Obutto R3v build issues, errata, now video walkaround

[chris]

UPDATE: Video walkaround can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PXCfsxmF1A&feature=youtu.be

I decided to go with a R3v after seeing one at a mate’s place. Really nice kit. I have begun my assembly and will post issues I have and any errata in the instructions to this thread.

Up front, I’d like to thank Chris for his helpful assembly videos, but I would also point out that while the videos read from the instructions which hardware is required at each step, they don’t actually say which bolts to put where. Or at least, not every time. Not a big deal, it’s usually really obvious.

In any case, on with the show!

Errata:

• • Step 1 b (runners): The instructions indicate 8ea M8X80mm bolts. Surely this should be 4 bolts, not 8, since there are only 4 posts attaching to the base runners, and the 80mm bolts pass completely through the flange.

 

• • Step 1video Chris mentions that the 80mm are “the longest bolts”. But it seems there are also 2x 100mm bolts in the bag. Not sure what these are for yet. (Edit: These are for the pedal tray)

 

• • Step 2 (rear section) video: Not really errata, just a comment. Chris mentions that you may not have space to fit both a flat and spring washer to the 45mm bolts that connect the rear subframe to the front. I found that these bolts fit neatly with the flat washers in place once the bolt was tightened down a little, although you may find it a bit finnicky to lightly thread the nut on with the flat washer in place.

 

• • Step 5 (monitor stand): Omission… there is a spring washer and flat washer already sitting on the bolt that mounts the vesa plate to the articulating arm. Given that the nut is pre-welded directly to the vesa plate, it’s not clear from either the instruction book or the video whether or not these washers should be fitted between the bolt head and the mouting bracket, or between the mounting bracket and the vesa plate, or if they should be removed entirely. In the end I put the flat washer (only) between the bracket and the vesa plate, thinking that it might provide smoother rotation.]

 

• Step 5: Instructions indicate monitor stand base runners are styrofoam wrapper. Mine were in box #3 (correct in the video tutorial)

Issues (click on images for larger view as applicable)

Issue 1: Floor runner flange alignment
Foiled at the first step! The front and rear flange at the base of one of the front halves are not square. As such the floor runner cannot be pushed all the way into the flange at one end. The difference is severe enough that I cannot thread the bolt through the flange. Bending the wings of the flange would be easy enough, but bending the entire flange seems extremely difficult. Build failed!

Here is a video demonstrating the alignment on both ends. The bolt at the “OK” end is set very loosely. I also demonstrate that banging with a rubber mallet will not budge the runner. At the end of the video I try to show that if you look through the bolt hole, you can see that the flange is misaligned to the point that the bolt will not pass through: http://youtu.be/NE6GuQRHVHA

Solution: Turns out I had a large clamp hidden in my tool bag. Using this exerted enough pressure to allow me to thread the bolt. Woe to those who do not have such a clamp!

Issue 2: Nuts
Many of the nuts do not thread easily onto the bolts. Most of them start to jam up well before they are threaded to the point where they start to press the spring washer against the flat washer or frame. This might be an issue with the coating? It doesn’t create any major issues, just be aware that you will not be able to get them very far with fingers alone. This is probably a good thing in some ways, in that it discourages you from tightening anything down before everything has been assembled and aligned. Edit: Actually, some of them are *really* bad, and the nuts become completely locked onto the bolt after just a few mm. Even a ratchet can’t budge them any further. Fortunately it looks like there might be spare nuts and bots (Edit: yep, there are)
Issue 3: Pedal tray fit
The pedal tray does not seem to fit at all well and as such I cannot see a way of securing it in place. In the end I threaded the nuts onto the bolts, using them as spacers and put the mounting brackets on to the bare ends of the bolts. The tray is not completely secure at the front, but the tray itself is wide enough to keep the brackets pushed onto the bolt ends.

Also, the pedal tray is only “adjustable” if you include removing and refitting six bolts under “adjustable”. It doesn’t have sliders or anything like that if anyone was wondering. Not a big deal for me since I will probably be the one using it 99% of the time, but if you have a bunch of friends all at different heights, you will need to rely on the seat position for quick adjustment. Repositioning the pedal tray would take about 15 minutes.

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