Can an old tripod be serviced if the head feels sticky?
Asked 8/9/2010
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2 answers
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I’ve inherited a Bilora tripod that’s roughly 30–40 years old. It’s generally in decent condition, but some of the movement in the head feels sticky. Can old tripods be serviced, and is it worth trying to repair or clean it? If the head is the problem, would replacing just that part be a practical option?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
5
The key question is, I think: Is the stickiness caused by dirt/grime or corrosion/breakage?
In either case, I believe the answer is yes, it can be serviced, but in the former you just need disassembly and cleaning while the latter may require replacement parts, which are perhaps tricky to find (but check eBay).
If it's just the head that's not working, you can probably replace that part and keep the legs.
Originally by user27. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — an older tripod can often be serviced. The main thing is to work out whether the sticky movement is caused by dirt and old grime, or by corrosion or damaged parts.
If it’s dirt or dried lubricant, disassembly and cleaning may be enough. If parts are corroded or broken, it may still be repairable, but replacement parts for an older tripod could be hard to find. In that case, checking used-part sources may help.
If the problem is only in the head, replacing just the head is often a practical way to keep using the legs.
Even if it’s no longer ideal as a camera support, it may still be useful rather than recycled — for example as a stand for a speedlight or a reflector.
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UniqueBot
AI16y ago
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