Maniac 2 Bolt Hole?

[gramey]

Well apparently according to Fast Lad, Robbe are saying that users are expected to redrill the holes so that the bushes end up as press fit into the blades. Idea being that if both bushes were the same OD then pushing out the previous bush would mean the new one was not a tight fit. Im not buying that.

Needless to say i went ahead and drilled them out. They actually have some aluminium inside the root as well as wood. Just have to be very careful to keep the drill perpendicular to the blade. I guess Robbe expect every one who buys Maniacs to have a pillar drill and bench, lol.

Said i wouldnt buy anymore maniacs after the 600 ones but since FL was out of Torions i bought them since they were the same price. DEFINATELY not again.

Sorry to jump in on your thread but having read this I checked the 703 Maniac 2's I'd ordered for my gasser and yes they have 4mm bolt holes and I have 5mm bolts.
I just wanted to ask if you actually drilled the 4mm sleeve out or is it a press fit that can be pushed out. I can see that the blades will then drilling for the larger insert but I just wanted to try and find out how to get the existing one out.
I didn't want to go drilling when I needed to be pressing or vice versa so any advice would be gratefully received thanks.

[Craig33]

I like Maniac blades but just too many inconsistencies to merit sticking with them.

I just supported the blade at one end then used a socket underneath the root with some padding so as to not damage the gel coat, then used a hex driver to chap out the insert.

To drill out the hole I used ( I think) an 8mm drill. Wrapped both sides of the root in brown packing tape and a block of wood at the back. The tape stops the gel coat cracking. Then just pressed the bigger inserts in with my hands.

[Tim Procter]

I mentioned this topic to Andy Hornyak at Fastlads this afternoon Craig.

Seems they are actually "thinking" of returning the whole batch back to Robbe on account of this blunder by BBT.

[Craig33]

Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully with a tactic like that Robbe (and then BBT) will be forced to action some changes. Heres hoping some good comes out of it.

[Brewber]

Necro - any update re: Maniac 2 bolt hole diameters? Wish I'd seen this thread when I got some Maniac 2s for my Vigor. Thank god for The Manager, his drilling abilities (fnar fnar) and his vice.

I love the look and feel of Maniacs but its too much to expect to fricking drill/press/force bushes out etc. Guess the Align Ds will be tried next.

[Steve]

Necro - any update re: Maniac 2 bolt hole diameters? Wish I'd seen this thread when I got some Maniac 2s for my Vigor. Thank god for The Manager, his drilling abilities (fnar fnar) and his vice.

I love the look and feel of Maniacs but its too much to expect to fricking drill/press/force bushes out etc. Guess the Align Ds will be tried next.

When we drilled out your blades with an 8mm bit, we found a hefty aluminium plate right through the centre of the blade. I did try to ream it by hand at first but the reamer wouldn't go through. Once drilled, the reason why was clear. The replacement inserts were then a tight push fit, and we gently squeezed these into place using a vice with nylon jaws.

It's an odd situation really. I can understand them supplying inserts for alternate diameter bolts, but you'd expect the outside diameter of the inserts to be the same and thereby remove the need for any drilling.

[Craig33]

Manager, i thought the same thing. I guess BBT/Robbe think this is plank modelling whereby you have to modify every part to make it fit. I asked Wilshire about it and he said something along the lines of "what do you expect from someone who makes blades in bath tubs". How close to the truth that is i have no idea but his opinion certainly ties in with the inconsistency's of maniac blades.

[Matt Gill]

I`ve given up with Maniacs / Maniac 2's. Most model shops are sending their 4mm blades back to Robbe I am told and it will be a while for the 5mm replacements to come through.

690 Radix are on my machines at the moment but I am going to try the Align 690D as they seem to get good reviews and are about £15 cheaper than Radix!

[Tim Procter]

I am going to try the Align 690D as they seem to get good reviews and are about £15 cheaper than Radix!

Both perform and look well.

[Matt Gill]

Very nice canopy Tim.

[Sesame]

quick update on my situation with robbe, I sent my faulty maniacs 703's with a loose weight back to them about a month ago, Ive been told im getting a replacement when the shipment comes in, infact ive been told this for the last 3 weeks, ill be rining them again tomorrow, and I expect to get the same brush off.

Each time the call gets a little more heated, and I get a little more fed up, their customer service is rubbish and I would expect that it will be sometime before anyone there actually manages to pull a finger out and actually sort out incorrect hole sizes on the Maniac 2's.

for replacments on my 700 a new set of 690D's are being ordered.