Ultra2 vs Pro GPI vs XCS2

[Iain Baird]

definitely not wanting to resurrect the my post is longer than your post argument...but I have a silly question:

 

since the post locking rings on the pro2 are 2" in diameter...has anyone put a 2" gore-lock dock ring onto this knurled ring to be able to get the gimbal higher? I thought George had mentioned this locking ring was designed to be used as a dock ring in his docking bracket. I know it will only allow the gimbal to move up an extra 1/2" to 5/8" but that translates to 1.5" less post extension without adding weight.

 

told you it was a silly question

 

rb

 

Looking to achieve the same results I modified my MK-V 4 stage post to get the Gorelock Ring as high as possible.

 

 

I removed the top post clamp and replaced it with a 2" Gorelock ring, which now serves double duty as the docking ring and post clamp. The ring had to be machined to fit in the existing gap for the MK-V post clamp, the diameter is perfect but the ring is slightly taller so a small amount had to be machined off. The MK-V post had a built in docking ring that needed to be removed on a lathe and the Gorelock itself had to be machined wider by 2mm. I can now bring the gimbal all the way to the top of the carbon portion of the post, whereas I used to be limited to at least an inch lower because the docking ring sat flush with the top of the carbon portion and the gimbal was forced even lower to allow room to lift and lower the sled onto the dock.

[RonBaldwin]

thanks guys -- I know Jerry Hill makes 2" rings for 1.5" posts so I'll think about upgrading my gore-locks to 2". Maybe I'll stop by this week and try it out.

 

rb

[Matt Petrosky]

since the post locking rings on the pro2 are 2" in diameter...has anyone put a 2" gore-lock dock ring onto this knurled ring to be able to get the gimbal higher? I thought George had mentioned this locking ring was designed to be used as a dock ring in his docking bracket. I know it will only allow the gimbal to move up an extra 1/2" to 5/8" but that translates to 1.5" less post extension without adding weight.

 

Thanks for pointing this out Ron, I never measured and therefore never realized that the post locking rings are 2" in diameter. The only problem, other then cosmetic scratches, I can see would be what Alec mentioned, where the constant docking would slowly work the locking ring loose. Perhaps if the Gorelock ring were clamped tight and oriented in a way that you had a reference point, any drifting from the reference point would be noticed. Of course you could make checking this locking ring a regular habit, which is good to do from time to time anyway.

 

FYI, the PRO locking ring is designed to be docked on directly with a standard PIP-pin dock and the low-mode docking ring is built into the new post.

 

So for me to switch over to a 2" ring setup I would need at least one 2" post 2" Gorelock clamp, one 1.5" post 2" Gorelock clamp, and two 2" Gorelock forks (one for the cart). Hmm, let me know if you try this and if it works out Ron.

 

-Matt

[RonBaldwin]

Hey Matt,

I gave Jerry Hill a visit today and got the pieces you mentioned (two 2" gorelock forks, one 2" dock ring and one 1.5" id 2" dock ring). I'll let you know how it works when I use it on Monday. It allows you to get the gimbal about 5/8" higher than you can using a dock ring under the post locking ring. Here's a picture showing the gimbal back to the pro1/xcs ballpark.

 

the only bummer is the size of the new larger ring on the post for low mode...it seems to be almost the size of a dinner plate -- but it may add some lift or at least whistle during fast moving shots!

 

here are the 1.5" and the 2" next to each other:

 

rb

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

It allows you to get the gimbal about 5/8" higher than you can using a dock ring under the post locking ring. Here's a picture showing the gimbal back to the pro1/xcs ballpark.

 

 

Just as a Point of reference Ron, the XCS Ultimate has a Dock ring to mounting stage distance of 1 7/8" Almost a full inch higher

[RonBaldwin]

My Pro1 with 3 batts, XCS bubble level, tb-6 and Preston mdr is 22.5 lbs. The Pro2 is obviously lighter because it uses lighter batteries (a guess is 21 lbs in the same config?). The Ultra2 is 22 lbs with 2 power cubes, the ultrabrite monitor and Preston mdr. I seem to remember the XCS Ultimate sled being about a pound heavier -- but it's packed full of all sorts of electronic goodies and is a super stiff rig.

 

I should correct an assumption I made a few months back -- now that I have a pro2 I have (surprise!) weighed it. I was wrong about it being lighter than my pro1, the sled itself is about 2 lbs heavier. So with three hc-90's it works out to almost a pound more.

 

My pro2 with a tb-6 and no batts is 16.3 lbs...with a preston mdr and an xcs level and it's just over 18 lbs. Adding Steve Fracol's landing pad and a 7" pro plate to the mix and it's 19 lbs. Ouch.

 

rb

[RonBaldwin]

It allows you to get the gimbal about 5/8" higher than you can using a dock ring under the post locking ring. Here's a picture showing the gimbal back to the pro1/xcs ballpark.

 

 

Just as a Point of reference Ron, the XCS Ultimate has a Dock ring to mounting stage distance of 1 7/8" Almost a full inch higher

 

whoops! Maybe I measured it wrong. The ultimate I measured was really close to my pro1 which really surprised me (it was a comparison, not a competition)...but it was on Jericho so maybe I had dirt in my eye!

 

So if it's 1 7/8" to the top stage from the bottom of the dock ring...adding 1/2" for the xcs camera plate and 5/8" for the thickness of the gorelock + wiggle room, that's less than 3/8" difference I think?

 

rb

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

So if it's 1 7/8" to the top stage from the bottom of the dock ring...adding a half an inch for the xcs camera plate and a half an inch for the gorelock, that's a half an inch difference I think?

 

 

Since I use the same plate on the XCS as I used on the pro I don't count it since it's the same. I leave 1/2" for the gorelock and I had already subtracted that out of your photo. Real world the XCS ultimate allows the gimbal to be a full inch higher that the PRO and about 2" higher than a Ultra2

[RonBaldwin]

ah, ok.

 

The xcs sled I was using only came with the taller plate on it, which made them really close (I thought the diff was actually 1/8" at the time). I think Jeff Clark was with me, we were really surprised because we thought there'd be a huge difference and there seemed to be very little (again, the taller xcs plate/pro1 stock plate).

 

rb

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

My Pro1 with 3 batts, XCS bubble level, tb-6 and Preston mdr is 22.5 lbs. The Pro2 is obviously lighter because it uses lighter batteries (a guess is 21 lbs in the same config?). The Ultra2 is 22 lbs with 2 power cubes, the ultrabrite monitor and Preston mdr. I seem to remember the XCS Ultimate sled being about a pound heavier -- but it's packed full of all sorts of electronic goodies and is a super stiff rig.

 

I should correct an assumption I made a few months back -- now that I have a pro2 I have (surprise!) weighed it. I was wrong about it being lighter than my pro1, the sled itself is about 2 lbs heavier. So with three hc-90's it works out to almost a pound more.

 

My pro2 with a tb-6 and no batts is 16.3 lbs...with a preston mdr and an xcs level and it's just over 18 lbs. Adding Steve Fracol's landing pad and a 7" pro plate to the mix and it's 19 lbs. Ouch.

 

 

Wow that No battery weight is pretty much the XCS Ultimate's no battery weight, and yes I'm including the MDR.

[RonBaldwin]

Wow that No battery weight is pretty much the XCS Ultimate's no battery weight, and yes I'm including the MDR.

 

that's why I said ouch (Erwin posted the weights for his sled a few pages back, it was just over 19 lbs with an mdr). I can remove the foot/plate and shave off a pound if need be. Also (don't tell anyone...top secret!) George designed the hd post with a schrader valve so it can be filled with helium.

 

With the lighter batts the sled is quite a bit more top-heavy than the pro1 (why I wanted a foot/plate...a better way to set it down and more options for mounting batts lower without being a knee-banger). Now that I think about it...I'm pretty sure I posted about my experience with the xcs sled a few years back and that I found it was not as heavy as everyone thought -- a really nice sled!

 

rb

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Wow that No battery weight is pretty much the XCS Ultimate's no battery weight, and yes I'm including the MDR.

 

that's why I said ouch (Erwin posted the weights for his sled a few pages back, it was just over 19 lbs with an mdr). I can remove the foot/plate and shave off a pound if need be. Also (don't tell anyone...top secret!) George designed the hd post with a schrader valve so it can be filled with helium.

 

With the lighter batts the sled is quite a bit more top-heavy than the pro1 (why I wanted a foot/plate...a better way to set it down and more options for mounting batts lower without being a knee-banger). Now that I think about it...I'm pretty sure I posted about my experience with the xcs sled a few years back and that I found it was not as heavy as everyone thought -- a really nice sled!

 

rb

 

 

Yeah I'm just as surprised as you. In 24v mode my Ultimate is LIGHTER than your Pro 2. LOL

[RonBaldwin]

Yeah I'm just as surprised as you. In 24v mode my Ultimate is LIGHTER than your Pro 2. LOL

 

I guess if you are using one battery (I need two to run everything) -- also you are not taking into account the helium filled post (about 3 lbs of lift!). Take that you swine!

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Also (don't tell anyone...top secret!) George designed the hd post with a schrader valve so it can be filled with helium.

 

 

Oh and just for grins and giggles we pulled a vacuum on a race wheel/tire and weighed it then I filled it with air and it got 28grams heavier. then we pulled a vac on it again and filled it with Helium, 27 grams heavier than the vac.

 

so you're better off pulling a vac on that post!

[RonBaldwin]

so you're better off pulling a vac on that post!

 

will do...then it's on dude!

 

Meet you at Erwin's for a weigh-off and gimbal-off in an hr! Bring your Audi so I can drive over it if I lose.

 

seems we have succeeded in resurrecting this thread and escalating it to the point on ridiculousness without even mentioning Jumbos or Lisagav!