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Modifying a 64 tooth gear for use on Tilta FF-T03

Started Jun 15, 2017 | Discussions thread
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Alberto Tanikawa
Alberto Tanikawa Senior Member • Posts: 1,982
Modifying a 64 tooth gear for use on Tilta FF-T03

I ran into some issues with my Tilta FF-T03 follow focus: some long focus throw lenses had to sacrifice their closest focus due to the size of the provided 0.8 pitch gear. Some time ago I contacted Tilta regarding this, to see if they offered a larger gear. I was told there were none. I saw that they offered such a gear for their more expensive FF-T05 follow focus, but was told it was not compatible with the model I had. Bummer.

Fast forward nearly two years, and I decided to give it a try. Got that gear anyway, and saw the reason for the incompatibility. Basically the FF-T05 is bigger, and its gears' attachment point was also bigger than the one on the FF-T03. I analyzed the situation and took a grinding tool to the new gear.

Compare the original FF-T03 gear on the left, and the FF-T05 gear on the right. The original is plastic, the larger one is aluminum.

I ground the inner tube from 9mm to around 7.5mm. Now it was a better match for the FF-T03.

A different point of view of the gears.

For some reason it fits just fine on the front, but on the back I had to add a 2mm plastic washer.

For anyone interested in doing the same, this is the Tilta part: TSP-070. I'm just glad I did not have to upgrade my follow focus just to have access to a larger 64 tooth gear

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