eforce). One other factor you have on your side is that you have a drop weight so you have a constant pull and the tension will probably be a little more accurate than a spring lock.

Before I read your last post, I strung his racquet with 4 extra lbs on the mains. So, it was 36 lbs on the mains and 32 on the crosses. He tried it out and told me he was happy with it and wanted his other racquet restrung the same way. Guess, I lucked out this time.

I remember, when I restrung some E-force racquets, I called E-force CS and he said that they add 6 lbs to their mains that go through the handle, since you can only pull at the head of the racquet.

That is why it is it is confusing when other makers, (Ektelon, Head and Wilson) who's mains can only be pulled from the top don't include whether to increase the tensions on the mains by "X" amount or not in their stringing instructons.