Manfrotto Ball head: I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. it is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual...

Jim 100 Loc: Everett, Washington

I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. it is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual online. My question for the group: What is the proper maintenance for this head. Should the ball be periodically lubricated, and if so, whith what?
Thanks

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Jim 100 wrote:

I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. It is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual online. My question for the group: What is the proper maintenance for this head. Should the ball be periodically lubricated, and if so, with what?
Thanks

A couple drops of WD-40 once in a while will soften the original grease a bit and keep it operating smoothly. Don’t spray it - you don’t want to wash any grease out. I keep WD-40 in a small eyedrop squeeze bottle.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Jim 100 wrote:

I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. it is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual online. My question for the group: What is the proper maintenance for this head. Should the ball be periodically lubricated, and if so, whith what?
Thanks

If it's working good now, don't use anything on it. If you use oil, it will attract grit and grime from the air and gum up and be a real pain. If it's sticky now, I would try to disassemble it and clean it, but make sure it's dry when you put it back together.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Jim 100 wrote:

I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. it is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual online. My question for the group: What is the proper maintenance for this head. Should the ball be periodically lubricated, and if so, whith what?
Thanks

Never apply a lubricant of any kind to a ball head. If it gets tight, follow the procedure described in the last post in this thread:

https://www.photography-forums.com/threads/bogen-3262qr-head-not-staying-tight.97667/

If you apply lube, it may never tighten down again.

Jim 100 Loc: Everett, Washington

Thanks for the responses. It is working fine, I just want to keep it that way.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Jim 100 wrote:

Thanks for the responses. It is working fine, I just want to keep it that way.

Leave a sleeping dog lay

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Manglesphoto wrote:

Leave a sleeping dog lay

Yep, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

will

Winslowe

Jim 100 wrote:

I was recently gifted a Manfrotto Ball-head from an estate. it is a model3262QR which is apparently an old one as I have had no luck finding an owners manual online. My question for the group: What is the proper maintenance for this head. Should the ball be periodically lubricated, and if so, whith what?
Thanks

Treat it with the same care you should use with any photo equipment and little maintenance should be needed. One of the worst things you could do is over tighten. I've had good luck with Manfrotto heads. Mine were a bit rough when new, but smoothed out with use. Snug up just enough to hold, and no more.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I have 6 various Manfrotto ball heads. Some are 25 years old. They require very little maintianciece- just keep them clean.

Do not apply lubricants- they will reduce the level of friction that enables them to lock positively. Low viscosity lubricants or grease will leak out when operating the head and get all over your hands and gear.

If the head gets dirty or traps sand or other particles, simply disassemble, clean, and reassemble.