2013Sled forum
Steadicam sled losing level balance after drop tests and docking
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A sled that appears level when balanced on a stand but shifts off-level after drop tests or docking may have internal movement or loose components causing the imbalance
- The most likely culprits are loose connections at the topstage, battery hanger, monitor bracket, or internal post cable rather than post roundness, since gimbal clamping centers the structure regardless of post shape
- Systematic troubleshooting involves removing variables like the internal post cable to isolate whether balance loss is mechanical looseness or caused by cable movement
- Loose plastic inserts in monitor bracket spuds, internal battery or monitor components, and battery hanger connections should be inspected by shaking to detect noise indicating play
- If balance consistently shifts in one direction after impact, tightening all fasteners connecting major components to the post may resolve the issue
- Changing multiple critical components like topstage, gimbal, or base mount while the problem persists suggests the fault lies in connection points rather than major assemblies
Depends on
- The exact cause remained unresolved in this thread despite extensive troubleshooting
- Balance problems are most noticeable when the sled is very neutrally balanced with minimal drop time, making the condition tender to disturbance
- The specific configuration involved a MK-V genesis sled with 1.5 inch post, but similar issues have occurred with other models after cable installation
Gear in this thread
Parts
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