really stuck tripod legs

[allanrube]

I want to take apart my Gitzo 5540 tripod. It has a lot of sand in it from my recent trip. After loosening all the collars, I have removed 3 of the leg sections (out of 9) but cannot remove the others. They slide back and forth but will not come out. My son and I have yanked at them, trying to pull them apart. No luck.

Any ideas?

[Robert Amoruso]

My G1325 does the same thing. I tried the heating in hot water, lubricants, etc. and nothing worked. Back to Gitzo to get it fixed. Let's hope someone has some other suggestions. Good luck.

[allanrube]

I wrote Gitzo but haven't heard back yet.

[Arthur Morris]

You need to send them the tripod. It will likely cost you though. I have said and written often, even a single grain of sand in the leg locks can result in expensive repairs.... For folks not willing to simply throw away a tripod (due to corrosion and anodization--sp???) now and then, Drypods can protect their investments. They are available thru BAA.

The newest Series 6 tripods like the 3530LS that I use do much better with salt water and with sand.

[allanrube]

I bought a pair of drypods which I used in water such as the north lagoon at Ft. Desoto. This sand was from beach shots when I did not use the drypod as I was constantly extending, closing, and splaying the legs.
I agree the older models (I had a 1325) were harder to self-service due to the cork pieces. The construction of the newer models is better but still, since they have to fit snuggly, a few pieces of sand can cause problems.

[Arthur Morris]

I have long recommended that folks working low in sand or mud leave the bottom leg sections extended at least 4-6 inches. That said the newer 6X tripods are much better at resisting the effects of both water and sand. I am pretty sure that this one Gitzo GT5541LS Carbon Fiber 6X tripod replaces the 5540.

You can learn more here:

http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#...he%20CF%201325)

[Ed Grella]

Use a belt wrench and try twisting it back and forth and up and down at the same time. I ran hot water into the stuck joint at the same time. Once it twisted freely, my brother and I played tug of war and it freed up. Strap wrenches can be purchased at Sears or Harbor Freight. You may need two wrenches for more grip.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...d=strap+wrench
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94119

[allanrube]

Will try anything. Bogen wants $694 to fix it. They were only able to disassemble 2 legs. I turned down the estimate and asked them to return all parts.

[Arthur Morris]

Will try anything. Bogen wants $694 to fix it. They were only able to disassemble 2 legs. I turned down the estimate and asked them to return all parts.

I believe that that is what I predicted would happen. It sounds to me as if the problem was not caused by sand, but rather by the metals becoming anodized (or fused as best as I can understand it.) And again, the new 6X tripods do much better with both sand and salt water.

Thanks for the reminder; I need to have Jim clean my #1 tripod today.

[Rocky Sharwell]

Will try anything. Bogen wants $694 to fix it. They were only able to disassemble 2 legs. I turned down the estimate and asked them to return all parts.

Sorry to hear of the bad news....Many years ago just after one of Artie's bulletins gave really clear and easy to understand directions on how to clean and maintain a tripod I was a bit lazy and hesitated to clean my 1548. Several sections were stuck a few days later. I tried everything I could think such heating, cooling, strap wrenches. I finally bit the bullet and bought another identical tripod. Several years later I still have an extensive supply of spare parts. :)

[allanrube]

I hope Artie is wrong - I hope the leg still slides a bit. I can make this my beach only tripod. It depends, I guess, if I want to settle for a single height tripod. No $$ to buy a new one at the moment.

[Dan Sehn]

Gents
Try this I've worked with aluminum for many years. If you can gently heat a large portion of the larger leg with a propane torch not touching the leg with the flame moving up and down trying to heat it evenly. Open the bottom of the leg and spray quick freeze into the smaller leg. Expanding the larger leg and shrinking the smaller one hopefully this frees it up.

Quick freeze can be bought at hardware or electronic store

Nubee Dan Sehn.

[allanrube]

I took the tripod to a few machine shops today. All they could try was compressed air to possibly shake something out and that did not work. One place suggested placing the pieces in vices and yanking really quickly might work but thought chances are that the legs would break first so he did not want to do it.
I guess I will just use the tripod the way it is - balky, sticky, sometimes the legs sliding closed slowly when it is loaded. I don't want to spend that much on repairs and news ones have gone up about $200 since I bought this one.

[allanrube]

I got an email from Bogen saying they would not be able to get the leg apart so the $694 would be just to get them moving - which they already do. I will just put it all back together and use it as best I can. If I don't like the results I will look for a used one (already am) or buy a tripod to use just for the beach.

[James Shadle]

Try Corrosion-X from a marine supply store. It is amazing!
James