One of the upper legs of my Gitzo 1325 is jammed. It worked fine the last time I used it, a couple days ago - now it won't budge. With a strap wrench I was able to unscrew the collett all the way. It pushed the leg out about half an inch and then got to the end of the threads. The leg is stuck hard. It won't wiggle or turn.
I managed to pull the leg out using brute force, a come-along. Then I pounded it back in a little bit, hoping that might free it up, but no. I think one of the little plastic washer/shims came out of its slot in the tube and is now wedged between the inner and outer leg tubes.
When I bought it, the 1325 was near the ultimate in tripods. Gitzo may have been the only maker of carbon fiber tripods at the time. I've always had a love-hate relationship with this tripod. It does what it was intended to do very well. But the leg joints are horrid. This tripod has required more maintenance than any other piece of gear I own, including cameras and lenses. Its non-Gitzo replacement should arrive next Thursday. I'm looking forward to finally having a tripod with modern leg joints.
I was watching this post to see if someone would give a reply. I need to replace a cracked leg on my Gitzo. What tripod did you end up buying ? Good luck. Andrew
Well, I finally got the thing apart. it wasn't the plastic washer that had gotten jammed. It was corrosion!
Gitzo warns not to use the tripod in a saltwater environment, but for me that means not using it at all. I've always been careful to avoid immersion of the joints in seawater, and if that did occur, to disassemble the tripod and clean it and lubricate the collett threads with lithium grease. The week before it jammed, the leg joints had gotten splashed and I neglected to do the precautionary maintenance. It's a pain to do but I paid for not doing it.
The leg jammed because the inside of the leg joint had corroded and swelled, binding the carbon fiber tube. Let this serve as a caution to anybody who uses this kind of tripod. Don't let what happened to me happen to you.
I've managed to get the old Gitzo back in service, but not before I replaced it with a new Feisol who claims it is: "suited for use in saltwater environments. FEISOL Tripods and Monopods are crafted of superb Carbon and Aluminum, earning them a solid reputation for superior performance in punishing saltwater. This feature is available on all FEISOL Tripods and Monopods. Benefits include:
► Exceptional Longevity
► Extreme Resistance to Corrosion
► Perfect Companion for Water-Resistant Cameras
► Also Suitable for Snow and Ice
► Requisite for Bird, Nature, and Surf Photography"
Discussion
5 repliesAny suggestions?
When I bought it, the 1325 was near the ultimate in tripods. Gitzo may have been the only maker of carbon fiber tripods at the time. I've always had a love-hate relationship with this tripod. It does what it was intended to do very well. But the leg joints are horrid. This tripod has required more maintenance than any other piece of gear I own, including cameras and lenses. Its non-Gitzo replacement should arrive next Thursday. I'm looking forward to finally having a tripod with modern leg joints.
I ordered a Feisol CT-3372
Gitzo warns not to use the tripod in a saltwater environment, but for me that means not using it at all. I've always been careful to avoid immersion of the joints in seawater, and if that did occur, to disassemble the tripod and clean it and lubricate the collett threads with lithium grease. The week before it jammed, the leg joints had gotten splashed and I neglected to do the precautionary maintenance. It's a pain to do but I paid for not doing it.
The leg jammed because the inside of the leg joint had corroded and swelled, binding the carbon fiber tube. Let this serve as a caution to anybody who uses this kind of tripod. Don't let what happened to me happen to you.
I've managed to get the old Gitzo back in service, but not before I replaced it with a new Feisol who claims it is: "suited for use in saltwater environments. FEISOL Tripods and Monopods are crafted of superb Carbon and Aluminum, earning them a solid reputation for superior performance in punishing saltwater. This feature is available on all FEISOL Tripods and Monopods. Benefits include:
► Exceptional Longevity
► Extreme Resistance to Corrosion
► Perfect Companion for Water-Resistant Cameras
► Also Suitable for Snow and Ice
► Requisite for Bird, Nature, and Surf Photography"