Mono Pod too squeaky at DVinfo.net

Evan Lloyd · July 16th, 2011, 08:55 PM

Like many of you, I shoot with the Manfrotto 561BHDV monopod. Recently the ball joint at the bottom has become still and noisy. Is there any way to lube this thing to make it smooth and quiet again?

Thanks for your help.

Jim Snow · July 16th, 2011, 09:44 PM

The thing that drives me crazy is when I tilt it back and forth it suddenly does a ker-thunk and gives the camera a sudden jolt that ruins the video that you are shooting at that moment. This is a good example of a design that isn't finished for the intended purpose. Someone in Manfrotto's engineering department needs some career 'counseling'.

Chip Thome · July 16th, 2011, 11:13 PM

I have the 561B and you can knock the joint apart of my version. There are three bolts that appears to have hexhead inserts on the top and nuts on the bottom.

Tim Bakland · July 16th, 2011, 11:27 PM

WD40. Simple as that. I have the same monopod. It started acting up similarly. WD40 made it smooth as ever.

Michael Simons · July 17th, 2011, 06:39 AM

I've tried WD40 and Silicone Spray. But they seemed to dry up and the noise came back. I just tried Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant and that seems to be working. Whatever you use, keep some in your car.

Chris Bryan · July 17th, 2011, 07:30 AM

I've had the same issue, or when I do a pan it jerks the whole way, drives me nuts. As for the huge ker-chunk, I make sure that whenever I set the monopod down now that I push down as hard as I can to make sure that it doesn't drop while I'm shooting.

Troy Davis · May 30th, 2012, 11:25 AM

I've had many of the same problems to the point to where I find it useless during important shoots.
It seems like the perfect monopod would be weighted at the bottom and have a smooth tripod
head at the top. Maybe i'm wrong, but the engineering can't be that difficult especially for what
this cost?

just my 2 cents

Allan Black · May 30th, 2012, 04:00 PM

I haven't seen this problem because I stopped using mine, I found it too restricting.

Learning to pan while keeping it vertical was a pain and using one extended leg of my Miller Compass on CF Solo legs is just as good .. and more convenient.

Cheers.

Steven Davis · November 2nd, 2017, 01:27 PM

I'm considering selling my two and buying a stedipod. I need to rethink monopods, I have two of the manfrotto ones and like you, they stick and squeak. I've already loosened the feet a bit to stop the squeak but I have on sticking a bit, so I'll need to work on it again.

I recently saw the steadipod in action and I was pretty impressed. It's just a lot more than the bogen monopods.

Steven Davis · April 18th, 2018, 09:55 AM

Ok, so here's my story. I have two of the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 and I've tried to deal with this squeaking and still had an issue. So at my last wedding, I asked the cook for vegetable oil. And so far, that has done the trick.

Crazy.

Donald McPherson · April 18th, 2018, 02:32 PM

WD40 does dry. Good for freeing things but once it's loose I would use 3 in 1 oil. Or better if you can loosen the balljoint and pack in some grease then tighten it all up again.

Dan Gunn · April 23rd, 2018, 10:32 AM

Try a Libec tripod. Their quality and service are great! I have a lot of their equipment some of which is 30 years old and I have never had a problem.

July 16th, 2011, 08:55 PM	#1
Evan Lloyd Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fresno Posts: 111	Mono Pod too squeaky Like many of you, I shoot with the Manfrotto 561BHDV monopod. Recently the ball joint at the bottom has become still and noisy. Is there any way to lube this thing to make it smooth and quiet again? Thanks for your help.

July 16th, 2011, 09:44 PM	#2
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky The thing that drives me crazy is when I tilt it back and forth it suddenly does a ker-thunk and gives the camera a sudden jolt that ruins the video that you are shooting at that moment. This is a good example of a design that isn't finished for the intended purpose. Someone in Manfrotto's engineering department needs some career 'counseling'.

July 16th, 2011, 11:13 PM	#3
Chip Thome Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay Wisconsin Posts: 553	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I have the 561B and you can knock the joint apart of my version. There are three bolts that appears to have hexhead inserts on the top and nuts on the bottom.

July 16th, 2011, 11:27 PM	#4
Tim Bakland Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beverly, MA Posts: 512	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky WD40. Simple as that. I have the same monopod. It started acting up similarly. WD40 made it smooth as ever. __________________ Event Videography, New England www.timothybakland.com

July 17th, 2011, 06:39 AM	#5
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I've tried WD40 and Silicone Spray. But they seemed to dry up and the noise came back. I just tried Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant and that seems to be working. Whatever you use, keep some in your car.

July 17th, 2011, 07:30 AM	#6
Chris Bryan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 78	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I've had the same issue, or when I do a pan it jerks the whole way, drives me nuts. As for the huge ker-chunk, I make sure that whenever I set the monopod down now that I push down as hard as I can to make sure that it doesn't drop while I'm shooting.

May 30th, 2012, 11:25 AM	#7
Troy Davis Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Raleigh,NC Posts: 263	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I've had many of the same problems to the point to where I find it useless during important shoots. It seems like the perfect monopod would be weighted at the bottom and have a smooth tripod head at the top. Maybe i'm wrong, but the engineering can't be that difficult especially for what this cost? just my 2 cents

May 30th, 2012, 04:00 PM	#8
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,931	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I haven't seen this problem because I stopped using mine, I found it too restricting. Learning to pan while keeping it vertical was a pain and using one extended leg of my Miller Compass on CF Solo legs is just as good .. and more convenient. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

November 2nd, 2017, 01:27 PM	#9
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky I'm considering selling my two and buying a stedipod. I need to rethink monopods, I have two of the manfrotto ones and like you, they stick and squeak. I've already loosened the feet a bit to stop the squeak but I have on sticking a bit, so I'll need to work on it again. I recently saw the steadipod in action and I was pretty impressed. It's just a lot more than the bogen monopods. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

April 18th, 2018, 09:55 AM	#10
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky Ok, so here's my story. I have two of the Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 and I've tried to deal with this squeaking and still had an issue. So at my last wedding, I asked the cook for vegetable oil. And so far, that has done the trick. Crazy. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

April 18th, 2018, 02:32 PM	#11
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky WD40 does dry. Good for freeing things but once it's loose I would use 3 in 1 oil. Or better if you can loosen the balljoint and pack in some grease then tighten it all up again. __________________ A little knowledge goes a long way but not long enough.

April 23rd, 2018, 10:32 AM	#12
Dan Gunn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 272	Re: Mono Pod too squeaky Try a Libec tripod. Their quality and service are great! I have a lot of their equipment some of which is 30 years old and I have never had a problem.