Monitor Cable Bolt Issue

[Tim Naylor]

On a recent feature, we lost two bolts on two different monitor cable right angles. They came loose, fell off and now they're being held together by tape. Works, but not a good look or secure. Figure we'd contact RED and get a replacement. Instead RED states they do not service their 180.00 dollar cable. They told us where to get the bolt. The bolt company has been completely unresponsive. We've left numerous messages and after couple weeks have all but given up on placing an order.

Has anyone else run into this issue and know of another source for these pesky bolts short of buying two more cables?

Perhaps RED should consider stocking these as they do come loose and they'd probably get a better response from the supplier than one cameraman. I can't imagine ARRI or O'Connor not having every nut and bolt in supply. It's just good business.

[Mitch Gross]

We put a dab of Loktite on all of the end caps to the Lemo connectors. I find the ones that ship from RED to be particularly loose on initial delivery.

[Vico Martin]

...I find the ones that ship from RED to be particularly loose on initial delivery.

Yeah!, they wanna be free! :smilewinkgrin:

[ericyoung]

We put a dab of Loktite on all of the end caps to the Lemo connectors. I find the ones that ship from RED to be particularly loose on initial delivery.

Failing that, a dab of your girlfriend's nail polish works well too!

[Shane Kelly]

Tim,
If you find a source, please post it here. I could do with a couple myself.
Shane.

[Mike Peckham]

You're not alone, Tim. I just got back from shooting in Africa and found that the end blot of my right angle EVF cable was gone. I had not gotten to call Red yet but just expected I could get one from them. For $180 for their cable, I would expect some help from them.

Mike

[Evin Grant]

I've seen this a on a few Red drive cables as well. Loktite is a lifesaver.
Mitch, this is a Lemo part I'm sure you could order.

[ericyoung]

I think the problem is that Lemo apparently don't/won't sell the bolt part separately. By the time you buy the Lemos, that's a significant part of the cost of the cable! Not certain about this BTW.

[Mitch Gross]

Eric is correct. Lemo does not sell the end cap as a separate item One must purchase the entire connector assembly. We purchase from Lemo in relatively small volume. Lemo would probably consider several thousand to be volume enough to do a special order.

I wish RED would tighten these caps down with a wrench or put a dab of Loktite in there. But you all should do this yourself -- the weakest version of Loktite will do.

[Tim Naylor]

You're not alone, Tim. I just got back from shooting in Africa and found that the end blot of my right angle EVF cable was gone. I had not gotten to call Red yet but just expected I could get one from them. For $180 for their cable, I would expect some help from them.

Mike

Yeah, locktight - great idea if we got a warning they were susceptible to falling off. I'm sorry this is such a load of *&$#, as if we should expect bolts to fall off. I agree lock tight is a great solution but no help for a lost bolt. I can't tell you how many pieces of gear I own that have bolts. This is bad QC and pawning the short coming onto the consumer.

One would expect some real help from RED. Too bad their tagline "you can count on it" applied to spare parts and not delays. Pretty much sums it up.

[Tim Naylor]

Eric is correct. Lemo does not sell the end cap as a separate item One must purchase the entire connector assembly. We purchase from Lemo in relatively small volume. Lemo would probably consider several thousand to be volume enough to do a special order.

I wish RED would tighten these caps down with a wrench or put a dab of Loktite in there. But you all should do this yourself -- the weakest version of Loktite will do.

In the meantime, they should do something to make it easy to purchase a part that falls off.

[Mitch Gross]

Tim, just to clear, I agree that these connctors should be properly tightened when delivered.

[Tim Naylor]

You're not alone, Tim. I just got back from shooting in Africa and found that the end blot of my right angle EVF cable was gone. I had not gotten to call Red yet but just expected I could get one from them. For $180 for their cable, I would expect some help from them.

Mike

If you get a better lead or able to make a purchase let me know, perhaps we can do "group buy". So bloody ridiculous. I'm seeing RED.

[Tim Naylor]

Relegated to the complaint department where no one will see this. Nice.

Which is stupid. We're trying to solve an accessory problem. So what if it exposes a QC / Customer Service weakness, if this were a complaint my tone would be far harsher. I'm trying to get some solutions here to an accessory issue. Please let it live where the gear/gadget heads browse.

[Evin Grant]

I moved this here because this is where Red looks for QC issues and the like.
There is a re-direct in accessories forum too.

[Frank Weeks]

I too have lost one of these caps. The worst part for me is it looks unprofessional. Any help from Red would be appreciated.

[Steve Gal]

Tim, I forgot to tell you. I had lost a coupke so I machined an end cap for myself. It is round not hexagon though. I am sure a machinist can fabricate these for fairly cheap if there is a big enough order.

[CJ Roy]

I've lost several of these caps, even though they were tightened. They just seem to come unscrewed in the shuffle of production. Red or someone else should sell these, even though gaff tape on the end of a cable looks so attractive. :arf:

[Brent@RED]

Relegated to the complaint department where no one will see this. Nice.


Actually, I check this subforum quite a few times a day. I have passed the information back on to our cable team to get a line of sight on the issue.

For what it is worth, we actually wanted to sell the caps but was told by Lemo to direct those inquiries to them as we are not an authorized Lemo component re-seller. We can sell cables with Lemos, just not raw Lemo parts. I will address this with them again to try to get you guys some options if they are turning you away.

BC

[Loic Parent]

Thanks brent, i have also lost two of those caps, and would love to know where to get some new..

[ericyoung]

Actually, I check this subforum quite a few times a day. I have passed the information back on to our cable team to get a line of sight on the issue.

For what it is worth, we actually wanted to sell the caps but was told by Lemo to direct those inquiries to them as we are not an authorized Lemo component re-seller. We can sell cables with Lemos, just not raw Lemo parts. I will address this with them again to try to get you guys some options if they are turning you away.

BC

Hi Brent

Just a suggestion. Get your cable manufacturer to Loctite (red colour version - so can be disassembled for repairs!) and properly tighten all future cables. Loctite and tighten all existing cables in inventory, and mollify Lemo by telling them that if they supply only enough end caps just to cover cables already sold it would go a long way in Lemo customer satisfaction! That way you don't have to become a Lemo component re-seller, Lemo don't have to get heavy regarding you supplying Lemo parts in the future, and it would solve the current common complaint!

Best wishes
Eric

[Brent@RED]

We actually did change our cable manufacturing process to do that back in early 2009, Eric. I just confirmed with manufacturing :)

So, those of you experiencing the issue probably got a cable manufactured before then. If you want to send in your cable for a quick dab of Loctite from RED, no problem - just send me a PM!

BC

[Tim Naylor]

Any word from Lem? This really sucks. I've two cables with gaffer tape where the bolt should be. Not a good look. Little help from RED or Lemo. You're selling 180 dollar cables. You have to make parts available. Never had issues like this with Arri, Chrosziel, Miller, etc....

And seriously, who'd send in a cable to get locktight? We're not complete sub genius's

[Adrian T.]

New thread about this problem:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32579 (http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32579)