The unit makes a grinding noise as the rotor spins
Reason: It is likely that there is foreign matter/dirt on the internal surface area of the sphere.
Solution: Open the sphere shell and clean the internal surface areas.
Detailed Explanation: When you first take the ball from its box, you will note the perfectly fluid and silky action with which it operates - the rotor whirr's away and there is no noise, (bar that glorious 'jet fighter' sound as the speed increases..!)
After a few weeks of use however, this lovely fluid movement and silent rotation can end up being replaced by a noisy, gravely movement, which, although still yielding out much the same torque, doesn't offer as much pleasure of use as from when it was new and you probably wonder just what might be wrong with it all?
Well, there are two likely causes for this;
1. The ball is being used in a dusty environment and/or is being discarded on a carpet/fibre based surface which is allowing it to ingest fibres/foreign matter into the rotor support band cavity during use. Other examples of this is where the user is choosing to start the ball by running the rotor along a trouser leg.
While not causing an immediate negative result, the effects of this are cumulative and will harm the friction/smoothness of the ball in the long term – the practice is best avoided.
2. Using the ball for prolonged periods without properly supporting the sphere while the rotor is in motion.
This is the most common cause of the rough sounding Powerball.
A perfect example is as follows;
The Powerballer takes the speed of his gyro up to, say, 12,000rpm.
Having been suitably pulverized by the inertia coming from the ball at such speeds (particularly if you are new to the sport and haven’t yet developed the strength and stamina required to control the ball at these speeds), the hand/wrist/arm of our Powerballing friend quickly become tired causing him to back off the run while simultaneously easing his firm grip on the sphere.
Now, despite the fact that the rotor itself is absolutely perfect in its balance, it is still putting out considerable inertia as it slows down. This 'gyroscopic torque' is transmitted directly into the outer sphere, which is now sitting quite loosely in the Powerballers hand and begins to resonate or shake in sympathy with the slowing rotor (which itself will begin to 'jarr' or grate inside the sphere...making that awful rattling noise as the speed is violently scrubbed off as a result!).
The rotor is supported on a hardened steel axle which itself sits in a smooth polycarbonate support ring - this support ring is then sandwiched in between the lips of the two halves of the outer sphere - in a cavity of about 3 mm in height (this cavity, by the way, is what allows that 'play' in the rotor when the ball is stationary).
Each time the ball is allowed to slow down in this 'unsupported' manner and makes that grating noise as a result, tiny fragments of plastic are shed from that support band as it revolves around inside which, over a period of time will eventually cause that rough noise you are currently hearing in those older or incorrectly used balls.
In this instance, what can also happen is that the metal axle will begin to enlarge the hole(s) in the plastic rotor support band from perfect circles into larger oval shaped holes which results in an unpleasant play in the rotor and helps to slightly reduce the overall speed it can achieve.
The key, therefore, is to keep a firm grip on your Powerball at all times during which the rotor is spinning.
There are several solutions to cure the problem:
1. Get a high pressure air source, remove the counter and while the rotor is spinning at around 5k, blast the air jet into the top of the ball - this will serve to dislodge the plastic dust that has built up inside the cavity.
2. Remove the counter and submerge the ball in warm water (make sure there is no soap or contaminants in the water) – rotate the rotor several times to agitate the internal surfaces and help dispel any foreign matter. Remove the ball and all to dry over a radiator – it will speed up the process if you spin the rotor as normal.
3. Open the sphere and carefully clean all the inner surfaces with a soft dry cloth.
(NOTE, Your Powerball should never be lubricated....ever! That will kill it instantly!)
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