Premium Members Wolfgang Troescher Posted November 19, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Today I wanted to exercise low mode operating with my new Zephyr + my new F-bracket. I re-positioned the post and tried to fix it with the gimbal clamp. Clack! - The clamp broke in pieces.... :angry: :( :unsure: I hope betz-tools where I bought my zephyr will fix it asap! Wolfgang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JobScholtze Posted November 19, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Today I wanted to exercise low mode operating with my new Zephyr + my new F-bracket. I re-positioned the post and tried to fix it with the gimbal clamp. Clack! - The clamp broke in pieces.... :angry: :( :unsure: I hope betz-tools where I bought my zephyr will fix it asap! Wolfgang WOW, that should not happen. I am sure betz will fix it asap. Give christian a call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Wolfgang Troescher Posted November 19, 2011 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Today I wanted to exercise low mode operating with my new Zephyr + my new F-bracket. I re-positioned the post and tried to fix it with the gimbal clamp. Clack! - The clamp broke in pieces.... :angry: :( :unsure: I hope betz-tools where I bought my zephyr will fix it asap! Wolfgang WOW, that should not happen. I am sure betz will fix it asap. Give christian a call Wrote Christian a mail already. If I imagine this happens on set... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jake Bulgarino Posted November 24, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Wow, what a bummer. Just from my own personal use with the zephyr and working with one at a workshop, I noticed as time goes on the clamp doesn't have a ton of durability and can become kinda finicky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinThwaites Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Hi Wolfgang Looks like you broke the adjuster screw. You should not need to tighten this to the point where this can happen to get a good lock. Send me an e-mail at robin.thwaites@tiffen.com with your details and I will send a replacement. As a note to Europeans the American threads fitted to Steadicam are coarser than metric threads and you need less turns to make an effective adjustment so go easy with the Allen wrench and "feel" what you are doing. If the gimbal clamp feels really tight to get it over centre the screw may have moved in transit or with use so don't try to force it. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Wolfgang Troescher Posted November 28, 2011 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Steadicam has been repaired by Christian Benz and his technician. Thank you Betz-Tools for fast service!!! A new bolt replaces the broken one. I hope it will survive upcoming operations. But a bad feeling remains... What if this happens again on set :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ryan Rodinis Posted December 4, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 something like this happened to me last night at the end of my shoot. it was difficult to tighten all day after going between low-mode and high-mode a few times, until finally before going to high-mode for my final shot (that i was unable to get, had to shoot it on fcuking sticks), the clamp would no longer tighten down - sounds like sand in the clamp/around post, like something's been grinding. going to take it apart today to check it out. not happy. at. all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Wolfgang Troescher Posted December 4, 2011 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Sounds awful! Honestly, I don't trust the clamps since one was broken. Every time I close them I hope they won't break. Especially if I have to tighten the clamp so the sled doesn't slip through the gimbal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ryan Rodinis Posted December 5, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 this is what I'm noticing: the metal catch with threads within the blue clamp is not rotating as it used to. it takes a lot of force to close it, even if I loosen the hex screw that tightens the grip of the clamp. the post length clamp works just fine. wonder if they are swappable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Olander Posted December 6, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 But a bad feeling remains... What if this happens again on set :unsure: A hose clamp in your kit is good, cheap insurance for possible gimbal clamp problems. Ugly and inconvenient, but it has saved the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Schlicher Posted December 6, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Yes, the post clamp is interchangeable with the gimbal clamp. With the Zephyr, instead of a hose clamp, you would be better off with a machine screw and thumb-nut, I think. this is what I'm noticing: the metal catch with threads within the blue clamp is not rotating as it used to. it takes a lot of force to close it, even if I loosen the hex screw that tightens the grip of the clamp. the post length clamp works just fine. wonder if they are swappable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted December 6, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 or a few dock rings/clamps to hold the gimbal where ya want it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Wolfgang Troescher Posted December 6, 2011 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Why didn´t Tiffen decide to use wing clamps like used for Archer? Are these clamps so much more expensive than these unreliable Zephyr-clamps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ryan Rodinis Posted December 16, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 after two emails to the Tiffen guys, still no reply. Anyone have links/images/exact names of solutions that can be purchased online or at the hardware store? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted December 16, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 as an emergency backup I always knew I could use my dock rings/post clamps or whatever you call them -- I carry an extra on for just such an occasion. Jerry hill sells them ($85 each I think) since tiffen isn't responding? I am sure mcmaster-carr will have a solution who's shipping will be more than the part. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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