Flyer arm bearings

[joe mcnally]

Hello all

just wondered if anybody knows where I might be able to get two or three bearings for the Flyer arm.

Thanks for any leads

Joe McNally

[chris fawcett]

Where are you based, Joe?

 

I can put a couple of my own spares in the post (or Fedex?) tomorrow morning, Amsterdam time, if it's a big rush.

 

Chris

[joe mcnally]

Thanks Chris

 

what can I say Im speechless.

 

I was thinking I would need to trawl through all the websites and back street machine shops for the next few months sourcing these.

 

Did you get them with the arm or did you have yours break up too and need spares ?

 

Well no mad rush but you know how it is the phone rings and I would like to be ready.

 

I dont know about everyone else but I find all jobs seem to be booked at the last minute nowadays even when production have been planning the shoot for maybe a year suddenly the night before the shoot "oh we might need a Steadicam tomorrow".

 

The ones that have failed are the link closest to ones body at the bottom.

The hole in the arm that the bearing goes into is 12.68mm dia as the bearing outside diameter.

It has a shouldre at 13.87mm to stop it falling through the arm hole.

It is 5.51mm in length.

The shaft they sit on is 6.33mm dia and 65.5mm long.

There might possibly have been a washer or spacer in the system too but it is so craunched that I cannot tell.

 

Really like to take you up on your offer can I contact you off forum and I will try to arrange courier or postage.

 

Thanks Chris I will be sleeping a little more soundly tonight

Cheers for now

Dank u wel

Joe McNally

 

 

 

for all knockers of this forum keep a note of this for the next time people are putting it down.

 

 

 

Sorry Chris

I am in London UK

Joe

[Matt Burton]

Hi Joe,

How long was it befor you needed the bearings for your fyler arm ?

I have hammered mine since the day i got it but it's standing up very well at the moment.

Just curious

-Matt

[chris fawcett]

Joe,

 

I assume that the bearings are the same size all over the arm. They look the same, but I haven't measured them to your impressive level of accuracy.

 

You know how to dismantle the arm, I suppose. If not, please take advice. Perhaps someone on the forum has practical experience. Failing that, I know in theory, but as Chuck Reid said: "In theory there's no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is."

 

No, like Matt's, my arm has never had a problem. It feels, if anything, better than the day I bought it. These bearings are the ones I replaced in the bronze bushing revision.

 

Call me this morning on +316 2391 8492 or text me your address. Priority post should reach you by tomorrow or, at worst, Monday.

 

Chris

[chris fawcett]

Here's a thought.

 

Why not put the bronze bushings in the lower section where the bearings failed? They will have the same damping effect, and are bullet proof. Harder to fit there, though; but if you have to replace the bearings anyway, it might be worth swapping them around.

 

Spooky: Mikko just emailed me with the same plan. Actually, it was probably his idea in the first place. I seem to remember stealing it off someone.

[joe mcnally]

Hi Chris

just a quick note to say a big thankyou.

The bearings arrived yesterday and I have put the arm back together again. All seems good for the moment.

I like the idea of the bushes but I will give the bearings another chance maybe they where just fitted badly.

This is the second Flyer arm that has failed badly after one or two days use, new buyers be very beware

I will try to locate some replacement bearings to send back to you as soon as I can.

I have been speaking to Bryan at Bees Engineering, UK. He has a huge range of replacement parts and knowledge of arms and rigs.

Big thanks again Chris and hope I can return the kindness soon

Joe

[joe mcnally]

Ooops. sorry that should have been 'Brian' at Bees Engineering

and yes Brian I should be in bed and if I'm not in the next hour or so I'm going home

Joe

[chris fawcett]

Glad to be of help, Joe.

 

I'll try fitting bushings to the lower section of my arm, to see how it responds, and I'll post if it works. Where exactly did you experience the problem? I've inspected my arm, and all is well after nearly a year of use.

 

Chris

[joe mcnally]

Hi Chris

would be great if Tiffen would put a blow up drawing of parts for their range on their website then we could be a little more specific, hint, hint.

Ill try to take a picture ASAP.

With the arm in front of you forearm on the left and socket pin on the right.

From the right travel along the arm past the rod end bearings to the bottom of the first arm section.

at the top is a knurled screw that adjusts the arm tension below this is a circlip, pin and bearing below this is a 1" slot where the tension adjustment move is made and below this is another circlip, pin and bearing.

This is the area wher the bearings failed.

Having replaced them my suspicion is that whoever installed the original has accidentally disturbed the cover for the bearings when installing the pin this has led to the ball bearings falling out and all sorts of knarling going on.

Just out of interest my original Flyer arm has double bearings at some of the joints.

Cheers

Joe