I have had my tripod for a few years and the mechanical motion has started to suffer--specifically, the tripod hinges stick in various positions and require undue force to dislodge (and after being dislodged, they tend to jump suddenly by large angles, making precision adjustment difficult.) if one wishes to prevent the tripod from moving unexpectedly, excessive screw torque is often needed, making matters worse. The set screws for leg extension suffer similarly: they feel sticky when tightening, and it requires a lot of torque on them to keep the tripod from collapsing.
I have disassembled the hinges and wiped off the conical mating surfaces, in case dirt or fouling were the problem. I have tried relubrication of said surfaces, first with 5W-20 oil and then with spray lithium grease. Neither of these proved helpful. The anodization of the sliding surfaces looks intact, with little or no wear or damage apparent. What should be done?
I have disassembled the hinges and wiped off the conical mating surfaces, in case dirt or fouling were the problem. I have tried relubrication of said surfaces, first with 5W-20 oil and then with spray lithium grease. Neither of these proved helpful. The anodization of the sliding surfaces looks intact, with little or no wear or damage apparent. What should be done?