Arca Swiss clamp removal

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simonbarker

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This makes me feel daft for asking but how do you get an Arca clamp off?

I've removed the large middle screw but the clamp still doesn't come away, I think it's down to the panning action but I can't see what's holding it on.

IMG_20180605_211621.jpg
 
Daft question?

Why are you trying or needing to remove it........as it sounds like the clamp and the base to which it is attached are intended to be "a head unit".

If it was to use it for another head/purpose, just go buy one ;)
 
Canon Bob said:
It's glued on....the bolt is added security.
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Are you sure? Unless it's the very small pin near the center I can't see any glue and the middle screw came out without any resistance.
 
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Box Brownie said:
Daft question?

Why are you trying or needing to remove it........as it sounds like the clamp and the base to which it is attached are intended to be "a head unit".
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I'm trying to remove it because this clamp only takes the new Arca small plates which no one else uses, they don't make many brand specific plates so I'd be worse off switching to their generic plates, it would also be expensive and I already have better clamps than the Arca ones.

I don't think it's a 'head unit', they sell it without a clamp installed and they sell several clamps separately, I just think they've made it difficult to prevent people using third party clamps. Every other brand I've used you can replace the clamp by removing the middle screw, it's usually a 5 second fix.

Box Brownie said:
If it was to use it for another head/purpose, just go buy one ;)
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Don't be a smart arse, it'd cost £1300 to buy them new and unless you want to give me that it's not really much of an option.
 
simonbarker said:
I'm trying to remove it because this clamp only takes the new Arca small plates which no one else uses, they don't make many brand specific plates so I'd be worse off switching to their generic plates, it would also be expensive and I already have better clamps than the Arca ones.

I don't think it's a 'head unit', they sell it without a clamp installed and they sell several clamps separately, I just think they've made it difficult to prevent people using third party clamps. Every other brand I've used you can replace the clamp by removing the middle screw, it's usually a 5 second fix.
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Oh, I see............................I was not aware of 'new Arca small plates'. As you did not explain why the need to remove it (unless folk know that exact clamp & its assembly/structure) I could only make a surmise, hence the legitimate question.



simonbarker said:
Don't be a smart arse, it'd cost £1300 to buy them new and unless you want to give me that it's not really much of an option.
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You don't know me so please do not sink to personal jibes & insults! I, as above, surmised that possibly you could because of the aforementioned lack of details buy say a Whimberley C-12 clamp or even more budget level item.

PS when a cry for help is made here at TP you are inviting questions & help (to learn & understand how such hlep can be offered) in equal measure, so again keep the personal jibes to yourself :)
 
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Box Brownie said:
Oh, I see............................I was not aware of 'new Arca small plates'. As you did not explain why the need to remove it (unless folk know that exact clamp & its assembly/structure) I could only make a surmise, hence the legitimate question.
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You start by telling me I'm asking a daft question, finish it off with the sterling advice I should just buy new stuff and now you're lecturing me for not justifying to you why I want to do something. You could have done me the small courtesy of assuming I might have a valid reason. I posted a picture of the clamp to help make it clear what I was referring to.

Box Brownie said:
You don't know me so please do not sink to personal jibes & insults! I, as above, surmised that possibly you could because of the aforementioned lack of details buy say a Whimberley C-12 clamp or even more budget level item.
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I'm trying to replace a clamp, I have plenty of clamps, if you properly read my question that much should be clear.

Box Brownie said:
PS when a cry for help is made here at TP you are inviting questions & help (to learn & understand how such hlep can be offered) in equal measure, so again keep the personal jibes to yourself :)
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Yes I was inviting comments but I don't really appreciate someone who hasn't understood the question telling me I'm asking a daft question, perhaps you should follow your own advice about personal jibes first.
 
simonbarker said:
You start by telling me I'm asking a daft question, finish it off with the sterling advice I should just buy new stuff and now you're lecturing me for not justifying to you why I want to do something. You could have done me the small courtesy of assuming I might have a valid reason. I posted a picture of the clamp to help make it clear what I was referring to.



I'm trying to replace a clamp, I have plenty of clamps, if you properly read my question that much should be clear.



Yes I was inviting comments but I don't really appreciate someone who hasn't understood the question telling me I'm asking a daft question, perhaps you should follow your own advice about personal jibes first.
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Ah! I see my opening line got your back up! For that I apologise................but you in turn mis-interpreted my meaning. I was asking the daft question (in effect echoing that you called your own question daft) because I (as mentioned) was trying to understand the matter in hand.

Many a slip between glass & lip as the saying goes ~ au revoir!
 
Box Brownie said:
Ah! I see my opening line got your back up! For that I apologise................but you in turn mis-interpreted my meaning. I was asking the daft question (in effect echoing that you called your own question daft) because I (as mentioned) was trying to understand the matter in hand.

Many a slip between glass & lip as the saying goes ~ au revoir!
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Ah. Well now I feel even stupider.

Apologies.
 
Retune said:
I really don't understand why Arca bothers with Loctite on these heads. If they wanted to stop people using third party clamps, they wouldn't sell a version without a clamp. It doesn't seem to occur to them that customers might change their minds. In a previous thread, applying heat with a blowtorch was mentioned as a method of freeing the clamp from a P0 head: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/ball-head-recommendations-please.678863/#post-8180998
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OK so it is glue then. I'll see if I can heat up the small pin with a soldering iron.

Don't have a blow torch, probably for the best as I could see me melting the clamp with one.
 
Just to confirm, is the glue supposed to be on the main bolt, the small pin or both?

IMG_20180606_020914.jpg

There wasn't any real resistance removing the main bolt despite what looks like glue being present.
 
simonbarker said:
Just to confirm, is the glue supposed to be on the main bolt, the small pin or both?

View attachment 127973

There wasn't any real resistance removing the main bolt despite what looks like glue being present.
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So now you have removed the central bolt/screw the clamp is 'turning' around the pin that is flush with the surface? Does it turn freely or feel like there is resistance......if so how stiff is it?

Re: heating the pin ~ that will expand the pin and likely make it make it tighter. Especially as I surmise the clamp (and other anodised parts) is alloy but the pin(s) as bright make think they are steel, each would have different co-efficients of expansion.

As you have rotated the clamp around its pin I suspect there is no glue and it is simply (?) an interference fit.......requiring the clamp to be "pulled". In my much younger days I used such pullers to remove wheel hub bearings on my cars. But such pullers require the parts to allow positioning to use them and surmise Arca have specialised tools to separate the clamp from the mount.

If this is indeed only an interference fit that is allowing the clamp to 'turn' around the pin then ~ heating the area with a hairdryer and then using a quick squirt of plumbers pipe freezer directed only at the pin might allow the clamp to slide off the pin. IMO that will not work if it is the pin turning within the body below clamp i.e. the pin is turning with the clamp! But maybe worth a try........but it is of course your risk.
 
Have you had success? I have this head and can confirm the clamp portion, whether you use the one you have or classic, is designed to be removed as Arca sell different kinds.
 
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Gogster said:
Have you had success? I have this head and can confirm the clamp portion, whether you use the one you have or classic, is designed to be removed as Arca sell different kinds.
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Not yet, haven't found the time to grab the soldering iron to try it but I'm questioning myself as even if I can get it off I'm wondering what's keeping the pin in place, if it's part of the base that could make fitting a different clamp difficult and if I manage to damage it it would be an expensive mistake.

Will do a bit more checking and update the thread if I succeed, I'm surprised there's no videos/photos of anyone trying the same.
 
Gogster said:
When you say the pins are you referring to the ones in blue or red?
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Yes it's the blue pin that's holding it in somehow, I think Box Brownie is correct in calling it a interference fit.

The pins in red are just the ones used for helping to stop the plate falling out when fitted.
 
You've done the hard part - unscrewing the central bolt that's Loctite'd in place and it usually needs heat to soften that. The blue circled part is an anti-rotation pin that slots into a hole underneath, which is just a push-fit. So pull the clamp up, give it a wiggle, and off. If it's a bit stiff, pull/wiggle harder :eek:

I guess you could probably manage well enough without the anti-rotation pin, though I drilled and recessed a small threaded hole in my replacement clamp and screwed a tiny bolt in there that I pinched from a spare Arca-Swiss rail.

Edit: for anyone else trying this, I heeded reports that Aca-Swiss, in their infinite wisdom, use the strongest grade of Loctite to dissuade buyers from swapping out their rubbish standard clamp. I tried a soldering iron without success, perhaps because I couldn't get a good enough contact area to transfer much heat.

A blow-torch was recommended so I wrapped the head in a damp cloth and cut a metal mask with a hole just large enough to allow the flame through, immediately above the retaining bolt head. Then gave it full beans for 20 seconds, and it unscrewed like a charm without any damage.
 
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HoppyUK said:
You've done the hard part - unscrewing the central bolt that's Loctite'd in place and it usually needs heat to soften that. The blue circled part is an anti-rotation pin that slots into a hole underneath, which is just a push-fit. So pull the clamp up, give it a wiggle, and off. If it's a bit stiff, pull/wiggle harder :eek:
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Success! It was too hard to pull out by hand but wedging a knife under it and prying it up worked. Nearly took an eye out when the clamp came flying off though.

Next problem is the bolt won't work with my other clamps, a slightly easier problem to solve that though.

Thanks all.
 
simonbarker said:
Success! It was too hard to pull out by hand but wedging a knife under it and prying it up worked. Nearly took an eye out when the clamp came flying off though.

Next problem is the bolt won't work with my other clamps, a slightly easier problem to solve that though.

Thanks all.
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The devil is in the detail. It's all very easy in theory, but getting everything back together and working properly requires just the right components - right thread, right bolt head (there are numerous options), right length (to the mm) etc etc. I've got a box full of bits collected over the years but more often than not it still needs a drill or a file and a hacksaw.
 
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