Redrock FF Gear Lash

Tolerance stacking, it happens all the time. I remember trying to fix a brake on my car only to find out the el cheapo mexican mfg tolerances were way off. It's no fun suffering because of this. More expensive gear usually pays more attention to details, and details often make the difference.
 
i'm pretty certain the real reason is that you didn't actually purchase the gearbox upgrade. i made the mistake of assuming the upgraded gearbox would come with my follow focus, but it doesn't. even if it's a *newer* model you still need to buy the upgraded gearbox and install it, sorry.
 
scribbles said:
i'm pretty certain the real reason is that you didn't actually purchase the gearbox upgrade. i made the mistake of assuming the upgraded gearbox would come with my follow focus, but it doesn't. even if it's a *newer* model you still need to buy the upgraded gearbox and install it, sorry.
Click to expand...

That's evidently not correct. From the RedRock site:

"Please note the upgrade applies only to microFollowFocus units purchased before
11/2/2006 (or order number prior to SO12440)"
 
No, you DO NOT NEED to purchase gear box upgrade with the current new Redrock Follow Focus.

To make sure that you got the latest RR FF, check to see that the arm extension is 90 degree straight up. The top picture showed the older design FF that has a 45 degree sloping arm. Also note ther curvature near the 15mm rails holes. The bottom FF on that pic is thier latest design revision and is stiffer.


redrock_updates_ff01.jpg
 
The bottom one is what I've got. Maybe the gearbox is the old one somehow. Either way I'm gonna ask for a replacement.
 
It should be noted that the 90 degree arm will indicate a new gearbox, but a 45 degree sloping arm doesn't necessarily means old gearbox. For example, mine is the older 45 degree arm but with the new gearbox upgrade.
 
RR emailed me today that they'll send me a new gearbox. I sent the old one back this afternoon. Hopefully all will be well with the new one. I'll report back when I get it.
 
I finally received the replacement gearbox yesterday and the difference is night and day. Gear lash is for all intents and purposes negligible. If this is what "1.5-2mm" spec is like then the other one must have been an "inch". Makes me wonder where they measure the 2mm. If it's at the rim of the marking wheel then I don't get it. The other one measured 2mm there and was wildly loose compared to the replacement. It was literally unusable. Maybe someone can explain this to me.

Anyway, it's fully resolved beyond my expectations.

Booya...

...except for Redrock's painfully slow "customer service", which seems to be basically asleep most of the time. Relentless cage-rattling by me has been necessary almost every step of the way. Maybe they're working overtime trying to catch up on Matte Box orders (including mine) but...

When I ordered the FF, the site said a "5 day lead time to ship" was expected. Unfortunately, it actually went like this:

1) May 1: Initial online order placed. RR email confirms receipt of order.

2) May 6: Order evidently lost. Their order tracking system shows no record of it. I emailed to check status.

3) May 7: Order entered in RR system that day. RR email states speed crank is back ordered. Asks if I'd like the rest of the kit sent anyway. I immediately respond that yes I would as long as the total price isn't affected (by increased shipping costs).

4) A week passes. Nothing. Tick tock...

5) May 14: I email RR again about the above, receive automated non-reply.

6) Somewhere around May 19 I called RR and spoke to a woman who seemed only mildly surprised that I hadn't been responded to. I don't recall hearing anything in the form of an apology. She agreed to send the kit now, and the speed crank when it was in hand ("probably next week") without additional shipping charges.

7) May 24: Crankless kit arrives, gearbox is clearly wonky, this thread begins. Why I was ever shipped such a massively out-of-spec gearbox remains unexplained.

8) May 25: I posted about the problem at the RR forum, put YouTube video of it up with links to it here and at RR forum.

9) May 26: Andrew Lee responds at RR forum, suggests I watch their FF tutorials. I do so. They're irrelevant. I post there that everything is properly assembled, tightened etc.

10) May 27: Andrew emails an offer to replace the gearbox. Says he will arrange to "cross ship" the replacement immediately, as soon as he has a tracking number from me on the return. I immediately send the piece back and email RR the USPS Priority Mail tracking #. They'd have it physically by the 30th at the latest, but would presumably ship the replacement right away.

11) May 28: RR (Andrew I think) responds that a "cross ship request" has been entered.

12) ...tick tock tick tock tick tock...

13) June 2: I email asking if the replacement has shipped, receive reply that it will be shipped that day, by Fedex 2-day. Uh...hello? What happened to "cross shipping"? Apparently they waited to receive the returned unit, and for me to bug them again, two days *after* they received it, before shipping the replacement. Great...

14) June 4: I should have received it, right? Nope.

15) June 5: It finally arrives, and as I said above, is just great.

It took 36 days altogether though, and still no speed crank. I can certainly use the unit just fine without it, but...

...RR's site now has a new "lead time" page. Speed Crank says "20 days". Oy...

I'll post again when I receive the crank. Wait...actually, I've *already* received "the crank"...oh but that's of a different kind... : )
 
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Weird. I ordered twice from Redrock and was actually amazed at their shipping speed. I guess it's different for every items.
 
Ted, how long did it take for you to receive your FF? I emailed these guys but they havent replied. And I havent even ordered yet!

EDIT: Oops, sorry, posted before I got to page 3.
 
Folks

Thanks for giving us the feedback - we are equally frustrated because in the last month we have ensured all emails have been answered within 2 hours during business hours and within 24 hours for after hours. I have personally been watching this, and know they have been answered. We have found out that some of our email responses are not making it to you, and our ISP does not yet know why. If you *ever* have a question and you feel like you are not getting a response, please feel free to email me directly. While it's a technical glitch that is preventing our responses, it is still our full responsibility to make sure you get an answer in a timely fashion.

Thanks

Brian
 
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