Question for Neewer gimbal owners
Mar 16, 2016 15:01:48 #
Yeah, I know 70 bucks doesn't get much of a gimbal. But, this one seems well enough made to serve my needs. I can always move up in quality if I see I need better.
However, it is a little gritty in the pan motion. The swing arm was easy to disassemble and grease, but I can't get the cap off the top of the pan assembly to proceed. Seems like it should pop off with a knife blade or such but hasn't budged yet for me. I did pry the compass out to see if there was access under it (not going to put that dumb thing back in) but no access there.
Finally, my question. If you have disassembled yours to clean out grit and add new grease, what did you have to do to get the cap off? And was it ruined in the process?
thanks,
ron
However, it is a little gritty in the pan motion. The swing arm was easy to disassemble and grease, but I can't get the cap off the top of the pan assembly to proceed. Seems like it should pop off with a knife blade or such but hasn't budged yet for me. I did pry the compass out to see if there was access under it (not going to put that dumb thing back in) but no access there.
Finally, my question. If you have disassembled yours to clean out grit and add new grease, what did you have to do to get the cap off? And was it ruined in the process?
thanks,
ron
Mar 16, 2016 15:09:21 #
cucharared wrote:
Yeah, I know 70 bucks doesn't get much of a gimbal... (show quote)
If this is a new purchase, I'd send it back personally.
Mar 16, 2016 17:27:03 #
TomV
Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
Same issue here, I could access one joint but not the other. I bought myself a used Manfrotto 393 for about $150 ($174 new) from Amazon and like it much better. The usual camera dealers have it in stock. I feel much more comfortable putting my 12 lb 600mm lens in the Manfrotto.
Mar 16, 2016 17:55:20 #
cucharared wrote:
Yeah, I know 70 bucks doesn't get much of a gimbal... (show quote)
Might help to know the brand.
Mar 16, 2016 19:36:16 #
cucharared wrote:
Yeah, I know 70 bucks doesn't get much of a gimbal... (show quote)
That top cap will pop off. The early Beike models (Yes, the Neewer is a re-branded Beike 45) had plastic caps that popped right off. The later ones had an aluminum cap that took more prying. Inside you will see that the panning lock is just a long bolt that screws into the arbor, tearing it up more and more each time. This causes metal shavings to get in the grease and it will always be gritty because of that. There are no bearings to smooth the motion either. And no grease seal means you have to use very thick grease in it or it will melt and run out all over your tripod on a hot day. Some due diligence and a couple small files can make it work better though.
Mar 16, 2016 19:50:51 #
Capture48 wrote:
Might help to know the brand.
Neewer, it's in the title.
(I miss those myself)
Mar 16, 2016 19:53:05 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
Neewer, it's in the title.
(I miss those myself)
(I miss those myself)
Funny, I read Newer!
Mar 16, 2016 19:55:38 #
Capture48 wrote:
Funny, I read Newer!
Easy to do that with a name like that!
Maybe it's this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer®-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Standard-Release/dp/B00DIXYI36
(Could be worse. An Aputure brand- yes, that's the way it's spelled. Drives me nuts!)
Mar 16, 2016 21:01:25 #
Haydon wrote:
If this is a new purchase, I'd send it back personally.
I got it knowing it would probably need disassembly and regreasing. Why would I do that and then send it back?
Mar 16, 2016 21:02:15 #
Capture48 wrote:
Might help to know the brand.
You didn't notice that in the thread title?
Mar 16, 2016 21:17:09 #
cucharared wrote:
You didn't notice that in the thread title?
Nope, and you didn't read this thread.
Mar 16, 2016 21:23:05 #
MT Shooter wrote:
That top cap will pop off. The early Beike models ... (show quote)
All nicely machined and anodized metal except for the arm structure itself - it has a rubberized coating of some sort. Actually, it's pretty impressive for as cheap as it is. I found one cheap thrust bearing in the tilt mechanism and everything else is bushings.
I never did get the cap to come off, so I simply drilled a hole dead center in the cap and it let me access the allen head screw (I had already removed the compass). Easy-peasy after that. Blew it out good and reassembled with bicycle grease. I modified the locking screw by grinding the threads off the end and superglueing a brass tip on. I'm hoping that will take care of the mangling the screw would have done by itself. We'll see. I plan to fit the bubble level that was in the tightening knob into the recess over the hole I drilled to keep out dirt and such.
ron
Mar 16, 2016 21:26:07 #
Capture48 wrote:
Nope, and you didn't read this thread.
You are absolutely correct. I was just going down the posts and responding as I got to them.
ron
Mar 16, 2016 21:29:23 #
So is this the one you bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer®-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Standard-Release/dp/B00DIXYI36#immersive-view_1458178056974. ?
$66 bucks would be tempting.
Let us know if your fix lasts!
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer®-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Standard-Release/dp/B00DIXYI36#immersive-view_1458178056974. ?
$66 bucks would be tempting.
Let us know if your fix lasts!
Mar 16, 2016 21:41:04 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
So is this the one you bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer®-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Standard-Release/dp/B00DIXYI36#immersive-view_1458178056974. ?
$66 bucks would be tempting.
Let us know if your fix lasts!
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer®-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Standard-Release/dp/B00DIXYI36#immersive-view_1458178056974. ?
$66 bucks would be tempting.
Let us know if your fix lasts!
Yeah, that's the one. It was just too cheap to not try.
ron
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