503HDV question

[christopherbdnk]

Hey guys, I just purchased a used 503HDV. I've never used this head before, and I'm trying to figure out if I'm just an idiot or if something might be wrong (shipping damage). Everything works fine, it seems, except for the panoramic drag adjustment. I was testing it and noticed that tilt moves were fine, but pan moves had a jerky start and were difficult to stop. I know that the 503HDV isn't the best head in the world, but it seemed a little off, so I looked at the drag adjustment (http://sunsh9.com/images/IMG_0128.JPG the top one, not the bottom) and have noticed that at the 'least' drag setting it drags much more than when it's between either of the extremes. 'Most' drag makes it difficult to move, which makes sense, but in the middle is where the best drag setting for what I want to do is, and it's impossible to really find twice, the drag goes all over the place, and it makes a lot of clicking and popping sounds.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[SMGINC]

the old 503s had good drag the new ones are terrible. Try sending it back and getting a different one or just get a refund and go looking for an older 503, they really are good heads....

 

[Steffo]

the old 503s had good drag the new ones are terrible. Try sending it back and getting a different one or just get a refund and go looking for an older 503, they really are good heads....

I must agree, I have the old 503 Head, it's not the best head, but for the money, It's really great. I don't know why the new heads are that bad, but they are. I bought my head used, and I don't regret it. Saved me some money as well.

 

[christopherbdnk]

It looks like getting a refund might not be possible, as the seller things it occurred because of shipping damage, and because he had sent it uninsured, that it's on me to figure out what to do. He's offering $100 as a refund, which, with selling the broken head, might bring in enough money to buy a functional one, but I really just need something that works now, not in a few weeks, because of a shoot I have that can't be postponed.

So, this is what I am trying to figure out: is this just normal operation for the 503HDV head? I just can't suss out why the drag settings would be so erratic. If anyone else has this head, could you take a look at yours and describe how the panoramic drag seems to work for you?