Help dismantling Manfrotto 190 Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hoodi
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Hoodi

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Right, I'm mid way through giving my 190 pro a good old clean out. I've dismantled the legs and given them a good clean, then put them back togethor - lovely.
My problem is I can't figure out how you clean // dismantle // loosen the top portion of the legs, the bits that have the swingy joints. To splay the legs of my tripod is far more work than it used to be, so I'm guessing something has overtightened or has gunk in it - but I can't find anything to loosen! There are bolts at the very top, which have allen key type fittings, but having taken off those they don't seem to do a lot... I thought maybe I'd be able to pull out the legs once I did that, but either that's not how to do it, or I aint strong enough!

So yeah, any help with :
How to loosen the top of the legs so they're easier to splay
would be much appreciated :)
 
Hoodi,
After looking at my 'pod, I'd say take the centre column out and then splay the legs as wide as the will go...

Turn the pod over and it looks like the "clamp/collar" is secured from underneath by somesort of O ring...I am guessing that if you remove that, you can remove the clamp/collar from the top and that will reveal another screw on the top of each leg...

I've not actually tried this, so do it at you're own risk! :D :D

Regards,

Pete
 
Have a look at this blown out diagram, it may help you identify what needs to be undone / removed.

Manfrotto 190pro

It looks like the top piece of the leg needs prizing open to me, shown in fig R190.304
Or R190.306 needs removing to let the legs drop out, should be three screws holding it to the top plate R190.307.
 
You're a star Pete!
That worked like a charm. basically you need to completely unscrew the clamp, then get an L shaped bit of metal (Allen key!) to push in the wedge on the side of the inner collar (there are holes in it to do this) - the collar then pops out if you push it.

This then reveals, as you suggested, three screws. These control how much force is required to splay the legs. If you remove all three, that plate comes off, handy for cleaning, but a bit tricky to put back on - cos there's a spring and nut and wedge in there which are all part of the mechanism to tighten the collar, and are all loose (and fly everywhere :p) when you take that plate off.
Anyhoo, sorted now! Ta!
 
yeah, I'm pretty good at taking things apart...the problem I have is getting them back togther again!:thinking: :shrug:
 
Pete E said:
yeah, I'm pretty good at taking things apart...the problem I have is getting them back togther again!:thinking: :shrug:
Click to expand...

Still you get to save loads of parts when you do that.

Useful info though - I'm guessing that other Manfrottos are made a similar way, so why not make it a sticky somewhere?
 
Catdaddy said:
Useful info though - I'm guessing that other Manfrottos are made a similar way
Click to expand...

Chris,

I have an older 055Nat here as well, and that has a completely different arrangement for attaching the legs so i think the exact procedure will vary from model to model to a degree :shrug: These company's don't like to make things too easy for us! :thinking:

Regards,

Pete
 
Just another update, I just took the tripod out on the town, and it didn't fall apart - so all is well :)
Its much smoother to use, really needed a clean - and well worth doing.
 
Here's a link to the full list of manfrotto drawings.

Clicky

Search with the product code then click the little arrow.
 
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