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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly Pictures &...iFly Pictures &...Ram T-slot ball adapterRam T-slot ball adapter
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8/11/2010 11:37 AM
 

FWIW, this is the one reason that my Ifly700 gets little use. I don't have a good place to put it using the standard mounting. If I could mount it on the yoke it would get more use. The standard mount always seems to put it in an inconvenient place.

 
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8/13/2010 1:55 PM
 

BTW, I ordered one of these from GPScity also, along with a yoke clamp and arm. The adapter that I received was unassembled. Ram-Mount customer service confirmed that the part should be fully assembled when you receive it, and is sending me a replacement.

 
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8/13/2010 2:45 PM
 

I received mine a few days ago and it was also unassembled. I put it together, but the "T" portion of the bracket is basically loose, until you clamp it to the iFly which forces it to be snug. I am going to keep working with RAM to make an adapter that fits the iFly, because this one has a couple of problems:

1) The "T" which slides into the iFly slot is a little too big in one direction, and a little too small in the other direction. You are forced to slide into the slot vertically, and it's very easy to end up clamping onto only one side of the iFly's mounting slot.

2) This mount consists of threaded rod that slips through the ball, a "T" clamp threads onto one side, and a lock-nut on the other side. If the lock-nut is not threaded on deep enough, the rod will stick out past the end of the T. (Picture a cross instead of a T). As you spin the ball to tighten the unit onto the iFly, the rod will dig further and further into the iFly's mounting slot...if you go too far you could crack the case and possibly ruin your iFly. If you don't go far enough you might not have a very stable mount.

Anyway - for the technically savy this mount can work - just be sure you install it carefully. For everyone else, I suggest you wait for an official RAM adapter.

-Walter


Walter Boyd
President, Adventure Pilot
 
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8/20/2010 8:54 PM
 

Well, let me tell you how I accomplished this the "cheap" way :-)

I already have a RAM yoke mount for my Lowrance GPS-500. I did note that the ball that comes with the iFly is quite a bit smaller than the one that comes with the RAM mount. So if I disassemble the iFly mount and insert the ball into the RAM mount, it flops around quite freely in there.

That being said, a dozen or so *tight* wraps around the ball with some black electrical tape built it up to the proper size, and RAM mount grabs ahold just fine. No wiggle, and a nice firm grip. It's not as "solid" as a purpose-built ball, meaning that I can forcefully wiggle it with my hand, but it doesn't move under normal use.

One guy's method, anyway. And since I had the unit already, I didn't lose any money in the process.

Best regards,
Chris

 
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8/26/2010 12:26 PM
 

Just one more note on this topic. I mentioned above that the adapter I received from GPScity was unassembled. I had emailed them and RAM directly for more info. GPScity sent me instructions on how to put it together, which was no big deal. But RAM replied that the thing should be fully assembled when shipped and offered to send me a new one. The replacement part arrived today. This one is still not fully assembled. The difference is that the "t" plate comes already attached to the post. Interestingly, that plate is fixed in position on the post. Not sure how it's attached, whether they used something like loctite, or if the metal at the end of the post is crimped somehow, but the post does not turn within the "t" plate. Only the rounded end of the post protrudes beyond the end of the "t" plate. So if one tightens the adapter to the unit by turning the ball, the post would be turning within the lock nut only, and not clamping down against the back of the iFly case.

I still agree with Walter that an adapter designed for the iFly is the best solution, but this version provided directly from RAM would seem a bit safer to use.

 
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