1548 mk2 gitzo
Bottom leg locking ring is solid will not budge,any suggestions?
Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk
Posted by Dan Borzynski on November 18, 2008 at 4:54 PM
You probably have dirt or grit in the locking ring threads. Once you get that undone, you'll need to clean that out a bit.
Of course, that still doesn't solve your immediate problem. I haven't gotten to the point where everything is frozen up nice and solid, but I've gotten close. Here is what I have done. Tighten the lockring immediately above, more so that you ordinarily would (but don't use a pipe wrench on it ). Now find an old mousepad with that rubberly backing on it. Put that in your hand and then grab the lower lockring. You are not going to wrap the mousepad around it - just use it as a layer between your hand and the ring. If you have mousepad on mousepad, the pad will turn, not the tripod ring. Get a good hard grip and twist hard.
If that doesn't work, read the next message. (none posted beyond this one at the current moment )
Posted by Buck Ward on November 18, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I've had this problem with my 1325. I now keep the leg joints clean, religiously. Seawater was my culprit. Gitzo leg joints are allergic to seawater; they corrode.
A couple of small strap wrenches are useful to grab the legs with. I hope there is enough of the bottom leg sticking out. You just have to wiggle and wrench and twist and pull. It took me hours to get it free, but finally, success.
After you get it apart, scrub and wash all the parts. Coat the threads with white lithium grease. It might be a good time to replace all the fiber bushings and the plastic retainer rings.
Thanks Buck
The bottom section moves out ok its just the locking barrel thats stuck,will not budge at all,used strap wrench but its solid,I fear two new sections may have to be ordered!
Open to suggestions
Thanks
Craig
Posted by Adam Gibbs on November 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Craig,
I recently had this problem on my tripod and almost threw in the towel for a new leg. Out of desperation I squirted wd40 into the locking barrel and left it for a while then repeated the process. Eventually the section did come apart with a lot of grunting and blisters. Salt water was the culprit and I was at fault for not cleaning the legs directly after my trip.
Posted by Will Pratt on November 19, 2008 at 2:45 PM
In addition to the WD40, try warming the joint, as by wrapping a heating pad around it. (A blow torch would be a Very Bad Idea.) This will expand the materials, making the outside part of the joint slightly larger relative to the inner and ease the lock at least a bit.
Will Pratt
Posted by Buck Ward on November 19, 2008 at 6:26 PM
OK, so the leg is loose so it slides in and out, but the collett is stuck so that you can turn it to tighten it. Is that the picture?
Sounds like the threads are corroded and stuck. WD40 or some other penetrating lubricant may help, and/or heat may help, but ultimately force is what's needed. If you're considering replacing both legs anyway, you've really got nothing to lose. Use a lubricant and/or heat and strap wrenches or something else that will let you grip the collett and the leg, and force the collett to turn. If the rubber cover slips, remove it. If you can get it to turn just a little bit, you may be able to get it loose. If you break it, well, you were going to replace it anyway.
I discovered that soaking the whole joint assembly in alcohol doesn't affect the corrosion, but it does loosen the rubber cover. It can be reinstalled and when the alcohol completely dissipates, the rubber cover is tight again.
Same problem Craig, on a 1325, jammed open, and solid. Tried all the options above and ended up with a new leg - despite listing the separate parts Gitzo only stocked the complete leg assembly. Sit down - it was £230! But at least I have nice carbon monopod now, although it has a stuck joint!
As an aside the same thing can happen to your expensive alloy wheels - they weld theselves to the wheel hub - I strongly recommend some copper grease on the back of them. My mate had a puncture and could not get the alloy wheel off and ended up sacrificing the wheel in a garage who could not shift it undamaged so trashed it and took it off in lumps.
Speaking from a salty environment, WD40 isn't the best penetrant for corroded aluminum. Kroil works better and Liquid Wrench isn't far behind. Strap wrenches are good!
Discussion
10 repliesBottom leg locking ring is solid will not budge,any suggestions?
Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk
Of course, that still doesn't solve your immediate problem. I haven't gotten to the point where everything is frozen up nice and solid, but I've gotten close. Here is what I have done. Tighten the lockring immediately above, more so that you ordinarily would (but don't use a pipe wrench on it
If that doesn't work, read the next message. (none posted beyond this one at the current moment
A couple of small strap wrenches are useful to grab the legs with. I hope there is enough of the bottom leg sticking out. You just have to wiggle and wrench and twist and pull. It took me hours to get it free, but finally, success.
After you get it apart, scrub and wash all the parts. Coat the threads with white lithium grease. It might be a good time to replace all the fiber bushings and the plastic retainer rings.
Good luck.
The bottom section moves out ok its just the locking barrel thats stuck,will not budge at all,used strap wrench but its solid,I fear two new sections may have to be ordered!
Open to suggestions
Thanks
Craig
I recently had this problem on my tripod and almost threw in the towel for a new leg. Out of desperation I squirted wd40 into the locking barrel and left it for a while then repeated the process. Eventually the section did come apart with a lot of grunting and blisters. Salt water was the culprit and I was at fault for not cleaning the legs directly after my trip.
Will Pratt
Sounds like the threads are corroded and stuck. WD40 or some other penetrating lubricant may help, and/or heat may help, but ultimately force is what's needed. If you're considering replacing both legs anyway, you've really got nothing to lose. Use a lubricant and/or heat and strap wrenches or something else that will let you grip the collett and the leg, and force the collett to turn. If the rubber cover slips, remove it. If you can get it to turn just a little bit, you may be able to get it loose. If you break it, well, you were going to replace it anyway.
I discovered that soaking the whole joint assembly in alcohol doesn't affect the corrosion, but it does loosen the rubber cover. It can be reinstalled and when the alcohol completely dissipates, the rubber cover is tight again.
Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk
As an aside the same thing can happen to your expensive alloy wheels - they weld theselves to the wheel hub - I strongly recommend some copper grease on the back of them. My mate had a puncture and could not get the alloy wheel off and ended up sacrificing the wheel in a garage who could not shift it undamaged so trashed it and took it off in lumps.
Posted from europe!!!!
Craig