Counterweights

[lazjen]

I realised last night that I need to get some more counterweight on the shaft to balance things properly. No worries, I had thought that this was likely.

Anyway, it's easy enough to just order a weight from the dealer/manufacturer, but I thought I might ask first if there's a cheaper/better solution that others might use.

Any ideas?

[mithrandir]

What's the mount? Different counterweight bars have different diameters. If you were just asking about better and you have a supported mount I'd suggest Robin Casady (http://www.robincasady.com/Astro/#counterweights), but they're not cheap.

[lazjen]

I've got a G11, so the shaft is 1.25" (31.75 mm).

I did stumble across that site in my searches. I think I'll hold out for cheaper option first, but I do admit they look pretty good.

I've been looking at gym weight plates online today, but the standard diameter seems to be around 25mm. Olympic ones are 50mm, but I have to find some way of "filling" the gap. Then there's the issue of holding them in place. Still, the cost of the these weights if I can solve the problem is far less than "normal" counter weights.

[mithrandir]

I have one Losmandy 21lb and one Casady 15lb and LSafety on my G11. Yes is does look good. Robin said the 15lb is the biggest he can ship by mail which is why I got that one.


I presume you got one 21lb weight with the mount. You could get a 7lb and put one on each side of the gym plates. The disadvantage is you have to keep all the weights together. If all the weights have lock screws you can roughly balance, leave some fixed and slide one to complete the balance.

[cfranks]

I use a quick release handlebar clamp on my G11 homemade weight. one above and below holds the weight nicely.

Charles

[lazjen]

That's a great idea, thanks.

[ZeroID]

I used some split hose to line the gap and take up the extra size. I'm using a couple of 5kg gym weights. You might find some clear plastic hose around the right diameter. Between that and a clamp you should be good to go.

[asimov]

Well I've had to do some crazy stuff with weights - Right now in order to balance out the PST on the EQ6 I'm using a hammer taped to the bar, 2 pairs of locking pliers locked to the hammer handle & a couple of BIG bolts taped to that arrangement..Crazy, but it works.

[lazjen]

Ok, I can see that. Just have to get something with close to the 31.75mm for the hose inner diameter, and outer diameter of the hose to close to the inner diameter of the weight. That will give it enough friction on the shaft to stop/slow movement. Clamp it up and should be right to go...



:) Crazy indeed. I tried attaching a bag with a couple of pavers in it, but I wasn't comfortable with the results! :)

[ZeroID]

I used a couple of big old 'G' clamps previously. Cast iron but they stuck out too damn far !!

[lazjen]

I grabbed a gym weight plate last weekend to try, but have discovered it's just a bit too wide - I didn't think about that beforehand. And I couldn't find any of the clamps previously mentioned when I went to the hardware store. And now that I look closer at the image, I can see why - it's a bike part! :)

[cfranks]

I remember a Canadian Thanksgiving in 1971 that the Turkey we had to roast was too big for the oven and we had to cook it on a small spit. We had to tie allsorts of wierd things to it to get balanced just like below. At least Asimov's should stay put, ours kept falling off into the fire.

[lazjen]

Maybe the extra fire could enhance the flavour? :)

Anyway, managed to grab a clamp this afternoon from a bike store. It's a seat-post quick release clamp. There's a 31.8 mm version that's a perfect fit - except it has an inner lip on it at one end that stops it sliding on to the shaft fully. Some filing/sanding later and its gone and it's right to roll.

[jamiep]

you could also get a friendly machinist to spin you up an extension bar for the G11, reusing your existing weights with a greater length will increase their effectiveness ... possibly a cheap easy solution (and more portable) if you know the right people...

[Terry B]

I just made a wooden sleeve. I used a lathe but a piece of the right size dowel drilled out wouldn't be to hard to do.