Problem #2 - The Nut Is Weak:
Right out the box, I heard slack between the nut and swivel lathe with a cheap ringing sound. So before I published this review, I reached out Kabuki’s Customer Service to ask them if this was normal, and if I got a bad one off the production line. The rep relied:
“Thank you for reaching out to us at Kabuki Strength. The ‘play’ you are seeing with the nut on the ShouldeRok is typical when a plate is not attached. Once you introduce a change plate and use the nut to tighten it, you should no longer have that issue. If the nuts are any tighter, once you apply weight, say a 5lb or more, the tension will increase greatly and it becomes very difficult to remove the nut after use. I hope this helps.”
As you will see and hear in the review video, it does the exact opposite of what the rep said. It is insanely surprising to me there is not a rubber gasket on the nut to increase the friction against the swivel. With Chris Duffin being a 1,000lb deadlifter, he knows that even barbell collars have rubber on the insides to increase surface friction against the barbell sleeve so the plates don’t move. Yet, this fact is completely ignored having metal on metal with the nut and swivel lathe on the ShoudeRok.