Lens Mount Stuck on Tripod Head Screw

[Peterr211]

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Any thoughts on how to get this off??? The entire screw assembly rotates freely. Unable to remove the four little screws on the ring mount to disassemble the ring mount…

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

That looks like it may be cross threaded.  Or is the tension screw loose or stripped?  Which lens is this ring from?

[Peterr211]

If I had to guess, I would say the screw that is part of the tripod head is no longer stuck in place and is rotating freely. I can see a silver ring that I believe is part of it. I can also press the entire thing in and it gets tighter, but doesn’t unscrew. I think the lens is a canon 70–200 2.8.

I haven’t figured out a good way to take apart the tripod head without a hammer.

[wq9nsc]

As Rick notes, it looks like it might be cross threaded which caused the tripod screw to be the part that came loose when trying to remove it.  If so, once you have it apart both the tripod screw and tripod foot insert should be replaced.

It is impossible to tell from the photo angle but you should be able to fit a thin (NOT normal) needle nose pliers between the two to grab the screw and you may be able to hold the screw well enough to break it loose from the tripod foot that way.  A set of mini vise grips would make it easier but I am not sure even the smallest one I own would fit into that opening.

If you can't fit any tool into the gap then another option is to drill a small hole through the tripod screw and use a drift punch or similar small strong metal rod tool to pin it.  To drill, secure the tripod foot in a bench vise (use rubber jaw inserts to avoid marring it) and clamp in another piece (a thin wedge punch should do) to press against the rotating screw part so that you can get the drill bit started through without the piece spinning.  Use a sharp high quality bit and a bit of high temp grease on the bit tip to make this easier since the screw assembly is hard.  Once you are through it, pin it and you should be able to either get the screw loose from the tripod foot insert or the insert will spin out either of which is fine.

Rodger

[Peterr211 · Accepted solution]

Update: I snapped the tripod mount apart. The thread wasn’t stripped - jn fact, it was only screwed into the lens mount about 2mm.  The metal housing for the screw was loose in the plastic head.

 

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