2005Arms forum
Setup and maintenance issues with Provid Iso-Elastic steadicam arm
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- When setting up a Provid Iso-Elastic arm, adjust the forearm (gimbal end) to horizontal first, then set the upper arm to follow the forearm so both move together.
- Provid arms from early production batches commonly experience bearing failures due to undersized plastic washers at the hinge joints, which creates excessive twisting forces across the bearings and can cause them to shatter or fall out.
- The twisting force problem at the hinge bearings is caused by inadequate spacing and can be addressed through a bearing modification that also improves arm smoothness.
- Some Provid arms have suffered cable snaps and metal trunnion fractures, potentially related to increased torque from socket block upgrades.
- Later production batches of Provid arms shipped with stronger bearings than earlier models.
- The Provid arm is described as stiff and challenging to operate compared to other arms, with design compromises made to achieve a low price point, including the use of undersized bearings that gum up under load.
- Do not continue using a Provid arm if bearings are damaged, as the arm may be rubbing metal-to-metal internally.
Depends on
- The bearing failure issue applies specifically to early production Provid arms; later batches had stronger bearings.
- Reports of cable snaps and trunnion fractures may relate to specific upgrades or modifications rather than inherent design.
- The description of the arm as stiff is stated as subjective opinion based on comparison to other arms.
- A detailed historical disassembly report that may contain additional technical information is mentioned as lost.