RCV2 Strap Slipping on Thin PP Strap? Clean the Gripper Plate and Use Level 1 (Videos)

If your RCV2 tensions fine on PET or heavier PP but the strap slips on thin PP (around 0.020" x 1/2"), it almost always comes down to two things: strap shavings packed into the gripper teeth after a strap tore, and a tension level that is too high for the strap. Our technicians recorded two short videos that show the fix. Both have English subtitles.

Part 1: Clean the tension wheel and gripper plate (1:15)

You need the 10 mm open-end wrench from the accessory bag and a small pick or needle.

1. Remove the strap guide. Unscrew the bolt on the side of the tool with the 10 mm wrench, lift the handle slightly and pull the black guide outward.
2. Lift out the tension wheel. With the guide off, the knurled wheel comes straight out.
3. Look at the gripper plate and the wheel. Every time thin strap tears during tensioning it leaves shavings in the teeth. Once the grooves are full, the teeth stop biting and the strap slips.
4. Clean along the grooves with the pick until the teeth are clear. Don't file or grind the teeth.
5. Reassemble in reverse order and set the tension to level 1 before you strap again (Part 2).

If the teeth still look rounded or polished after cleaning, the parts are worn. They wear together, so replace both: RCV2 tension wheel BE1030001 (pack of 2) and RCV2 strap gripper plate BE1006015 (pack of 2). Both are stocked in Whittier, California.

Part 2: Tension setting for thin PP strap (2:12)

The strap in the video is 10.8 mm x 0.6 mm PP, close to 1/2" x 0.024". The same settings apply to 0.020" strap.

1. Set the tension to level 1, the lowest. Press F once until the tension icon flashes, then step down with the minus button.
2. Tap the tension button; don't hold it. Press and release, press and release. Each tap pulls the strap a little tighter.
3. Stop when the strap won't move any further. That is already very tight for thin PP. Pull the weld handle to seal.

Why not just hold the button? On level 1 the wheel pulls to the set tension and stops. Past that point the wheel slips on the strap, and on thin PP it tears the strap instead of gripping it. Every torn strap packs more shavings into the teeth, and you are back to Part 1.

If it still slips

• Check that both strap layers lie flat on top of each other in the tool with no twist.
• Thin PP is at the light end of the RCV2's range (1/2"–5/8" wide, 0.016"–0.047" thick). A slightly heavier PP such as our 0.030" PP strap grips more reliably and still welds at level 1–3.
• More causes and fixes are in the RCV2 troubleshooting guide.

Still stuck? Call or email support. We repair these tools in Whittier and can look at a photo of your gripper plate.

Phone +1 (562) 203-3004, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Pacific · support@rockcub.com