Ikelite Quic Release Handles

Hi,

I've recently received an Ikelite 350D housing, with assembly tray and quick release handle extensions and dual DS-125 strobes.

The setup works nicely (albeit a bit too negative buoyant for my likely), but there is an annoying little movement between the Ikelite hand grips and the extension arms that slide into the handle grips. The fit is quite snug, but they rod can rotate ever so lightly, but with the weight of the strobe on the end of the arm, it creates a rather annoying movement in the rig.

I was wondering if anyone had similar experience/remedy?

Thanks in advance, damien

Further to my last post, I have 3" extension rods, with 6" arms.

I think this is the default Ikelite package:

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/arm_1comps.html

damien

Damien,

I've used the Ikelite Quick release arms for 3+ years and they're fine. "Looseness" you refer to is between the locking pin and "stem" piece that clicks in. Any tighter and you wouldn't be able to get the arm in and out of the handle.

This system is very under rated and a bargain compared to other arm systems out there.

Hope this helps.....

David Haas

www.pbase.com/dhaas

Looseness won't be noticed underwater. Instant removal of the complete arm and strobe at the push of a button is a joy. The big handle works well underwater and give a few more inches of arm distance. Beats the "stubby little" non-standard handle some people purchase that does not allow opening of the housings snaps.

Hi Ike,

Any handle that is close to the side of a housing will block the lid-snaps if the lid snaps are on the side of the housing. People with small hands like to position the handles close to the housing, so that they can reach the controls.

Any ideas? My wife has small hands, so we had to get adjustable handles.

Back to the original poster - I don't think he/she would have mentioned the "wobble" if it wasn't an issue for him/her. I don't think it's helping him/her to just say "they are fine, don't worry about it." Obviously, it's an issue or the person wouldn't have posted about it.

So - how about a solution? Perhaps wrap the handle in nylon thread tape before shoving it in and locking it? Anything else to take out the slop?

Cheers

James

Thankyou all for the posts. I was not implying that handle weren't any good, as it is quite the contrary. The moulded grips feel great and function well in the water.

I was only wondering if movement could be eliminated, but I guess not.

Thanks, damien

I didn't say to not worry about the wobble. I was trying to say wobble would not be noticed or affect actual operation when underwater. We debated a taper on locking pin, but were concerned it might stick and be difficult to break free. Will evaluate.

An alternative on long reach for small hands might be extended knobs? Will cogitate and see how all of this can be improved. We appreciate all suggestions...........

We are making taper release buttons for evaluation. These should lock the release mechanism automatically. Will know results in a week or so............

Ike, sounds great. I'd love to buy one of the first ones once you're got them working!

2Oceans, thanks for the suggestions, but if Ike is working on something to fix the problem then I will definatley go with his solution. I think the O-ring trick you suggested may work well, but it would have to be very tight as the movement is a rotating one and not side to side.

Kind Regards,

Damien

I didn't say to not worry about the wobble.  I was trying to say wobble would not be noticed or affect actual operation when underwater.  We debated a taper on locking pin, but were concerned it might stick and be difficult to break free.  Will evaluate.

 

An alternative on long reach for small hands might be extended knobs?  Will cogitate and see how all of this can be improved.  We appreciate all suggestions...........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought it was a big issue when I first assembled it at home. It almost felt wrong. But when I was in the water I never thought about it.

Regarding suggestions, I wonder why you don't have a focus light mounting on the top of your (otherwise so excellent) housings? It's a pain to have the focus light on the strobe arm.

PS. I would appreciate an answer to my "sync" problem that I both emailed Ikelite about and posted as a thread here.

/Peter

I had this trouble, so I wrapped everything involved in plumber's tape.

It lasts a few days of diving, before needing to be removed and reapplied.

It's not a fix by any means, but worked well enough to be worthy of a mention.

That and I squeezed the end of the quick release together a little bit with a vice. Which I'm sure will make a few cringe. But then again, they aren't Ike arms...

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give the plumber's tape a go, but I would definately be one of the many cringing over the vice technique.

Thanks, Damien

Why not wait for new taper release shaft and button...... assuming it works?

So, hey ikelite folks.

What ever happened to this tapered shaft scheme? Did you try it?

Are the current production quick releases any different from the ones being made a couple years ago?

I've never been thrilled with the quick-release slop, as it gets worse fairly quickly. True at first the amount of slop is not an issue, but with a bit of wear and corrosion, and the slop is 3-4 times larger pretty quickly.

I hate to treat the entire housing tray as a disposable item... (As they are on the digicam trays).

Thanks, and happy holidays!

Don