Stuck tripod head

Well I've somehow managed to get my acratech tripod head stuck on the center

post and no amount of muscle can get it unscrewed. I dont know if the

connection is rusty or what, but I've tried Liquid Wrench, using pliers,

running it under hot water, and all I've succeeded in doing is getting my

blood pressure dangerously high. Does anyone have any tips for unscrewing a

stuck head (it's especially difficult since i can get a good grip on the

little base parts).

 

Thanks

Ian

I've had some success putting stuck metal objects in the freezer in order to separate them. You might try making sure everything is dry and sticking the head/post in a freezer or on ice for a few hours.

Don't know about that model, but does it have lock screws? Turn it over and look at the bottom of the center post mounting base

Ah yes, the old Lock Screw thing! It's about as heinous an oversight as finding a beautiful Leitz tripod head with 3/8" mounting stud and thinking it's an adapter, trying to screw it off for the 1/4" underneath. Oy, how embarassing. (For those who don't know, the 3/8" pushes down to reveal the 1/4".)

 

I'll join you for a gentleman's bet that it's the lock screws, Jack!

It's a Hakuba tripod column with no locking screws in the bottom. I'll try the freezing to see if i can get it apart, if this doesnt work I may go insane.

Thanks

Ian

Here's another way that sometimes works. Tighten any handles as tight as you can, or if it's a ball head, set it at right angles. You want to present as firm as possible a point on which to strike it in the direction of unscrewing. Now get a wooden mallet or some other heavy but not metallic striking tool (a piece of firewood, a table leg, or whatever is available), and while holding the tripod firmly (under left arm might work), give the handle or the angled ball head a whack with the mallet. The shock will often work where steady pressure does not.

Well freezing the head and column didnt work. My main problem is that the panning knob wont crank down enough to stop it from rotating, and there isnt much metal lip to hold onto when I try to twist them loose. I've tried using rubber to get a better grip, but still nothing. I'm about ready to start bashing things with it.

Ian

This won't help until tomorrow morning, but you might call Acratech; the two people I know there are pretty darn good about answering tricky questions.

Liquid wrench (whatever that is) is probably the right idea. I have had this problem and had to soak the connection in lubricant with the tripod inverted before enough penetrated to the threads. My Kirk head has enough of a lip to hold onto. If you extend the centre post it might give you a bit of extra space to get a grip using rubber gloves. Good luck.

The Acratech has a base, according to illustrations, but may be to narrow to grasp by hand. I suggest using a rubberized strap wrench on the base of the head, and possibly on the column itself. There is no metal to metal contact, so there is no marring of the surfaces. Just be careful you don't wrap it around a knob - just the base. You can find these wrenches at Sears or any large hardware store.

 

I doubt Liquid Wrench will help, and will only make the available grasping surfaces slippery. Heads usually stick because the soft material on the platform deforms under pressure and extends into the access hole(s) on the bottom of the head.

Well I finally got the two pieces unstuck, I first clamped down on the post with some rubber and a wrench then tightened the panning knob as much as possible with pliers, put the ball head at a 90 degree angle and twisted like hell. I think the problem was the brass reducer bushing to go from 3/8 to 1/4 got stuck. Anyway thanks for the help everyone.

Ian

I had this problem when using aluminium bushing. Once I switched to a brass bushing I had the problem that the head would unscrew itself. I fixed this by using some blue Loc-Tite.