Hello all,
I've got 3 tripods, but one of the easiest to grab and use is this old linhof. Unfortunately something happened to the range of motion (azimuth), so the handle only travels up and down about an inch and a quarter. I put some oil down in the separation, but that didn't seem to help. Does anyone know how to get this stubborn thing apart ?
HowManyPicsHave We Taken wrote:
Hello all,
I've got 3 tripods, but one of the easiest to grab and use is this old linhof. Unfortunately something happened to the range of motion (azimuth), so the handle only travels up and down about an inch and a quarter. I put some oil down in the separation, but that didn't seem to help. Does anyone know how to get this stubborn thing apart ?
Consider contact Linhoff repair.
http://www.laflexcamera.com/our-shopWelcome to the forum.
SX2002
Loc: Adelaide, South Australia
Are there two small holes in this "nut"..if there are, you'll need a pin spanner or maymbe a small pin punch to undo it...
I do have a spanner wrench, but I would have to drill my own holes. This is strictly a DIY thing. Thanks :)
Are those grooves around the periphery of the end caps? If so, the factory may have assembled it with a special spanner wrench that engages those grooves.
That was a good idea, but I just tried it and the wrench just slips and scratches the white plastic. I'm wondering if they glued that in.
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
Or maybe it’s pressed in... not sure how to pry it out without damage if that’s the case. What’s on the opposite side?
That center disc may be a cosmetic cover that is applied over the actual retaining piece. It may just peel off. Of course, once that's done, it may not go back gracefully.
EDIT--Linhof is still in business and still has a website (in German). But it looks like your tripod is too classic to be covered there. You might try contacting them and see if it is possible to bt a scan of a service manual. They are at linhof.com. Google translated the webpage enough to make it fairly useful.
Looks like service is no longer provided for tripods with silver and beige heads. Still might be worth asking how to get it apart.
If you can’t get it apart, how about removing the entire head and replace it with a ball head which will much more versatile.
Don’t mess up your tripod! Google a manual.
Just a thought, try to back the handle (unscrew) cow about a half to a full turn...
Good luck, the “G”
I've used Linhof camera for may decades and have owned many of their tripods.
Try this: Unscrew the handle, place the head on a table with the threaded socket facing upward and drop in a few ounces of DW-40 or other penetrating oil and leave it stand or a couple of hours. Inspect the male threads on the handle and make sure they are not stripped or possibly that part of it has chipped or broken off and fallen into the head. Reinsert the handle and see if the head tilts.
If this doesn't work, it is probably more economical to replace the head. I found that, even on some of the more heavier-duty models, sometimes the casting, the threads or other parts become deformed or worn out from over tightening or continually tilting the head while retaining some tension with heavy cameras. I sent a few of my heads to a local machine shop where bushings, shims and washers were replaced or re-created because the parts were no longer available- this was rather costly but the longevity was extended for a number of years. The only official Linhof service provider listed on the Internet is in Germany and they no longer service older tripod models. On one of my old Linhof heads easily, we found that somehow the components were force-fitted together so there was no way to disassemble it- perhas there were special tools or jigs?
There are so many great two-way tilt, ball, and L-bracket type heads on the market that it pays to replace the head as long as the legs, the elevator column and all the set screws and locks are in good working order.
This is just a simple clamp. What is wrong with the movement? Is it like hitting a hard stop, or is it grindy-crunchy, or real tight?
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