2021From a Facebook group: The Steadicam Group
Lubricating gimbal bearings on the Tiffen M1: ARRI-supplied oil versus Finish Line Wet and Tri-Flow alternatives.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- ARRI specifies Finish Line Wet Bike Lubricant for gimbal bearings; the proprietary ARRI oil was previously available through ARRI branches and rental houses for approximately 10 USD per bottle.
- One operator's maintenance procedure: disassemble the gimbal, soak bearings in acetone, then apply exactly one drop of oil; this operator later upgraded to a GPI PRO gimbal bearing and reported superior performance.
- Tri-Flow is used by a established gimbal manufacturer, is inexpensive, and is readily available in retail supply chains.
- Alternative lubricants include watch movement oil for gimbal bearings and ceramic bicycle grease for arm pivots; bearing selection depends primarily on operating speed and load rating.
- Maintenance frequency is at least as critical as lubricant choice; operators should consult gimbal-specific service documentation before disassembly and cleaning.
Depends on
- Gimbal model and bearing type (standard versus ceramic or sealed designs)
- Operating conditions (speed and load)
- Availability of proprietary ARRI oil by region and rental-house stock
- Conflicting recommendations between specialty oils and general-purpose bicycle lubricants without field consensus
Parts
Same gear or parts
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