Do any of you know if the JOY's flyer is prone to wobbling if NOT bent?

The flyer on my JOY wobbles, but by several testing methods I have determined that it is probably not a bent flyer but something else. Ashford says that some wobble is to be expected, the dealer wants me to wait and see for a few months. Do any of you know if the JOY's flyer is prone to wobbling if NOT bent? The whorl wobbles, too, but in a different direction. The flyer wobble is about 1/8" total, but when you figure the orifice is only 3/8", that's a big proportion of the thing. 

 A: I hope this can help you understand some of the dynamics that occur with any castle style wheel, and particularly a flyer that is only supported at the back end. There are two physical things that you may have identified as the JOY flyer wobble. If as a spinner you have been used to a traditional wheel with the flyer to the side, there is a small noticeable wobble when moving to the JOY. It comes from a few physical factors. 

First, any flyer that is only supported at one end instead of by two maidens is apt to "wobble" as it is turning. The end that is supported is turned into a sealed ball bearing. If the flyer were glued into the support then it would be firm. But as spinners we want the flyer to turn and put twist into our yarn as we spin. The extended end amplifies the movement that is necessary as it spins. 

Secondly, you may be feeling the rotation in the orifice. In most castle style wheels, that only have a back support, the length the yarn travels inside the orifice is much shorter than on the traditional wheels. Perhaps only 3/4 of an inch compared to 2 inches. You know this because the traditional wheels need a longer threading hook to pull the yarn through. The wobble that one feels, actually comes from the exit path the yarn travels toward the bobbin as the flyer spins. With the shorter inside length it is not moderated inside of the orifice. 

The other physics factor is that the orifice is directly in the center and most people spin straight into it, instead of slightly off to the side as traditional wheels often require, (since the flyer is off center). If you will try just for a bit, to draft without being lined up to the flyer, you will see the difference that I'm trying to explain. Drafting off center can be done by simply sitting a bit cock-eyed to the wheel. Then the yarn exits against the side of the orifice.

This rotational phenomenon comes with most of the straight-on, center flyer style wheels. Some people are more sensitive to it and find it annoying, others find it is like a counter telling them how many twists have been created. Delta or hook style flyers are found on other style wheels. If you don't draft straight toward these hook or delta flyers then you get the a flick or jerk on your yarn as as it comes off of the side of the hook or the delta. 

 One other note is that I do my drafting as far away from the orfice as I can be. I never "feed" the yarn into the orifice of any wheel. But I sit well back in my seat and usually have about 18 inches of yarn between the fiber and the orifice. That distance also reduces the feel of the wobble. I use my JOY wheel for most of my teaching since it is so portable and quick at bobbin changes.