Tripod Head Adapters

[Mhayes]

My tripod is a RS-284 and it came with a head that I was never happy with. I've recently bought a new ball head to replace it (a hahnel BH-40) as I was under the impression that most tripod heads were interchangeable. Unfortunately this does not look like it's the case as both the new head and the tripod have female threads (see photo below, old head is on the right):
Tripod Connections by mark-hayes, on Flickr

My question is can I use a normal adapter like http://www.amazon.co.uk/SMALLRIG-2PCS-Threaded-Screw-Adapter/dp/B00IEXTWOA to join the two or wouldn't the adapter be sturdy enough? The threads on the adapter don't look very long compared to the one on the old head.

 

[Martyn...]

Won't that threaded rod unscrew from the original head, then screw it back into the tripod ?

The adaptors will not be long enough looking at your tripod.

I have always had a tripod with a section of threaded rod sticking up from the plate

 

[Mhayes]

Ooops... never mind. It turns out that the part on the bottom of the old head comes off (it was just jammed on and required a lot of force).

Mods, feel free to delete this thread as I suspect it isn't a lot of use to anyone unless they are as dim as me

Edit: Thanks Martyn. I worked it out just as you posted

 

[Martyn...]

Glad you got it sorted