Foosball Tables > Tornado > Bumpers
Tornado Foosball Rubber Bumpers
|
|
Bumpers are a critical component to your table that are installed between the two outer men on the rod and the table. These prevent the table from slamming against the cabinet walls and bearings that could cause a lot of damage over time. They are made of rigid black rubber with the goal to not have much flex when hitting the wall. You won't see this in other manufacturers, but the current Tornado versions have holes cut out on one side to help disperse the impact when hitting against the wall. These holes are intended to be installed facing the "outside of the game" or the wall, NOT facing the men.
|
|
First Generation Bumper Design
Back in the 1970s, the first bumper design wasn't all that different visually from what we know today. They were still black circular pieces of rubber used on the sides of the last guy on opposite ends of the rods. However, they also used black fiber washers on both sides of the bumper that had a larger diameter than the bumper itself. This design with three unique parts was not nearly as efficient at absorbing the impact to the man, bearing and wall. The first version of rubber was also completely solid, compared to the third and fourth generation that have holes pre-drilled out on one side of the bumper to help disperse impact. |
|
|
Second Generation Tornado Bumpers
Not all models were made with the second generation bumpers as we only see this present on some low end versions like the Thunder. This model was made during the period of the Brunswick Billiards ownership so it could have been a one-off design choice made by them at the time. However, the bumper is still a black rubber style with two grooves in the center changing the diameter from being consistent that we see in later bumper designs. It also does include a black metal washer between the bumper and the man. You can tell this was prior to the roll pin mounting system as the players are mounted with standard bolt and nut hardware at the time. |
|
|
Third Generation Tornado Bumpers
The next version of the bumper resembles more of what we know today that comes standard on all their models. This is when the entire bumper has the same width all around and there is no longer fiber washers on either side of the bumper causing a different diameter. You will also notice the player is redesigned to align with the bumper to have the exact same width, thus replacing the need for the washers. This engineering improvement ensures there is a complete point of contact between the man and the bumper at all times. This leads to less flexing of the rubber and allows the bumper to quickly absorb any impact when it comes in contact with the bearing on the wall. Also introduced here in the second generation design by the engineering team was the pre-drilled holes that should be installed facing the bearing on the wall. These holes help to further disperse the impact. |
|
|
Fourth Generation Tornado Bumpers
In 2009 with the release of numerous upgrades on their tables, Tornado also upgraded the rubber bumpers to be slightly wider and made out of a more dense rubber material. As you can see by the comparison picture, the old bumpers were thinner on the hole side and wider on the side that went up against the table. The new bumper is slightly wider and completely flat without the sloped outer edge. The new dense material will last longer and won't give as much when it comes in contact with the table at high speeds. |
|
|
Tornado Replacement Bumpers
The rubber bumpers will tend to wear down over time just like any part. One of the ways you can protect the life of your bumpers is to always use silicone on the rods instead of aerosols or WD-40 which can break down their rubber components. Also, there is an old bar hack to slide the bumpers up and down the rod to help lubricate them when you don't have silicone on you. Don't do this to your home model as that can break down the inner material. Whether you are looking to replace old, worn out bumpers or just simply upgrade to the newer style, you can find these as replacement parts online. You will need a total of 16 to perform an entire table upgrade, 2 for each of the 8 rods. |
|
Foosball Bumper FAQs
What Are Tornado Foosball Bumpers?
Tornado foosball bumpers are thick black pieces of rubber in a circular shape that go between the last men on each rod to cushion the impact when it hits the inside of the table wall. This is a barrier that protects both the men and the inside of the table wall from damage over time.
How Do I install Foosball Bumpers?
|
Because Tornado makes a unique bumper design with holes positioned only on one side, it is important to realize these holes need to be installed correctly so they point towards your wall. After your table has the bearing installed, push the rod through the hole and then thread the items onto the rod in the following order:
|
|
What is the difference between bumpers and Bearings?
A bearing is a black plastic part that is used to slide into the holes of the table and allows the rods to move freely back and forth. They provide a floating effect for the rods to be able to move and spin around and reduce the friction you would have if they were just touching the wood.
A bumper is the black rubber that slides into the rod and provides a cushion when the rod meets the table wall. The bumpers do also come in contact with the bearing, making them protect the men, bearing and walls from damage.
A bumper is the black rubber that slides into the rod and provides a cushion when the rod meets the table wall. The bumpers do also come in contact with the bearing, making them protect the men, bearing and walls from damage.
