Anomaly with the Bogen 503 head and Bogen bowl leveler

Matt Grunau

Matt Grunau

Adobe Demigod
I had assembled everything to what I thought was right with the tripod, and was getting great results form the leveler and head. Then, tonight at the beginning of a shoot my cameraman noticed a slight "give" before the actual response of the fluid head. I assumed it was because perhaps the head was not truly set enough in place, so by setting the Pan lock on, I simply twisted slightly until I found it tightened up slightly and seemingly set more comfortably. It worked ok from then on, but I was also wondering about something that was going on whit the grub screws.

When I originally mounted the 503, some of the grub screws went only a little bit in, and some went in to the point that I thought they must soon run out of space.

But it worked ok, so I ignored it. Tonight when I got home, I unscrewed the grubs from their normal fitting, literally removed the 503 from the Leveler, and set the whole thing up anew. This time, with the pan lock on, I turned the 503 until it was very very tight. Then I pressed a bit harder and it moved slightly. I hope I didn't either strip the main threads on the 503, or somehow move the leveler to a small degree. It only turned VERY slightly, and then with some decent pressure. I immediately reset the grub screws and found that they did not go back to the positions whey had before. One only went in a few cranks and hit something enough to hold, only went in about halfway, and the last went in almost the entire length of the screw before it found its purchase.

I unlocked everything and it's running like a dream again. I am wondering though, should I be setting the pan and tilt lock on before I set the leveler, or simply twist up the friction on those instead. I am wondering if by setting the pan and tilt locks on, and then messing to get a level, I am actually stressing the unit more than I should. Everything seems to be ok now. But this was the first time it was used for any length of time, and I am concerned that I may have done something incorrectly which could have damaged the parts, forever causing the potential for those small "burps" from where the pan portion of the head falls into place on the leveler and allows the fluid head to take over.

I am afraid I either screwed the head or grubs in to to hard, or used the wrong means to accomplish it.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
if your leveling it you don't technically need to lock the head, the XYZ of the head does not affect the bubble. The 503 also has a return spring so you don't need to lock the head to avoid the dead dive over the bars that happens with non balanced heads... in fact i never lock down the head because if the tripod dives for it it is always better to have give then to not.


Anyways, it sounds like you did overthread the threads, and it would be a problem if the set screws weren't there, but since they still appear to be doing their job you should be fine. Stop taking the damn thing apart already.
 
Thanks for the help guys, though to be honest some of what Jarred said was a little confusing, since I am still very new to all this, and the manuals are not very descriptive. This was my first three-part tripod, and the directions for putting it all together were not the greatest. I naturally assumed the problem was in the way I assembled it, not in the units themselves. So, thinking that, I tried to reassemble it.

But I will however, as said, stop taking the damn thing apart. If I run into that problem again, I imagine it will be a result of one of the grub screws needing a gentle tightening.

Also, does anyone know what would have caused the slight "Burp" or "give" at the begining of the pan? It almost felt like the whole head was turning or sliding somewhat before the fluid pan began, either right or left, and then caught itself allowing the fluid pan to begin. I wish I could be more descriptive if needs be.

Lastly, please remember this is my very first tripod, and some of my very first on site recording experiences, so I am still quite the newbie.

Thanks for the help, and I apologize for not putting this in the Hardware forum where it should have been.
 
HorseFilms said:
What sticks do you have the 503 mounted on?
Click to expand...

The 503 is monted on a bogen bowl head leveler and that is mounted Manfrotto sticks distributed by Bogen. Manfrotto 055A

Above the info sticker (that says Manfrotto Distributed by Bogen) is 3011N, and below the sticker is 055A/K126.

These are on loan to me until I can get a better set, and I realize they are probably the worst sticks on the market right?

That would be my luck.


Thanks
 
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