can't get rotalux off the d-lite!

I've had just about all the fun I can stand for one day. After fighting with the rotalux assembly and not being able to get the skyport to trigger the d-lites, I decided to pack it all away for another day. Now I can't get the *#=*** Rotalux off the d-lite. I have the blue locking mechanism showing the unlocked lock, and as I slide the whole unit around waiting for it to find the "opening" it just never does. I push in and rotate, nope. I pull out gently and rotate, nope. Did I take stupid pills today or what? There is a tightening lever on the elinchrom mounting ring, and yes, I loosened that as well. Any ideas?

Yay, i got it off, finally. Don't know how to delete the post now...

You could tell people what you did so they can benefit from your knowledge...

I swear, I haven't a clue what I did. I did a bit of trouble shooting with the other d-lite and its locking mechanism and realized that whatever amount of twisting I intended to continuing trying it should be to the LEFT. I had been trying both ways and then figured I should study the mechanism on the unencumbered one to see what I could glean from there. Determining that it HAD to be twisted to the left only, I just kept going in that direction and it finally popped off. And I cussed a lot, did I mention that already? a lot. I"m somebody's grandmother, fercryin'outloud, a role model for children, I know cussing over lighting equipment is wrong, but it's cathartic.

I just read an article the other day in the news that said that cussing is actually good for you. It does something with certain hormones in your brain that are beneficial. I know, I know...but I am serious. It was on Yahoo news. So Sue....cuss all you need to, its good medicine!

Thanks for that bit o' affirmation there, Jeff. That's good to know and is probably why I'm so healthy at the ripe old age of 53. bwa ha ha

Hey we are the same age....and I just got a clean bill of health too. I wonder if it has anything to do with me cussing all the time...lol

It has some resistance so it doesn't just fall off if you don't lock it. There's no pushing (not to take stuff off anyway), just a straight twist.

Was the light mounted on a stand when you were trying to take off the softbox? I've found that it's easier to mount/unmount by putting the box facedown on the ground. Think of it has mounting the light onto the softbox, not the box onto the light.

yes, it was mounted on the stand when I was wrestling with it. Good advice for next time, thanks!

suecassidy wrote in post #12279831
I've had just about all the fun I can stand for one day. After fighting with the rotalux assembly and not being able to get the skyport to trigger the d-lites, I decided to pack it all away for another day. Now I can't get the *#=*** Rotalux off the d-lite. I have the blue locking mechanism showing the unlocked lock, and as I slide the whole unit around waiting for it to find the "opening" it just never does. I push in and rotate, nope. I pull out gently and rotate, nope. Did I take stupid pills today or what? There is a tightening lever on the elinchrom mounting ring, and yes, I loosened that as well. Any ideas?

Just a point of clarification, Sue: Yes, there's a locking knob inside the Rotalux ring but it needs to be TIGHTENED, not loosened otherwise the modifier will be free to rotate to its heart's content. You did mean you tightened it, no?

Dave F.

I had it tightened while I was using the light, and then untightened it while I was wrestling with the thing to take it off. Are you saying that it needs to be tight when removing the softbox from the light????

suecassidy wrote in post #12280355
I had it tightened while I was using the light, and then untightened it while I was wrestling with the thing to take it off. Are you saying that it needs to be tight when removing the softbox from the light????

Yes! Tighten to remove it otherwise softbox will just keep rotating.

Rotation is important for square/rectangular softboxes of course. Shouldn't need rotation if you're using round softbox so I'd keep it tightened.

The knob on the speedring should be tightened. It should only be loose if you need to rotate a softbox, like a rectangular softbox from a vertical to horizontal configuration.