I have an old O'Connor Fluid head. Model 30. The thing is built like a tank and took my fully loaded 28 pound two-bricked DXC-D30 Betacam Camera, with a prehistoric BVV5 back, with ease and precision.
A few years ago, it started acting poorly, so I called O'Connor to see If I could get it rebuilt. To my surprise, they said they no longer supported it and did not know anyone who could do the work. They had no diagrams, manuals or parts blowups. They were pretty much useless. (pretty dissapointing for a company that essentially invented the fluid head to begin with) At the time, I found one private shop that said they could do it for around 800 bucks!!
It has sat on the shelf here for a rainy day. Today, I found a guy who very generously posted his rebuilding experience. So I pass this on for knowledge sake.
fttp://www.bealecorner.com/fx1/OConnor30/index.htm
There is also a pic of the inside of a Bogen 501. (I never realized those were just a glorified 3063 sealed friction head)
It seems this production company is no longer in operation, but, I sure would like to thank this person for documenting his rebuilding endeavor and posting it.
If anyone has info on older sachtlers, I would appreciate it. I dont know my model as the sticker has long since dissappeared. But, I would like to rebuild it as well. It is a smaller head probably more in the 10 to 15 pound camera support range. It no longer locks the tilt.
Enjoy and hope this helps someone.
A few years ago, it started acting poorly, so I called O'Connor to see If I could get it rebuilt. To my surprise, they said they no longer supported it and did not know anyone who could do the work. They had no diagrams, manuals or parts blowups. They were pretty much useless. (pretty dissapointing for a company that essentially invented the fluid head to begin with) At the time, I found one private shop that said they could do it for around 800 bucks!!
It has sat on the shelf here for a rainy day. Today, I found a guy who very generously posted his rebuilding experience. So I pass this on for knowledge sake.
fttp://www.bealecorner.com/fx1/OConnor30/index.htm
There is also a pic of the inside of a Bogen 501. (I never realized those were just a glorified 3063 sealed friction head)
It seems this production company is no longer in operation, but, I sure would like to thank this person for documenting his rebuilding endeavor and posting it.
If anyone has info on older sachtlers, I would appreciate it. I dont know my model as the sticker has long since dissappeared. But, I would like to rebuild it as well. It is a smaller head probably more in the 10 to 15 pound camera support range. It no longer locks the tilt.
Enjoy and hope this helps someone.