Make tripod head move smoother

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davholla

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I have a Manfrotto MK294A3-D3RC2 294 Aluminium Tripod Kit with 3 Way QR Head and the head does not move that smoothly.
This thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=820933 suggests the way to fix it, is to take it apart and then clean it and put a bit off T-9 BoeShield grease (hopefully I can find the UK equivalent) on it
a) what do people think?
b) Any ideas what the UK equivalent is?
 
davholla said:
I have a Manfrotto MK294A3-D3RC2 294 Aluminium Tripod Kit with 3 Way QR Head and the head does not move that smoothly.
This thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=820933 suggests the way to fix it, is to take it apart and then clean it and put a bit off T-9 BoeShield grease (hopefully I can find the UK equivalent) on it
a) what do people think?
b) Any ideas what the UK equivalent is?
Click to expand...
The thread you link to is for a ball and socket head, I certainly wouldn't want to use grease on one, keeping it clean and setting the tension right is best.

However I believe your head is a 3 way pan and tilt head, again I am not sure I would want to dismantle and use grease. If you are happy dismantling then maybe give the internals a good clean....
 
In the past, though for an obscure part, I used https://www.manfrottospares.com/contact

They also do servicing, so first port of call perhaps for your situation.

FWIW I went by arrangement to the place and collected my ordered parts and the guy I saw was very helpful and knowledgeable so maybe give them a phone call and see what you can learn/find out???
 
I would try everbuild silicon spray. I use this on my mtb forks and shocks. It leaves a “dry” film on the moving parts that doesn’t pick up dust thus scratching moving parts. It’s good stuff for patio door sliding parts too
 
IMO there is risk of putting an inappropriate/any lubricant in a tripod head because of the risk that doing so will mean the locking screws & clamps will no longer 'lock tight' as and when needed.

Hence my advice to talk to the spares & service centre guys ;)
 
Box Brownie said:
In the past, though for an obscure part, I used https://www.manfrottospares.com/contact

They also do servicing, so first port of call perhaps for your situation.

FWIW I went by arrangement to the place and collected my ordered parts and the guy I saw was very helpful and knowledgeable so maybe give them a phone call and see what you can learn/find out???
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, although I wonder if the service would be as much as it cost (it was 2nd hand).
 
PhilH04 said:
The thread you link to is for a ball and socket head, I certainly wouldn't want to use grease on one, keeping it clean and setting the tension right is best.

However I believe your head is a 3 way pan and tilt head, again I am not sure I would want to dismantle and use grease. If you are happy dismantling then maybe give the internals a good clean....
Click to expand...
Thanks I must admit after looking at it, I am not sure I want to dismantle it.
 
davholla said:
Thanks for that, although I wonder if the service would be as much as it cost (it was 2nd hand).
Click to expand...

When I was looking for the part (it was a replacement rubberised cork washer for my monopod) I phoned before ordering online as I could not find the exact replacement. I ordered 2 of the new style rubber ones and when I called to collect I had the chance to look at them and he asked me whether I still wanted 2 of them as he could refund me the cost of one? I decided to keep the order of 2 :)

In your situation it cannot hurt to phone and ask for advice and an estimate of the price for a service......................the advice and estimate I hope should be free, so just phone and see how you get on :)
 
If you want to try cheap, take anything off that will come off easily (plate/knobs) and put it in a bath of mineral spirits. After a while, work the moving pieces while flushing with the mineral spirit bath repeatedly ... that should dissolve any gunk grease and dislodge grit.
It will probably loosen/remove any glued on stickers (can be re-glued later), but it *shouldn't* hurt any of the paint/finish.
 
Box Brownie said:
In the past, though for an obscure part, I used https://www.manfrottospares.com/contact

They also do servicing, so first port of call perhaps for your situation.

FWIW I went by arrangement to the place and collected my ordered parts and the guy I saw was very helpful and knowledgeable so maybe give them a phone call and see what you can learn/find out???
Click to expand...
I can vouch for Manfrotto Spares to be good people to deal with. Just call them and ask their advice.
 
All except the most expensive ball heads are problematic. Unless the ball is perfectly spherical, they always have points that create more fricton than others.

Even two items of the same model can vary dramatically. Lubrication is almost never sucessful.

I have some ball heads, but i much prefer varieties of four way heads, as you can set them one axis at a time.
The geared variety are the best and most accurate of all.
 
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I have just re.built one of the cheap Chinese gimbal heads ,just to see if it helped ,stripped down and re.greased with lithium grease ,yes it did help but it really needs a nylock washer to help with adjustment ,I.e each problem solved causes another to show up ,so the answer is buy expensive or buy Chinese and put up with it
 
the black fox said:
I have just re.built one of the cheap Chinese gimbal heads ,just to see if it helped ,stripped down and re.greased with lithium grease ,yes it did help but it really needs a nylock washer to help with adjustment ,I.e each problem solved causes another to show up ,so the answer is buy expensive or buy Chinese and put up with it
Click to expand...
Is Manfrotto cheap Chinese?
 
davholla said:
Is Manfrotto cheap Chinese?
Click to expand...

No It is Italian and somewhat Agricultural. Strong, reliable and workmanlike. but only precise where it absolutely needs to be.
Manfrotto and Gitzo are made in the same factory. But Gitzo is somewhat more refined.
 
davholla said:
Is Manfrotto cheap Chinese?
Click to expand...
apparently some of its products are .but thats not what I was referring to as stated you can buy expensive if your pocket and needs suit or you can buy cheap Chinese that will do the same job ,sometimes those products last particularly long as well , I believe it was the other company giotto that were mainly Chinese .they are now defunct as far as I know
 
the black fox said:
apparently some of its products are .but thats not what I was referring to as stated you can buy expensive if your pocket and needs suit or you can buy cheap Chinese that will do the same job ,sometimes those products last particularly long as well , I believe it was the other company giotto that were mainly Chinese .they are now defunct as far as I know
Click to expand...

Don't confuse Giotto with Gitzo. At one time Gitzo were a Paris company before they joined Manfrotto. as part of the Vitec group of companies.

Only the budget Manfrotto Attitude tripods are now manufactured in China to be able to compete at the entry level.

I have an old Giotto from china and it is probably the smoothest mover ball I have.
 
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Terrywoodenpic said:
Don't confuse Giotto with Gitzo. At one time Gitzo were a Paris company before they joined Manfrotto. as part of the Vitec group of companies.

Only the budget Manfrotto Attitude tripods are now manufactured in China to be able to compete at the entry level.

I have an old Giotto from china and it is probably the smoothest mover ball I have.
Click to expand...
never did and never will ,
 
I have had a few expensive and cheap tripod heads, the best and smoothest one was an Omega III by Hama
 
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