this one surely isn't a mind bender, but want to know if anyone has suggestions,ideas, quick fixes when the 'teeth' on the tripod head/pan arm grooves get stripped and the arm slips and slides when attached (a rubber washer?? file out the grooves?? anything??....) if it was on the arm end, simple solution..buy a new one..buying a new head or tripod, a little more costly......thanks

You can get a "star" washer from a hardware or auto parts store. That's designed to keep things from slipping, and it should engage what's left of the serrations on your tripod nicely.