After watching this and other reviews i have just purchased one of these. I've replaced the grease as you described and the improvements are obvious. No problems at all. This Gimble is terrific value for money and is a solid piece of kit. Thank you for the info.
I replaced the grease in both swivels and it works decently now. When both knobs are tight, the cradle is level. If you undo either the paning knob or the swing arm knob, the head sags. However, I found the sagging of the base and the swing arm cancel each other out and the cradle is level again. This is slighty annoying if you don't want to have it either fully locked or fully loose.
Good Video … I am having a problem when I loosen the bolt where the gimbal attaches to the Tripod. If I tighten the lower knob, I have no rotation … if I loosen the knob, I gain the rotation but the Gimbal wobbles on the Tripod Screw. The more I rotate the Gimbal Counter Clockwise the worse the wobble. Suggestions? Gordon
They use a white colored thread locker on the base bolt. Put the base of the gimbal in a glass of boiling water for 15 minutes and the bolt comes out really easy. I had previously tried a large breaker bar with a 5.5mm hex bit and I couldn't move it. I tried a 1150 ft/lb impact gun and still nothing. The boiling water does the trick and the bolt comes out easy.
Hi. No it wouldn’t. Even without a camera it’s not evenly balanced. If you are looking for a super low angle use, I’ve seen some people modify an old cooking pan to have a screw in the center so you can attach the gimbal to that and still have a stable platform.
Would you know the hex tool size required to remove the base bolt and the cradle bolt. Also what exact size is the safety detent bolt on the vertical adjustable plate?
Hi Kenneth, on mine the safety bolt is a #3. The base bolt is a 7/32 and while I don’t have one on me to confirm, I believe the hex that’s inset on the cradle knob is a #6. Take care!
Thank you David, How did you remove the hex bolt in the bottom? How did you secure the ring at the bottom to allow enough leverage on the bolt. Mine WIL NOT come loose. Aany suggestions will help. thanks.
Hmm. I remember it being tight but not unreasonably so. Makes me wonder if they added some loc-tire or something. I was able to just hold it tightly to loosen. I know that doesn’t answer your question. Might be worth a try to ask on Amazon, maybe those that bought it more recently are having a different experience?
I played around with that with little success, but I do think that the right piece of material may do just that. Hard part was finding the right thickness. All my attempts were too thin and if too thick it won’t work because of the way it seats internally. But worth playing with!
The review of the gimbal that never mentioned that the center of the quick release plate is not alighned with the center of the base. (Turning for pana shots will be off center rotation.)
When you pull these things apart, do remember the screws are metric and assembled with Loctite which breaks down at 120°. Apply heat from a soldering iron is the usual dodge. You will damage the hex with an imperial wrench, and need a full size long Allen key to get them out. With the exception of the 1/4-20 and the 3/8 Whitworth, camera kit is metric. What on earth is farenheight? White lithium grease is useless, its sole purpose is waterproofing. You want an automotive bearing grease, practically any of them will do, a wheel hub type probably. Grease is oil plus soap, white grease is mostly the soap, not enough lubricant.
After watching this and other reviews i have just purchased one of these. I've replaced the grease as you described and the improvements are obvious. No problems at all. This Gimble is terrific value for money and is a solid piece of kit. Thank you for the info.
I agree. I’ve been really impressed for the price point. Take care!
@Keith how's your experience?
I replaced the grease in both swivels and it works decently now. When both knobs are tight, the cradle is level. If you undo either the paning knob or the swing arm knob, the head sags. However, I found the sagging of the base and the swing arm cancel each other out and the cradle is level again. This is slighty annoying if you don't want to have it either fully locked or fully loose.
Good Video … I am having a problem when I loosen the bolt where the gimbal attaches to the Tripod.
If I tighten the lower knob, I have no rotation … if I loosen the knob, I gain the rotation but the Gimbal wobbles on the Tripod Screw.
The more I rotate the Gimbal Counter Clockwise the worse the wobble.
Suggestions?
Gordon
Mine has always done the same. Never found a great fox for it unfortunately…
They use a white colored thread locker on the base bolt. Put the base of the gimbal in a glass of boiling water for 15 minutes and the bolt comes out really easy. I had previously tried a large breaker bar with a 5.5mm hex bit and I couldn't move it. I tried a 1150 ft/lb impact gun and still nothing. The boiling water does the trick and the bolt comes out easy.
Does the gimbal stand up straight when carrying camera with small lens without being attached to tripod?
Hi. No it wouldn’t. Even without a camera it’s not evenly balanced. If you are looking for a super low angle use, I’ve seen some people modify an old cooking pan to have a screw in the center so you can attach the gimbal to that and still have a stable platform.
@@davidschliepp4334 Sounds good.
Would you know the hex tool size required to remove the base bolt and the cradle bolt. Also what exact size is the safety detent bolt on the vertical adjustable plate?
Hi Kenneth, on mine the safety bolt is a #3. The base bolt is a 7/32 and while I don’t have one on me to confirm, I believe the hex that’s inset on the cradle knob is a #6. Take care!
They are all metric. Only use metric wrenches. You will even find 1/4-20 tripod screws have a metric hex hole.
Thank you David,
How did you remove the hex bolt in the bottom? How did you secure the ring at the bottom to allow enough leverage on the bolt. Mine WIL NOT come loose. Aany suggestions will help. thanks.
Hmm. I remember it being tight but not unreasonably so. Makes me wonder if they added some loc-tire or something. I was able to just hold it tightly to loosen. I know that doesn’t answer your question. Might be worth a try to ask on Amazon, maybe those that bought it more recently are having a different experience?
Could you add a washer to allow the hex screw to tighten the screw more and prevent the wobble?
I played around with that with little success, but I do think that the right piece of material may do just that. Hard part was finding the right thickness. All my attempts were too thin and if too thick it won’t work because of the way it seats internally. But worth playing with!
m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61NBxgxhvWL.jpg
Thank you
The review of the gimbal that never mentioned that the center of the quick release plate is not alighned with the center of the base. (Turning for pana shots will be off center rotation.)
You need to blink 😊
When you pull these things apart, do remember the screws are metric and assembled with Loctite which breaks down at 120°. Apply heat from a soldering iron is the usual dodge. You will damage the hex with an imperial wrench, and need a full size long Allen key to get them out. With the exception of the 1/4-20 and the 3/8 Whitworth, camera kit is metric. What on earth is farenheight?
White lithium grease is useless, its sole purpose is waterproofing. You want an automotive bearing grease, practically any of them will do, a wheel hub type probably. Grease is oil plus soap, white grease is mostly the soap, not enough lubricant.
just use blue threadlock not blue gloves lol!