How do I remove a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head from a 055 tripod?
Asked 7/31/2016
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I’m trying to remove a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head from a Manfrotto 055 tripod. I removed the screw on the underside, but the head still won’t come off and just spins. Is there another locking mechanism on the 055 that needs to be loosened, and what’s the correct way to remove the head without damaging the tripod?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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If the 055 series models are anything like most Manfrotto products there are three small "grub" screws with Allen keys countersunk in the bottom of the plate on which the head mounts. All three must be loosened to allow the head to be removed. If you only removed a single screw, it sounds like you may have removed the one with a large handle that allows the center column to rotate.
If you've backed out all three grub screws and the center columns mounting plate is spinning then it is loose in its connection to the center column. You'll probably need to use a vise or other tool to hold it stationary so that you can twist the base of the 498RC2 off of it. You can use felt cloth or something similar to prevent the jaws of the vice from marring the finish on your mounting plate.
For a more comprehensive look at how set screws are used to secure heads to various makes of tripods, please see this article.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
On many Manfrotto 055 tripods, the head is not held only by one underside screw. There are typically three small countersunk grub screws in the mounting plate that lock the head in place. All of them need to be loosened before the 498RC2 can be unscrewed.
If you removed only one larger screw/handle underneath, that may be part of the center-column mechanism rather than the head lock.
If all three grub screws are loosened and the whole mounting plate is spinning with the head, the plate itself may be loose from the center column. In that case, hold the mounting plate still with a vise or similar tool and then unscrew the head from it. Use felt, cloth, or another protective layer in the jaws so you don’t mark the finish.
So the basic process is: check for the three locking grub screws, loosen them all, then unscrew the head while keeping the mounting plate from rotating.
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