Premium Members Leigh Hubner Posted June 1, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Hi there Hoping someone can help me with a small problem. I have a BFD kit (focus/iris) with 2 M26P motors. Doing mostly video jobs I dont use them often and when I do, its always focus. Yesterday I had a job that didnt need the iris but I said I could fit it if the DOP wished. Ok, no worries. This was the first time I had used the iris motor on a lens. (have tested it several times.) Long story short, the motor is just spinning. It doesnt happen until you try and set the calibrate the motor. ie: You can turn on the reciever and its ok, when you move the centre switch on the reciever to one end, it goes bananas! Today I started the process of elimination. I tried different cables, recievers, transmittors etc. It only happens when there is strain on the motor. If you take the motor of the lense and calibrate it, all is fine. WHAT THE!! If anyone has heard of this, let me know. Also, if anyone knows who I should call re: fixing the problem, give me a bell. While we are talking motors, what do you recomend as another to buy? I would like one of the vertical motors. Brands, types?? Any thoughts appreciated. Leigh Hubner Australia lhubner@caloundra.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted June 1, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Sounds like a motor issue moreso than the BFD (since it calibrates fine when there's no strain on the motor). Hate to say it, but over the past several years, I've heard about way too many problems with the M26 and M28 series motors from Heden. Do you always use the same motor for focus (in combination with the same BFD unit)? Did you try (in your process of elimination) to use the other motor (the one you usually use for the focus) on the iris? And then try both the BFD units? If the problem only exists with the same motor (no matter which BFD unit you are using) it is obviously a motor issue. I would call Jim Bartell first. He's a wise and good man and probably heard of this issue with the Heden motors before. He might be able to give you some insight into the problem. This way when you call Heden, if they try to blame it on someone/anything else, you have back up ammo. Once fixed or replaced, sell it and get the M-One's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted June 1, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Thanks for the support Michael! It could be that the gear between the potentiometer and the output gear is loose. It works OK until the motor is pressed up against the lens gear and the gears are loaded down. This puts pressure on the pot shaft causing the drag to increase and the gear slips. When the problem occurs check the end of the pot shaft and see if it is turning as the gear turns. If not, the potentiometer gear needs replacement. It cannot be tightened as it is a friction fit. I believe Lemac is the distributor in Australia, but I can't check as their website is currently down. BTW, the problems with the BFD & Heden motors only occurred the the M28V motors, not the M26's. Also, Leigh, I now sell direct into Australia, not through Lemac anymore so feel free to contact me directly if you need anything. And I second Michael's recommendation about the M-One. Jim "When I'm good, I'm good, when I'm bad, I'm better" Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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