Sticky fluid leaking from an old Velbon tripod head — what is it and how should I clean it?

Asked 12/20/2014

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I found my dad’s old Velbon D-400 tripod after it had been stored in a garage for over 10 years. The tripod still works smoothly, but there is a very sticky liquid around the base/top of the head near the rotating section. It feels almost like glue. Is this likely to be fluid or grease from the head, and is it safe to clean off? What’s the best way to do that without damaging the tripod?

tripod maintenance cleaning velbon fluid-head

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

The Velbon D-400 has a so-called "fluid head", where fluid damps movements to smooth video pans. That damping fluid probably leaked.

Originally by user37166. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user37166

11y ago

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

It’s most likely lubricant or damping fluid from the tripod head. The Velbon D-400 uses a fluid-style head, so over time—especially with temperature swings in garage storage—some grease or damping fluid can seep out around the moving parts.

If the head still moves smoothly, that suggests the tripod is still usable, though the leak may indicate aging seals or lubricant migration.

For cleaning, it’s generally safe to wipe the residue off, but avoid soaking it with water. A slightly damp cloth is the safest first step. If the sticky residue is stubborn, hold the damp cloth against it for a few minutes to soften it, then wipe it away. The reason to avoid lots of water is that the internal lubricant also helps protect the mechanism from moisture.

So: yes, it’s probably old lubricant/fluid, and yes, you can clean the outside carefully with a damp cloth.

Sticky fluid leaking from an old Velbon tripod head — what is it and how should I clean it?

2 Answers

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