Bieke gimbal head problem

BeccaF

Suspended / Banned
Messages
179
Name
Becca
Edit My Images
Yes
I currently have a Bieke gimbal head which for the price I believe is great however for some reason the arca lock/thumb screw came all the way out (and possibly lost something). It still functions fine but I have to be careful when unscrewing as otherwise it comes apart if I unscrew it too much. Does that make sense LOL
Does anyone know a way this could be fixed? Or is it new head time?
 
The adjuster knob screws up and down the threaded part it looks like the threaded part's glue has gone hence it is unscrewing all the way out.
You need to glue it back in .
so take it all the way out then hold the thread lightly with pliers and unscrew the knob till it stops or you feel resistance . now add glue to the end of the thread and screw it into the clamp again pliers may help as you don't want the Knob screwing down .
Once the glue has set the knob should work as normal again .
Rob.
 
The adjuster knob screws up and down the threaded part it looks like the threaded part's glue has gone hence it is unscrewing all the way out.
You need to glue it back in .
so take it all the way out then hold the thread lightly with pliers and unscrew the knob till it stops or you feel resistance . now add glue to the end of the thread and screw it into the clamp again pliers may help as you don't want the Knob screwing down .
Once the glue has set the knob should work as normal again .
Rob.

Rob that's super thanks - I was worried I had lost some washer or retainer! Do you mean the end that screws into the plate or the end with the actual knob on?
 
The end that screws into the clamp wants the glue Not the knob

do a dry run so you can then see how far on the thread you need to put the glue on you need to be very close to being right so it would be an idea to put a lens plate in the clamp for the dry run .
Rob.
 
There is definitely
The end that screws into the clamp wants the glue Not the knob

do a dry run so you can then see how far on the thread you need to put the glue on you need to be very close to being right so it would be an idea to put a lens plate in the clamp for the dry run .
Rob.

Right I see it makes sense now, female alert LOL, what glue do you suggest?
 
So the whole security of the clamp rests on a blob of glue!!!
 
something like Araldite or that type of glue there are lots out there but not a rubber type .
Rob.
 
Ok Im going to be really blonde now but wont it get glue all over the thread as youre screwing it back in?
Sounds pretty brunette to me :D ... can you 'place' the glue into the far end of the screw-hole with a matchstick or something?
 
Not 100% sure what's happened here (need a pic) but it sounds like the whole bolt has come out, complete with the handle and moving side of the clamp?

In which case, to get that back in properly you need access to the bolt head that is hidden beneath the little bubble-level cap on the end of the handle. Need to get that cap off (it'll probably be glued in place) then screw the bolt back in - to the right depth - and secure it with Locktite so it won't come out again.

You'll probably have lost the two tiny springs that hold the clamp open but they're not essential. Just take extra care when mounting the lens.

Alternatively, you could leave the handle etc off and bolt another clamp on top of the platform. Lots of decent clamps on Amazon etc for a tenner. You'd drill a hole and find a suitable bolt.
 
Not 100% sure what's happened here (need a pic) but it sounds like the whole bolt has come out, complete with the handle and moving side of the clamp?

In which case, to get that back in properly you need access to the bolt head that is hidden beneath the little bubble-level cap on the end of the handle. Need to get that cap off (it'll probably be glued in place) then screw the bolt back in - to the right depth - and secure it with Locktite so it won't come out again.

You'll probably have lost the two tiny springs that hold the clamp open but they're not essential. Just take extra care when mounting the lens.

Alternatively, you could leave the handle etc off and bolt another clamp on top of the platform. Lots of decent clamps on Amazon etc for a tenner. You'd drill a hole and find a suitable bolt.

Yes that's it!!! Only I know whats gone wrong now!! The bubble cap came off and caused all the problems and I superglueed it back... that's why its not actually screwing in far enough now! Darn that's never gonna come back out the amount of glue I stuck it with LOL Funnily enough I never lost the springs hahaha

Would another alternative be just to buy another clamp and replace the screw/knob part entirely...would that work

I knew Mum should have given me a brother LOL
 
Yes that's it!!! Only I know whats gone wrong now!! The bubble cap came off and caused all the problems and I superglueed it back... that's why its not actually screwing in far enough now! Darn that's never gonna come back out the amount of glue I stuck it with LOL Funnily enough I never lost the springs hahaha

Would another alternative be just to buy another clamp and replace the screw/knob part entirely...would that work

I knew Mum should have given me a brother LOL

I'd stick (haha) with what you've got since it sounds like you still have all the right bits. You could buy something similar, like a Beike ball head, but the parts may not be exactly the same and you'd still have the problem of getting it apart and that's usually not at all easy when correctly assembled and Locktite/glued. (That's probably the cause of the problem - no Locktite on the bolt in manufacture so it's unscrewed itself and pushed the cap off the other end.)

Take it all apart, clean it up, and now you know how it works, put back together with a drop of Locktite on the clamp-end of the bolt. If you've superglued the cap back on, you may have to drill that out, but it's not a difficult job if you have the right tools and some mechanical nous. Only critical bit is screwing the bolt in to the right depth to clear the lens plate - experiment, count the number of turns, add a tiny bit more for easier working.

What about the guy down the road who fixes cars? Or take it to your friendly local garage?
 
Last edited:
Ok so now you have it in bits put some glue in the threaded hole wipe off any surplus then reassemble it spring's and moving side tighten it up and let it dry .
that should be it the idea is to glue the threaded bar that has the knob on into the clamp.
Rob.
 
Back
Top