Gitzo G1228 collets hard to tighten, anybody else?

[Loose Gravel]

I have a G1228 carbon Gitzo tripod. I've had a long time, almost since you could first get them, but I don't use it a whole bunch. I have always found it hard to get the collets to tighten well enough to loosen the one below. And once set, then the next time I use the tripod in a different temperature/humidity/phase of the moon, the problem is back.

Now, I've written to the company and they say that the bushings are worn and that replacing them will fix it. I'm wondering how they could be worn if they always acted this way and what good is it to replace the bushings. I've had friends that suffer with the same problem. I asked Gitzo if this was an inherit problem, but they didn't want to answer that. I must have over-tightened the collets was their response. They said 1/2 to 3/4 turns on the collet should be plenty (of course the degree of rotation has nothing to do with the torque required).

I think it is a good tripod and I even bought a new G1325 for the big camera and its collets work fine. I want to know three things:

1. Is there some inherit problem and replacing the collet with new (and supposedly different design) bushing will fix it.

2. Am I wrong and they're right and I crushed the bushings?

3. If they are inheritly malfunctioning, then should this be a warranty repair and so why are they charging me?

Do my fellow photographers with this tripod know anything about this?

Thanks --LG--

 

[fpjohn]

larval response

My explorer displayed this problem which disappeared with continued use.

 

[Dan Henderson]

I have a 1325, and I frequently have to tighten the collets pretty tightly to keep the section below from turning when I go to adjust that section. It is the only complaint I have with this tripod.

 

[dpurdy]

I don't know what model Gitzo I have but someday I am going to through it off a bridge or into the ocean and curse it forever. A couple of times I have had to take a wrench to it.
Dennis

 

[jbbooks]

I have a G1228MkII. I don't know what the "MkII" difference is, but I have no problems with the collets --which seem to work better than most. It does not take much force to tighten them securely.
It took me a while to learn to start at the bottom to loosen and start at the top to tighten As long as I follow that sequence, I have no problems with it and it is my most used tripod.

 

[Barry S]

My 1228 collets are intermittently funky--but nothing too bad. I'm pretty sure Gitzo improved them over time because I played with a ton of Gitzo tripods at B&H and found many models that were very easy to tighten. As jb mentioned, you have to do it in the right order or it can get frustrating.

 

[toyotadesigner]

I have a very old Gitzo (some 25 years), and I can tighten the collets easily, but opening them is a tough one, especially because the rubber rings start to slide on the metal ring. So I've glued the rubber rings with a 2 component glue to the metal and now it's a lot easier.

BTW, for the transport I just tighten the collets a tiny bit - makes it easier and faster to move the legs out later.

 

[Jon Shiu]

I got my 1228 in a yard sale so not sure how it was treated before, but it does not tighten securely in several of the collets. Has anyone replaced the bushings themselves? Here is an article I saw online:
http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/gd0804.htm

Looks to be about $43 for locking bushing set and $22 for guide bushings.

Jon

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I had the same problem. So, I dismantled all the legs entirely and cleaned everything with a solvent, then I lubricated with a good gun oil, Ballistol, and now my old Gitzo is like new. Ballistol is good for protecting rubber against becoming brittle.

 

[Jon Shiu]

I just took my 1228 apart and cleaned the inside of the fiber bushings (and also the leg sections) with some alcohol. Took maybe an hour total. It works fine now. Easy to tighten and no slippage.

Jon

 

[Lee Shively]

It sounds to me like a lot of people are overtightening their Gitzos. Admittedly, I don't own one of the carbon fiber models--my Gitzo is old and heavy--so things may be different with the newer models. On mine, it only takes a slight twist to tighten the collets. If I tighten one on one the leg sections a little too much, it makes it difficult to open. Unless the leg sections slip when in use, there's no reason to give more than a slight twist to lock them open. Overtightening a lot can also mess up the bushings.

 

[Tom Duffy]

I've not had too much of a problem, as long as I tighten from the top down and loosen from the bottom up. The adhesive on one of the leg sections on my original 1228 gave way after about a year (I bought one of the earliest ones, too). Gitzo sent me a free 1228 Mark II as a replacement. No complaints there!