Tripod Head Base is loose- how to tighten?

jrazz wrote on 6/21/2006, 9:02 PM

I have a Davis & Sanford FM 18 Fluid Head Tripod. Through a lot of use, it has become loose to where when I move the the arm up or down it slightly pulls the camera (and head) to where the camaera is no longer level, but slightly at an angle (if I lift the left arm up the camera's left side will be slightly higher than the right side and if I push down, the opposite happens). Now, there is a nut on a bolt on top of the base platform of the fluid head. I cannot get any wrench I have in that space due to the design of the head. I would assume that is what I need to tighten to rid the head of this issue. Any ideas on if this is the right nut that needs to be tightened or do I need to be looking for something else? None of the handles will tighten the part that is giving me the problem.

Here is an image of one on B&H. The part that has Davis & Sanford on it is the part that is loose, but it is like a cap over the mechanism inside it. The nut right above that and the right below the FM18 (part with the arm attached to it).

Thanks,

j razz

Comments

jrazz wrote on 6/21/2006, 9:33 PM

I got it, but it caused another problem- if I tighten it, the fluid like left and right motion is no longer fluid. It is not jerky, but it has some rough spots when you move the head 360 degrees around. If I loosen it the same problem as before. Maybe I just need to invest in a new head.

j razz

Serena wrote on 6/21/2006, 9:53 PM

Can't offer mechanical advice, but sounding like expert maintenance is appropriate.

JackW wrote on 6/22/2006, 4:15 PM

Not familiar with your specific head, but,on the Bogen/Manfrotto heads there are three or four very small set screws underneath the head that hold everything together. You'll probably have to remove the ball leveler and its associated parts to look, but this could be where the problem lies. If these screws are loose they allow a considerable amount of play, even when all the knobs on the head are locked down. The head will rock back and forth on its base.

Jack