Oops, tripod disaster

[gad-westy]

I seem to have made a whoopsie.

A few weeks ago, one of the joints/twist locks on Giottos tripod became very reluctant to extend. I took it apart and gave everything a good lube with WD40. All was well until the next day when I realised that one of the rubbers now seemed quite loose and so it was very difficult to generate enough friction to lock the leg. One day later, all three rubbers on that leg were very loose making it near impossible to use.

It seems that the WD40 has unstuck the rubbers or allowed them to stretch to a point where they're no longer effective. They just spin around the aluminium leg.

So, the purpose of this thread is two fold. Firstly, I hope this tale prevents this happening to anybody else. Secondly, anybody got any neat ideas for a fix? I haven't thought beyond super glue between the leg and rubber yet but before I do that I'd like to garner opinion.

 

[towershot]

De-greasing spray ? there must be one !:shrug:

 

[mrgas]

contact the parts/spares dept of manufacturer ?

 

[gad-westy]

De-greasing spray ? there must be one !:shrug:

Cheers. I've degreased the leg but the rubbers just don't seem to want to bite. I assume that I've either destroyed a bonding agent (WD40 is good sticky stuff remover) or the rubber itself has stretched. I suspect the former.

 

[gad-westy]

contact the parts/spares dept of manufacturer ?

Cheers. I don't think I need spares as such. All the rubbers are still intact, they just won't grip the tripod legs.

 

[mrgas]

Cheers. I don't think I need spares as such. All the rubbers are still intact, they just won't grip the tripod legs.

intact they may be, but it sounds like the WD40 as affected the properties of the rubber

 

[gad-westy]

intact they may be, but it sounds like the WD40 as affected the properties of the rubber

You might be right. It's worth me bearing this in mind.

 

[seme]

Try hot water and a little washing up liquid worked on some actuator rubbers i had.

 

[mrgas]

You might be right. It's worth me bearing this in mind.

if you cant degrease them I'd definitely look for spares, its got to be better than having a tripod collapse and damage your kit

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Try hot water and a little washing up liquid worked on some actuator rubbers i had.

Good old Fairy should do the trick

The spares might cost as much as the tripod itself. Now I just go DIY route with mine

 

[gad-westy]

Cheers chaps. Project for the weekend.

 

[ams99]

Hairspray works a treat on bicycle handle bar grips

 

[mrgas]

Hairspray works a treat on bicycle handle bar grips

till it gets wet !

then ouch

 

[ruggie_uk]

Isopropyl alcohol works well in removing WD40 and dries quickly could try spraying that or dripping some from a bottle.