Questions about the Flyer LE arm

[Rick Lenstra]

Hi,

 

Yesterday I ordered a new Steadicam Flyer LE and it's doing it's job very well. Today I was trying to adjust everything (with help of the dvd) but there are two things that looked a bit strange to me.

 

The first thing is the "double action hinge". I found out that when I lift the sled upwards, the arm (and especially the "double action hinge" is not moving smooth, but it moves with shocks (step by step). Is that normal?

 

The other thing is that when I move the sled to a low postion, the springs of the forearm section is touchting the enclosure (you can hear and feel that). Is that normal too?

 

I hope someone can help me out with this :)

 

Thanks a lot in advance,

Rick

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Hi,

 

Yesterday I ordered a new Steadicam Flyer LE and it's doing it's job very well. Today I was trying to adjust everything (with help of the dvd) but there are two things that looked a bit strange to me.

 

The first thing is the "double action hinge". I found out that when I lift the sled upwards, the arm (and especially the "double action hinge" is not moving smooth, but it moves with shocks (step by step). Is that normal?

 

The other thing is that when I move the sled to a low postion, the springs of the forearm section is touchting the enclosure (you can hear and feel that). Is that normal too?

 

I hope someone can help me out with this :)

 

Thanks a lot in advance,

Rick

 

Hey Rick,

if you haven't had a workshop yet, well, time to take one. Worse case scenario find an experienced operator in your area and ask for help or training. Is gonna be a much faster learning curve.

hope it helps

Best

[Rick Lenstra]

Hi Fabrizio,

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

I will take a course, but it will take a few weeks before it starts.

 

I'm a little bit scared about the arm, because it's not moving very smooth and make some strange noises (cracking when the sled is being attached to the arm and what I described in my previous post), and I don't really trust it. So I hope that there's someone here who has experience with the Flyer LE which can tell me if it's normal or that there's probably is something wrong.

 

Rick

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Hi Fabrizio,

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

I will take a course, but it will take a few weeks before it starts.

 

I'm a little bit scared about the arm, because it's not moving very smooth and make some strange noises (cracking when the sled is being attached to the arm and what I described in my previous post), and I don't really trust it. So I hope that there's someone here who has experience with the Flyer LE which can tell me if it's normal or that there's probably is something wrong.

 

Rick

 

Hey Rick, is going to be really difficult from here to judge what's going on to your arm. That's why I was suggesting a local operator to take a look at. I had a Flyer, never had such a problem; Maybe film yourself and the rig, then upload somewhere (vimeo i.e.)in order to better understand where the problem is (if there is any) and solve it.

Hope it make sense

F

[Rick Lenstra]

I understand.

 

I've recorded it and you can view it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZP2hKauPJM.

 

I've added three spotlights to the video. The first one is the the lowest point of the forearm which is touching the enclosure.

 

The second spotlight shows that the double acion hinge is not moving smoothly, which is caused by the upper arm section.

 

The third spotlight shows the place where the arm is cracking when it comes from the highest boom position (and also when you attach the sled to the arm). When it's in position it won't make cracking noises anymore, but when it was in the highes boom position and I pul it downwards, it cracks again.

 

I hope that someone had an idea what can cause there things and how to solve it.

 

Thanks a lot in advance,

Rick

[Erik Brul]

Hey Rick,

First congrats.. !

 

Second, i don´t think there is much wrong here.. The travel between low and high seems (as looking at the Sled behaviour) is going fine.

It looks indeed a bit nervous but ´normal´ when looking at your LIGHT setup, a really light camera and one large vmount brick below. The official weightrange for the Flyer is between 5 lbs and 19 lbs. But many Flyer operators will agree that a payload starting at 12 lbs or more, is more in the ´smooth´ range of the rig. If you try a heavier setup i think you should see a difference how the arm is handling this weight.

 

What happens if you turn down both knobs completly ? (start with the for-arm) .. is the arm then below horizontal ? ..

Your last remark is about cracking sounds.. but the youtube video is without sound. Cracking sounds is NOT good.., contact Tiffen for this !

 

Best, Erik

 

ps. where did you bought the rig, fotokonijnenberg ?

[Rick Lenstra]

Thanks a lot, Erik! Yes, I bought it at foto konijnenberg.

 

The camera is light indeed, but when the knobs are in the middle area the arm is already in the lowest position. Is it better to make it heavier on top? Or can it also be a extra battery below? You think that the "problem" is solved by adding more weight?

 

About the cracking, I will contact Tiffen.

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Hey Rick,

from what I can see your arm is extremely nervous, you should undo the wheels on both forearms in order to let it sit almost horizontally, there it should be, without forcing it to be there. Why you have it halfway? The camera looks really light...

That should solve most of your problem. Otherwise, with your set up looks like if you leave your hand grip the sled is going to take off...not so good if you want to keep some controls on in.

If you can't attend a workshop soon, get at least Jerry Holway's book.

Apart from that, what's your drop time? Your sled looks both too long and too bottom heavy, this could help as well, somewhere between two-three seconds is a good start.

 

P.S.:Before to add weight, learn how to set it up, if not you can easily hurt your back, safety first!!

Have fun

[Rick Lenstra]

Hi Fabrizio,

 

I understand what you mean, but this was actually just to show what I've found out. It's not the way I use it normally :)

 

The sled is not bottom heavy, it has a drop time of 3 seconds. Everything is in balance and the wheels are halfway because only then the arm is horizontally (I've read it in Jerry's book which I ordered before I decided to buy a Steadicam). I tried every position, but it doesn't fix it.

 

Do you mean that the two weels on the arm have to be at the top position?

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Hi Fabrizio,

 

I understand what you mean, but this was actually just to show what I've found out. It's not the way I use it normally :)

 

The sled is not bottom heavy, it has a drop time of 3 seconds. Everything is in balance and the wheels are halfway because only then the arm is horizontally (I've read it in Jerry's book which I ordered before I decided to buy a Steadicam). I tried every position, but it doesn't fix it.

 

Do you mean that the two weels on the arm have to be at the top position?

 

Hi Rick, absolutely not;

the arm position is important, not the wheels. At this point I warmly suggest you to pay a visit to any operator nearby and look for some help. I know some on this board that live very next to your door. Make a research on members in Amsterdam and you'll find out that help could really be next door. It's a nice community, if you show up with your rig somebody will take a look at it. Some of them have been teaching in workshops, so great experience there.

Let me know

F

Edited July 24, 2009 by Fabrizio Sciarra

[RobinThwaites]

Hi Rick

 

To me it looks like your socket block is not adjusted correctly (the thumb screws), this will change everything you do. Can I suggest a workshop is the way to go?

 

Robin

[Rick Lenstra]

Hi Robin,

 

I tried everything but I don't understand why it's acting strange. And of course I will take a workshop, but it takes a few weeks before it starts. And because I just bought it, I'd like to be sure that everything is working correctly, because when I wait a few weeks/months it's harder to prove that the problem was already there when I received it ;)

 

Ps: Have you received my e-mail from last friday about the cracking of the arm?

 

Rick

Edited July 27, 2009 by Rick Lenstra