Lane Machine Tip - Alex Smith

Mr. Myagi says, “Wicks on….Wicks off.”

The wicks in your DBA Phoenix are an integral part of the oil application process. Yet they are often overlooked. Do you, or your staff, know how to maintain the wicks to ensure the longest life out of them? It’s not difficult, but it does require a little time out of your schedule. However, this little bit of time now can save you time down the road by not having to wonder why bowlers are complaining about the shot. Let’s be realistic here…BOWLERS WILL ALWAYS complain about lane conditions…Don’t be the one giving them a reason to complain by having inconsistent conditions.

Fiction: scores just aren’t attainable with wick technology.
Fact: Multiple angles are what create scores

Wick Configuration is extremely important. It allows you to create multiple angles, in the pattern, for bowlers to use. This is more true in todays game than ever. The track can be anywhere between the 7 and 13 board. A typical wick configuration might be 7-3-5-5-5-5-3-7. The number represents how many boards each wick covers. The original set up was 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5. This was not a very conducive set up for scores, and many centers are still running this set-up without realizing they have options.  We have run many machines with a 7-3-3-7-7-3-3-7 configuration. This allows you to put out an optimum pattern with little effort.

After running your lanes for the day and you roll away the machine don’t just put it in place and walk away. Open the oil compartment and look at the wicks. Pull one out and examine it. Notice the build up at the transfer roller contact point? This build up can and will hinder wick flow to the transfer roller. This should be cleaned off after every use of the machine. Especially in centers of 16 lanes or more. Smaller centers may be able to get away with every 2 or 3 days depending on the centers’ environment. The following procedure works for all styles of the Phoenix wicks regardless if they are OEM or aftermarket.

Cleaning the wicks is very simple. It can be done in the operating position or upright.

1. Disconnect solenoid cable from the eyebolt on the wick plate.
2. Disconnect the springs from the eyebolts on the wick plate.
3. Remove wick from the oil tank.
4. With a CLEAN and DRY rag wipe across the contact portion of the wick
5. The build up will “ball up”. Simply pull the build up off.
6. While the wick is out, wipe down the plate.
7. Insert wick into the oil tank.
8. Reconnect the springs to the eyebolts on the wick plates.
9. Reconnect the solenoid cables to the eyebolts on the wick plates.

Never use any chemicals or brushes to clean the wicks. After time the wicks will lose their ability to recover or wick the oil quick enough to allow consistent conditioning of your lanes. Then it is time to replace them.  There are several options to wick replacement now.

• There is the original glue on wicks. This style is no longer available as an assembly but the wick material can be purchased separately as well as the adhesive. This process requires a good deal of preparation as well as time.
• Some manufactures offer a “glue less” version of the wicks. This is a great alternative. However it can be costly. It is hard to justify this expense if you are buying wicks to change your wick configuration.
• SBI offers an alternative to both of these problems. Let us do the work at a fraction of the cost of new wicks. We will send you a set of NEW glue less wicks. Then send in your old wicks for a core credit.
  

SBI Wick Exchange Program.

This is an exclusive service offered only by SBI. We will exchange your old wicks and plates for a new set of “glueless” style wicks for your DBA Phoenix lane machine. Wicks are the cornerstone of a consistent and good scoring pattern. All assemblies come with NEW wicking material and the plate are inspected, rebuilt, and adjusted! We couldn’t have made it any easier for you. For a fraction of the cost of new wicks and plates or the hassle of cutting and gluing wicks, let SBI deal with the headaches. And for those that have exchanged with us before, you can purchase the wick material only for even bigger savings!

SB-W03 (3” Wick and Plate Assembly)
$30.00 Exchange
$45.00 Purchase

SB-W05 (5” Wick and Plate Assembly)
$34.00 Exchange
$51.00 Purchase

SB-W07 (7” Wick and Plate Assembly)
$38.00 Exchange
$57.00 Purchase

SB-W10 (10” Wick and Plate Assembly)
$44.00 Exchange
$66.00 Purchase

Wick Material only
3”    $10
5”    $12
7”    $14
10”  $20