Manfrotto 502 Fluid Head and Sand!

[Jeremy Krzmarzick]

So I am about 90% done with cleaning out the sand from my tripod head with only one piece of left. Does anyone know how to open the fluid head drag knob? There is an allen wrench hole in the back that doesn't seem to do anything.. I will note Manfrotto advised me not to do this but this wasn't that hard.

 

[Paul F]

I don't have a Manfrotto, but there are only so many ways to hold a knob on. If the allen screw did not release it, then it is probably a press fit.

I looked at the 502 and I think I see the screw you mentioned. It is on the inside of the bridge, yes? Were you able to take the locking knob off?

The drag side probably has a press-fit. It might come apart by putting a wedge (preferably wood) in between the stationary part of the bridge and the part that swivels/connects to the top plate. But your doing it at your own risk.

It may just spin off.

 

[Jeremy Krzmarzick]

I am not around my tripod right now, but this diagram might help... pretty much R1021,33 R1021,23 & R1021,01 have a the allen wrench whole in that middle section of the tripod and I kept screwing that both ways for quite some time and it didn't seem to do anything. My kind of guess is that I need to remove R1021, 33 cap, but that has some pretty hardcore adhesive on the back of it and R1021,23 is made of a pretty soft rubber, so I kind of what to do that as a last resort.

I don't have a Manfrotto, but there are only so many ways to hold a knob on. If the allen screw did not release it, then it is probably a press fit.

I looked at the 502 and I think I see the screw you mentioned. It is on the inside of the bridge, yes? Were you able to take the locking knob off?

The drag side probably has a press-fit. It might come apart by putting a wedge (preferably wood) in between the stationary part of the bridge and the part that swivels/connects to the top plate. But your doing it at your own risk.

It may just spin off.

 

[Paul F]

If the screw is spinning and doesn't seem to do anything, then the thing it is attached to is also rotating. I think it is time to take the decal off and see what is under it. The diagram doesn't show much of anything. It doesn't show the screw you're talking about. There is nothing in the drawing to indicate how it is all held together.