Topic: I have a wibble problem

[Thomas]

Oh nice, thanks Cantallian. I hadn't even noticed that option. I may have to give that a try once it's not 108 out there.

[Cantallian]

Sorry I didn't chip-in earlier. I haven't been to the forum in a while.

The mountng block is splined so the bars cannot move at all ...unless the 4 bolts are not tightened. Yes, 4, as in don't forget the 2 nuts in the center on the back of the mounting block.

Also, if you feel ill at ease in the default position of the Cobra, note it has 2 grey plastic plugs on the bars. Removing those allows you to move the cuff backwards which will give you increased stability.

[Locky]

Right - an excellent point so easily overlooked.

When I see you say cuffs re-aligned etc I'm automatically thinking you mean the actual bars of the cuffs and not the actual velcro cuffs themselves.

Getting the bars in the correct position can take some time and fine tuning. I actually have little scratch marks on my bars so I can line them up to my preference very quickly should someone else go on my stilts and mess them up.

[Thomas]

Good news, everyone!

So I think I have figured out my problem, and it was stupid simple. The cuffs (specifically the 'arms' attaching the cuffs to the bocks) were not quite aligned, and so I wasn't solid on the hoofs at all. I finally figured it out when I realized I was consistantly walking on the 'pinky toe' corner of the left bock. I straightened the supports again and seem to have nailed the sweet spot. The right is still slightly off, but I'm getting closer.

The neighborhood is slowly getting used to seeing me clop along.

[Thomas]

Thanks for the replies.

There are no local bockers, so I'm a Tigger for the forseeable future. I fear this may simply wind up being a problem of not knowing how to ensure my leg is positioned directly above the footplate, or slightly off. I will probably have to borrow a compatriot and have them do the adjustments while I'm on the bocks - sitting down and adjusting them may be giving me a false positive.

In terms of the vid, would there be a different thing you'd like to see in order to ensure I'm doing it right? Close-up of the configuration with and without my wobbly self in them? You guys are the pros, and I want to make sure I'm giving you the necessary information if I'm going to beg for guidance.

[Dark Knight]

I don't like cuffs but here's a link to a site with a good image of the clamp.

It could be that you are tightening one side too much which stops the other side gripping tight so it can slip. So maybe try to tighten each side a little at a time ?

http://www.7leagueboots.com/Articles.asp?ID=253

[Locky]

It's a tricky one to work out. I'm not really a person who cares a great deal about my cuffs, as long as they are aligned correctly so they dont push my leg outwards or inwards.

Unfortunately the best way to tell whats going on here is to get a more experienced bocker to have a go on them, but I suspect thats not practical unless there are some local bockers.
It's hard to tell if this is simply a configuration problem or if there is a fault somewhere but if it's both legs then I think its configuration.

[Thomas]

Different legs. I think for the first section, I didn't have the screws tightened enough. After the BRB I fixed that and locked them in, but each step (on both legs) had a wobble after touchdown.

I can't tell if the cuff is  too loose on my leg, oriented incorrectly (meaning my leg is being held in place but not directly over the footplate), or if it is simply a matter of leg-strength. For all I know, a slight wobble may be normal, but I haven't been able to see a noticable after-impact shake on anyone else's demonstration videos.

Thanks for the reply Locky.

[Locky]

So the bar moves each time and then you have to move it back and tighten?

If so, that just isnt right. Cuffs can move when a lot of pressure is put on them like banging into a wall sideways or something but general use they should stay rock solid. It's actually dangerous if they dont.

Unfortunately I've never had a play with the 7 Leagues cuff so I've no idea how it works or tightens but it's not right.
Is it always the same leg?

[Thomas]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NB5Afd8Sl0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NB5Afd8Sl0</a>

Apologies if this should go in the newbies-looking-for-help thread, but after reading through it I saw that videos help a lot to figure out what us newbs are doing wrong. So I beat you to the punch and have provided a video of me doing it wrong. Or at least, a video of the wobble that keeps me from being able to do this for long and build the confidence to do much more than shown here.

I find it almost impossible to adjust and tighten the cuff-bars while I'm wearing the bocks, but only notice that they need adjusting after I've been on them for about 10mins.

How do you guys get your bocks to fit just right and stay there without 20mins of adjusting before each session? I feel like I'm spending more time tinkering than tiggering.