Gitzo locks gives grinding feeling..normal?

wildviperwildviper Registered Users Posts: 560 Major grins
edited July 14, 2008 in Accessories
I figured I make a new thread so that someone in future can just see the replies.

Anyways, I just got a Gitzo GT2530 Carbon tripod and seem to find that the leg locking mechanism is grinding(as if there is sand there). Is this normal?

Also, since this is not GLock( :( ), is it normal to be turning the locking mechanism and almost unscrewing them?

I guess I am doing this wrong???

Thanx for any help.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WildViper
From Nikon D70s > Nikon D300s & D700
Nikon 50/1.8, Tamron 28-75/2.8 1st gen, Nikkor 12-24/4, Nikkor 70-200/2.8 ED VR, SB600, SB900, SB-26 and Gitzo 2 Series Carbon Fiber with Kirk Ballhead

Comments

  • jsmileyjsmiley Registered Users Posts: 222 Major grins
    edited July 12, 2008
    wildviper wrote:
    I figured I make a new thread so that someone in future can just see the replies.

    Anyways, I just got a Gitzo GT2530 Carbon tripod and seem to find that the leg locking mechanism is grinding(as if there is sand there). Is this normal?

    Also, since this is not GLock( :( ), is it normal to be turning the locking mechanism and almost unscrewing them?

    I guess I am doing this wrong???

    Thanx for any help.
    I have two gitzo G2220. And the only time that I experienced any grinding on the twist lock mechanism on the legs was when some sand got in to the mechanism. If this is your case with one leg? I disassemble the locking mechanism clean it and replaced and lubricated. That took care of the grinding.

    If this tripod is new and doing it on all legs. I would pose this question to Gitzo.
    Hope this helps.
    John

    WWW.smileys-photography.smugmug.com
  • tpowertpower Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited July 14, 2008
    wildviper wrote:
    I figured I make a new thread so that someone in future can just see the replies.

    Anyways, I just got a Gitzo GT2530 Carbon tripod and seem to find that the leg locking mechanism is grinding(as if there is sand there). Is this normal?

    Also, since this is not GLock( :( ), is it normal to be turning the locking mechanism and almost unscrewing them?

    I guess I am doing this wrong???

    Thanx for any help.

    I second what John said. Regarding the unscrewing thing, the leg locks on my new Gitzo 2531 need only a quarter of a turn to engage/disengage. This is engineered to be about what you can easily do without releasing and regripping the mechanism, and it makes for really fast deployment and break-down. There should be no need to go past about a quarter turn either direction.
    http://tpower.smugmug.com/
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited July 14, 2008
    If there is a grinding you should clean it. Sand will ruin the thread over time.
    The aluminium Gitzo I have has some kind of fluid (oil?) in the thread and I
    had sucess cleaning the threads with a toothbrush and tissue paper. To do this
    simply unscrew the lockings. Beware that some parts may fall out (usualy
    the plastic spacing ring). The reassembly is very easy though and does not
    require any kind of tools. Good luck.
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
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