Bogen tripod - taking the head off

[George Collier]

I have just bought a Bogen 3033 tripod in good shape. I would like to swap heads with another of my Bogens - a 3030A. I believe the head unscrews just above where the aluminum plate is, or just below the pan control on the head. No matter how tight I tighten the pan lock lever (within reason), I can't unscrew the head.
Is the head reverse thread? (I could try it, but don't want to make it worse.)

I notice three small screws (actually three little threaded rods with slots in the end) which screw up into the aluminum base of the tripod from below. They are all loose. What are they for?

Also, where is a good place to buy the locking screw for the column strut assembly - the one for the new tripod is missing.

 

[Ian C]

Those 3 screws are 6mm diameter x 1.0mm thread-pitch slotted setscrews that lock the head to the mounting pate of the tripod by preventing rotation of the head’s base plate relative to the tripod.

The under side of Manfrotto (Bogan) heads have a series of angled flats (hidden until you get it apart) that capture the ends of the setscrews and prevent unscrewing the head from the tripod. There are no left-hand threads on a Manfrotto tripod.

As it is, you’re applying a shearing force against the ends of the setscrews. Fully remove the 3 setscrews and the head should unscrew easily.

 

[Jon Shiu]

If you have a set of channel-lock pliers you can get a grip on the base of the tripod head to unscrew it.

Jon

 

[John Koehrer]

Bogentripodparts.com or Bogen Imaging.
I usually order from Bogen Imaging. The other one I just found recently & haven't needed any parts lately.

 

[lxdude]

What Ian C said. Remove those screws before doing anything else.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You don't even have to remove the screws all the way- just loosen them to the point the slots are completely outside the mounting plate and you'll have enough clearance to unscrew the head.

 

[Bob-D659]

If that head has been on there for a number of years, and someones version of hand tight(gorilla type) can turn into you need a soft jaw vise and a large strap wrench plus a 100 lb/ft or more of torque to remove the head.

 

[George Collier]

I backed out the screws, and I still had to give the pan tightening lever a mild whack with my hand, but it came off.

Thanks to all of you.

 

[John Koehrer]

Sometimes they just need a good whack.