Servicing a tripod head

[TheFlyingCamera]

So, I got this Gitzo 1371 head in like-new condition, for a price I couldn't pass up. The reason it was cheap is that the major tilt/level controls are really really stiff. I suspect it is old grease, tight tolerances, or a combination of the two. What is the best de-greaser, and what is the recommended replacement grease?

 

[BrianShaw]

I recently overhauled a Bogen/Manfrotto head. After disassembly, naptha quickly cleaned the parts and a medium damping grease from Amazon made it silky smooth.

 

[mshchem]

Mineral spirits, if you have room, and some sort of drop cloth, cardboard etc. Highly recommend Gum Out jet spray. This stuff is NASTY outdoors, use gloves. It will attack wimpy disposable gloves. I have a Majestic geared head, cleaning and relube worked miracles! Be careful with the Gum Out, no contact with rubber, leather, paint?? .It didn't strip paint on my Majestic but I would proceed with care. Older Gitzo, nice

 

[btaylor]

I work in automotive, so I grab what I have at work usually. Gum Out is a carburetor cleaning product and dissolves old grease well. We don’t have that anymore (we don’t work on antiques!) so brake cleaner does about the same thing. I like the high temperature red synthetic wheel bearing grease to relube. Any of this stuff is at the auto parts store. And yes, the solvents are aggressive and dissolve most disposable gloves. I have a similar Gitzo head. I like it a lot.

 

[shutterfinger]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CRC-QD-11-oz-Contact-Cleaner-02130-6/202262505
or
https://www.homedepot.com/p/CRC-11-oz-QD-Electronic-Cleaner-05103/205021975

 

[PerTulip]

I work in automotive, so I grab what I have at work usually. ....

Tip: go to the nearest auto-stuff store. Cars also need cleaners, lubricants, grease, but whatever you buy will cost a fraction of "made for photography equipment" products. Example: I use a product intended to clean cockpits/faux-leather in cars to clean camera leathering. Cars have many materials and they have products for all of them.

As for your tripod head: I would buy any degreaser which is safe for rubber/plastic. Whatever is cheapest. I have no experience with that particular head, but if you can remove the grips, just let the rest of the tripod head sit overnight in any degreaser.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Update:

When I mounted the head on my tripod, it turns out that the tension and damping of the action is just about perfect, no need to de-grease and re-lube. It is really stiff and hard to move when you're playing with it in your hands, but when the stability of an actual tripod is added, well... it's about perfect. So I got myself a bargain like-new head for the price of an 'as-is, parts-or-repair' head.

 

[BrianShaw]

Cool…