Dylan Burton Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Hi everyone, am new to this game visiting this forum for the first time. I have a question; I've just bought a new steadicam Flyer and after only a few hours use noticed a change in the gimbal action - some looseness has developed in the connection between the yoke arms and the post gimbal. Suddenly it felt and sounded quite different, on doing the drop test I could hear the post and gimbal shifting weight, losing dynamic balance upon settling. In fact every time I tuned, rotated or drop-tested it the level would change again. This naturally affects the operation once it's mounted on the vest and used, seem to lose dynamic balance all too easily.This can't be normal surely? Just how much "play" is acceptable between yoke and gimbal? The unit is currently being looked at by a technician, but I'd like to understand the problem myself and what it's due to, has anyone had this experience - love to hear from you. Great forum by the way, learning a lot just reading and yes, I have done a workshop and have been practising the basics. Cheers, Dylan. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Hi Dylan, Where did you get the flyer from ? I've just sold my flyer but I never had any play in the gimbal. Are you talking about play in the two bearings connecting the yoke ? -matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Burton Posted June 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 Hi Dylan, Where did you get the flyer from ? I've just sold my flyer but I never had any play in the gimbal. Are you talking about play in the two bearings connecting the yoke ? -matt Hi Matt, Thanks for your reply. I bought the flyer brand new from LeMac here in Melbourne, Australia who sell and service them. Yes, the looseness is between the two bearings connecting the yoke arms to central post gimbal. -Dylan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 Keep us posted on the repair ! Perhaps it's a QC thing or even took a bashing on the flight to Oz? Unlucky never the less. From my experiance the flyer yoke/gimbol was fantastic for light to medium sized cameras. -Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Puli Posted June 22, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Hey Dylan I am based in Melbourne also. If you havent sent the rig back to Lemac yet give me a call next week and I would love to come and check it out and see if we cant solve the problem. I have used the Flyers a few times (I normally fly a Pro), always found it to be a great rig. I know Lemac had a few problems with theirs since they got it last year, but nothing this major from what I have herd. I dont know of any other Flyers in Melbourne except Lemacs so congrats on being the first in Melbourne to own one. So yeah as I said give us a call. James "JP" Puli Melbourne Australia 0413 231 337 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Burton Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Hey Dylan I am based in Melbourne also. If you havent sent the rig back to Lemac yet give me a call next week and I would love to come and check it out and see if we cant solve the problem. I have used the Flyers a few times (I normally fly a Pro), always found it to be a great rig. I know Lemac had a few problems with theirs since they got it last year, but nothing this major from what I have herd. I dont know of any other Flyers in Melbourne except Lemacs so congrats on being the first in Melbourne to own one. So yeah as I said give us a call. James "JP" Puli Melbourne Australia 0413 231 337 Thanks James, unit is currently being checked at Sydney Lemac office, when it's back here in Melbourne I shall give you a call. Cheers, - Dylan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pappas Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hey JP, What problems have Lemac had with theirs? I am curious now.... Dylan, Congrats on your Flyer purchase. I take it this means my Flyer will be doing less 'trips' to Melbourne anymore for Hires! Cheers, John Pappas Sydney (and ACT) 0425 253 554 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Puli Posted June 23, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hey John From what I have herd, they have had mainly rental wear and tear issues. Last time I went to test it at the Melbourne office, the locking screw on the dovetail, had been lost and they had noticed it and were rectifying it. Appologies to anyone who took offense to my pre editted post. JP Melbourne Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbalsdon Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 The fault turned out to be very minor. It was almost impossible to detect without it being flown by an operator. Melbourne Lemac sent the rig at their expense to their Sydney office where Rob Jones their factory trained Steadicam specialist is based. Rob had difficulty detecting the fault and asked me if I could come in and look at it. Once it was being flown on the arm, occasionally on extreme tilts down (90 degrees) I could feel a small click which in no way affected the shot. It turned out it needed one small spacer added to the yoke. This could have been due to settling in from use after it left the factory. The entire gimbal, yoke and handle were dismantled cleaned, lubricated and reassembled. I then retested the rig and judged it to virtually perfect. It is very unfair to condemn Lemac when they have actually been very thorough in finding the fault and rectifying it. Over the years I have occasionally needed urgent support in the field and Rob has driven out to locations with spare parts, dropping whatever he was working on at the time. I have never been in situation where Lemac have not been able to find a way to keep me going. Most (if not all) Tiffen equipped operators will find Rob has been equally supportive. Lemac have also assisted in providing equipment to workshops, even though some of those workshops are working with PRO rigs and Glidecam. It is very unfair for a novice operator to have presented this post here in this way, and unfortunate that unfair comment has been passed by someone who should know better and could have checked their facts first. By the way Dylan we're running a Flyer workshop in Melbourne first weekend of October. Phil Balsdon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Burton Posted August 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Have just returned from trip to NZ, luckily getting the rig back from LeMac Sydney just in time for departure. Rob in Sydney's Lemac office was most attentive and rigorously checked it out. Thanks Phil, for taking the time to check it out and test fly it. Between you both the problem has been rectified. Lemac at both offices were most helpful once the issue was recognised and identified. Thanks also to Macca for his assessment and feedback. The rig works well now and is a real joy to use. Cheers, guys! -Dylan. The fault turned out to be very minor. It was almost impossible to detect without it being flown by an operator. Melbourne Lemac sent the rig at their expense to their Sydney office where Rob Jones their factory trained Steadicam specialist is based. Rob had difficulty detecting the fault and asked me if I could come in and look at it. Once it was being flown on the arm, occasionally on extreme tilts down (90 degrees) I could feel a small click which in no way affected the shot. It turned out it needed one small spacer added to the yoke. This could have been due to settling in from use after it left the factory. The entire gimbal, yoke and handle were dismantled cleaned, lubricated and reassembled. I then retested the rig and judged it to virtually perfect. It is very unfair to condemn Lemac when they have actually been very thorough in finding the fault and rectifying it. Over the years I have occasionally needed urgent support in the field and Rob has driven out to locations with spare parts, dropping whatever he was working on at the time. I have never been in situation where Lemac have not been able to find a way to keep me going. Most (if not all) Tiffen equipped operators will find Rob has been equally supportive. Lemac have also assisted in providing equipment to workshops, even though some of those workshops are working with PRO rigs and Glidecam. It is very unfair for a novice operator to have presented this post here in this way, and unfortunate that unfair comment has been passed by someone who should know better and could have checked their facts first. By the way Dylan we're running a Flyer workshop in Melbourne first weekend of October. Phil Balsdon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Pascoe Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 The fault turned out to be very minor. It was almost impossible to detect without it being flown by an operator. Melbourne Lemac sent the rig at their expense to their Sydney office where Rob Jones their factory trained Steadicam specialist is based. Rob had difficulty detecting the fault and asked me if I could come in and look at it. Once it was being flown on the arm, occasionally on extreme tilts down (90 degrees) I could feel a small click which in no way affected the shot. It turned out it needed one small spacer added to the yoke. This could have been due to settling in from use after it left the factory. The entire gimbal, yoke and handle were dismantled cleaned, lubricated and reassembled. I then retested the rig and judged it to virtually perfect. It is very unfair to condemn Lemac when they have actually been very thorough in finding the fault and rectifying it. Over the years I have occasionally needed urgent support in the field and Rob has driven out to locations with spare parts, dropping whatever he was working on at the time. I have never been in situation where Lemac have not been able to find a way to keep me going. Most (if not all) Tiffen equipped operators will find Rob has been equally supportive. Lemac have also assisted in providing equipment to workshops, even though some of those workshops are working with PRO rigs and Glidecam. It is very unfair for a novice operator to have presented this post here in this way, and unfortunate that unfair comment has been passed by someone who should know better and could have checked their facts first. By the way Dylan we're running a Flyer workshop in Melbourne first weekend of October. Phil Balsdon Hi Phil, I've had my Flyer for about a year now and l have noticed a very slight vertical movement of about 1/2 mm where the "control handle" connects to the "gimbal". Is this the same problem or completly different? It doesn't seem to be an issue when l'm flying a camera but then again l'm no expert operator so l'm not in much of position to make much of a correct judgement. By the way Phil l'm booked into your Flyer Class in Melbourne later this year can't wait !!! Andrew P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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