Manfrotto 525 legs not locking, suggestions?

[Dylan Couper]

Hey gents!

I bought a set of Manfrotto (EDIT) 520mbv legs used online, and found to my dismay that 2 of the upper stage legs do not lock in place. Crank the knob all the way tight and it holds the leg until you put some weight on it, then it slides down. Anyone else had this happen and repaired it? Rather than lose shipping costs returning it, is there any way I can fix this? Not even sure which parts to replace as everything looks like it is in good shape. I tried adding washers to the outside knob to give it more pull, but nothing.

Thanks!

[Chris Soucy]

Can you clarify this sentence.........?

Crank the knob all the way tight

Which to my reading implies a wind/ rotating knob system, but this, from Manfrotto, implies a horizontal lever action lock...............

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...pdf?1272346469

so maybe we're talking of two different animals here?

Just assuming it is a set of 525MVB's as per the parts diagram, note the inclusion of an Allen key in the parts list.

Again, assuming, the locking mechanism on the 525MVB looks remarkably similar to the 546MVB's I've just reviewed, and they most certainly had an Allen key adjustable leg lock mechanism.

I can't tell you what size is required, as I no longer have them, but a set of metric keys should provide the necessary.


CS

[Don Bloom]

I just looked at my 525s and as Chris stated it's an allen wrench (don't know the exact size) but every once in a while I've had to tighten 1 lock up a tiny bit. I'm not the easiest on gear so I expect something to loosen up somewhere. The uppers are easier to fix than the lowers but neither should take more than a minute. BTW it's a small wrench maybe 6 or 7 mm? Could be 5 or could be 10 I can't remember

[Chris Soucy]

Typical, send you a parts drawing and manage to send the wrong one, which doesn't show the Allen key/ wrench:

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...pdf?1272346469


CS

[Dylan Couper]

My bad, it's the 520mvb legs. Uses a lefty loosey/righty tighty knob to lock the legs.

[Chris Soucy]

Here's how you tighten the leg locks.

Tools required: Posidrive/ Phillips screwdriver and a good grip on same.

How to:

Rotate aflicted knob fully anti - clockwise till it hits the stop. You'll notice a lobe will be sitting at the 12 o'clock position.

Remove screw from knob centre - watch out, they're bloody tight.

Keep knob hard up against stop and pull knob off the hexagonal shaft beneath.

Rotate hex shaft one (1) facet clockwise using finger power..

Replace knob, ensuring it is still in the 12 o'clock position.

Replace screw.

Leg lock now has significantly more bite but should still hit the end stop with a clunk when turned fully clockwise.

Repeat if lock still isn't tight enough.

Voila!

(And yes, I just did it on my 520MVB's, so can verify it works).


CS

[Dylan Couper]

Holy crap Chris, you're awesome!

Ok, will get a cold beer and get started on this first thing in the morning. Thanks!

D

[Chris Soucy]

Let us know how it goes, tho' can't see it can go too ballistic.

Enjoy.


CS

[Dylan Couper]

Worked! Quick enough I didn't have time to open a beer first!

Thanks Chris