Joshua Cadmium
Well-known member
Hello!
I have a Oconnor 1030B Fluid Head up for sale. It just came back from a service from Larry Gebhardt at Novacam (http://novacam2000.com). Pictures are in the preceding posts.
It comes with a tie down (made out of metal), regular pan bar, and a Large Euro Quick Release with a relatively newer quick release plate (one screw is an Oconnor, one is a replacement). There is some gouging on the pan bar rosette, but both rosettes on the head and pan bar grip securely.
Condition-wise, according to Larry, the head itself is "quite nice". The following is the servicing that I had done:
- Fixed a stuck pan brake
- Resealed the perimeter seal on the tilt module, replaced 2 O-Rings on the module and topped it off with fluid
- Replaced all screws with stainless and replaced a missing sticker
The only other issue that Larry noticed was that a small amount of fluid is 'weeping' on the pan fluid drag adjustment shaft (not the main pan seal under the head - just the adjustment shaft - what the knob connects to). He said that "this is indicative of possibly the seals going bad, but is quite normal with age. ... I recommend that you wait till it fails to do the overhaul ... could be 5-10 years ... and ... the fail won't be dramatic ... just a bit more fluid will seep out. As I said, it was "weeping" fluid but that is completely normal for an older head (in fact also for a not so older head sometimes ... it takes a bit of fluid weeping around the o-ring to lubricate the shaft/seal)."
So, I just left that portion as is. If you wanted to have that done in the future, though, the charge was $250 for an overhaul of the pan module.
Again, the pan seal itself under the head isn't leaking, though, which can be a common problem. Larry specifically said that "the main lower pan seal is holding well, and in removing the ball base, the surfaces were clean of fluid. I think that seal is in good shape."
I am pricing everything at $2,800 shipped in the U.S. (and plus shipping elsewhere). Feel free to make an offer as well.
For some more general info: the Oconnor 1030B is a 100mm head that balances weight up to 30 lbs, although that is with the center of gravity at 6 inches above the top plate. It will balance 39 lbs at 4 inches, and over 50 lbs at about 2.5 inches. (See here for a chart: http://www.communiquip.com/ocondv-chart.gif . Note that the 1030S can handle more weight, but it does so at the expense of tilt function. The 1030S can only tilt 60 degrees in either direction, while the 1030B can tilt 90 degrees in either direction).
While the general knowledge is that a 1030 head will handle a minimum load of 10 lbs, the counter balance springs can potentially balance down to 0 lbs.
The 1030B has a higher maximum drag settings compared to older 1030 heads and the same max drag as newer 1030 heads:
http://novacam2000.com/oconnor.html .
The 1030B was the last Oconnor head of that type made in Costa Mesa before manufacturing moved overseas. At least one person regards the 1030B as the pinnacle of Oconnor engineering for these type of heads: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...post1986342768 .
Please PM if you have any questions.
Take care!
I have a Oconnor 1030B Fluid Head up for sale. It just came back from a service from Larry Gebhardt at Novacam (http://novacam2000.com). Pictures are in the preceding posts.
It comes with a tie down (made out of metal), regular pan bar, and a Large Euro Quick Release with a relatively newer quick release plate (one screw is an Oconnor, one is a replacement). There is some gouging on the pan bar rosette, but both rosettes on the head and pan bar grip securely.
Condition-wise, according to Larry, the head itself is "quite nice". The following is the servicing that I had done:
- Fixed a stuck pan brake
- Resealed the perimeter seal on the tilt module, replaced 2 O-Rings on the module and topped it off with fluid
- Replaced all screws with stainless and replaced a missing sticker
The only other issue that Larry noticed was that a small amount of fluid is 'weeping' on the pan fluid drag adjustment shaft (not the main pan seal under the head - just the adjustment shaft - what the knob connects to). He said that "this is indicative of possibly the seals going bad, but is quite normal with age. ... I recommend that you wait till it fails to do the overhaul ... could be 5-10 years ... and ... the fail won't be dramatic ... just a bit more fluid will seep out. As I said, it was "weeping" fluid but that is completely normal for an older head (in fact also for a not so older head sometimes ... it takes a bit of fluid weeping around the o-ring to lubricate the shaft/seal)."
So, I just left that portion as is. If you wanted to have that done in the future, though, the charge was $250 for an overhaul of the pan module.
Again, the pan seal itself under the head isn't leaking, though, which can be a common problem. Larry specifically said that "the main lower pan seal is holding well, and in removing the ball base, the surfaces were clean of fluid. I think that seal is in good shape."
I am pricing everything at $2,800 shipped in the U.S. (and plus shipping elsewhere). Feel free to make an offer as well.
For some more general info: the Oconnor 1030B is a 100mm head that balances weight up to 30 lbs, although that is with the center of gravity at 6 inches above the top plate. It will balance 39 lbs at 4 inches, and over 50 lbs at about 2.5 inches. (See here for a chart: http://www.communiquip.com/ocondv-chart.gif . Note that the 1030S can handle more weight, but it does so at the expense of tilt function. The 1030S can only tilt 60 degrees in either direction, while the 1030B can tilt 90 degrees in either direction).
While the general knowledge is that a 1030 head will handle a minimum load of 10 lbs, the counter balance springs can potentially balance down to 0 lbs.
The 1030B has a higher maximum drag settings compared to older 1030 heads and the same max drag as newer 1030 heads:
http://novacam2000.com/oconnor.html .
The 1030B was the last Oconnor head of that type made in Costa Mesa before manufacturing moved overseas. At least one person regards the 1030B as the pinnacle of Oconnor engineering for these type of heads: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...post1986342768 .
Please PM if you have any questions.
Take care!
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