Really, really pissed at manfrotto 501

[Victor Nguyen]

this head keep getting stuck to everything... First it was my slider so I stop using it on that. And now it is stuck on my tripod. Couldn't get the freaking thing off. I try to call manfrotto and they never answer. I can't stand bad customer service. Anybody have the same problem with manfrotto head getting stuck to your tripod?

[Wayne Schulman]

Hi Victor,
Sorry you are having trouble with the 501 head. Please give me a call at 201-818-9500 ext. 272. If I am not available please leave a message with a number I can reach you and I will get back to you tomorrow - Friday November 2nd.
Regards,
Wayne

[Trevor Dennis]

What seems to be happening Victor? Does the thread run freely up until it is tight? I'm guessing there are no locking screws on the slider mount, so that's not the problem. Do you use the usual quick jerk to free the head?

[Victor Nguyen]

it just keep spinning and doesn't come off. I'll give you a call tomorrow Wayne

[Mark Williams]

Can't you lock the pan lever to keep it from spinning?

[Mike Beckett]

I suppose Manfrotto could argue that the head isn't supposed to be continually attached and removed from tripods, sliders etc. I'm not sure I understand the problem (I'm a visual thinker and need pictures).

Does it keep spinning, or is it stuck? If it's spinning, is the screw thread spinning or is the tripod head spinning (as if it is panning)?

[Victor Nguyen]

okay, maybe I'm actually not doing it right. Some one told me that I need to unscrew the screws on the bottom and then put the pan brake on. I thought the pan brake was the actual device that help take the head off. But now I tighten the pan brake too much and it fell off. Now I have no idea what to do...

[Jack Zhang]

I just got off my 501HDV by disengaging the counterbalance and pointing the head (if it had a camera on it) straight down. Twist it by latching onto the sides with the pan friction knob exposed.

I can see your frustration. I had to increase my pan friction and do that to get it off.

[Don Bloom]

Victor, it sounds like you just didn't know how to release the head from the mounting screw. You MUST loosen the set screws underneath the head and tighten the pan lock-then simply give the pan handle a good whack in a counter-clockwise direction. that'll loosen it up enough to be able to unscrew the head.
However since you've already appearently done that, let's work on fixing the pan brake. If it's just the thumb lever that locks the brake, then you need a small allan head wrench (3 or 4mm-I don't remember which) unscrew the set screw that holds the lever in place, put the lever back in it's place and retighten the screw. If's it's more than that post a couple of pictures to show the damage and we'll see what we can to to help you fix it.

[Trevor Dennis]

Did somebody want pictures?

Photomart Cine-Video | Manfrotto 501HDV Tripod Head Parts

BTW clicking all the way through to that image does not let you see it at full res. I right clicked the Google images thumb, copied and pasted into Photoshop which loads it 1700x2200 pixels

Google Image Result for http://www.photomartusa.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/501hdv.jpg

I suspect people have been shy about joining in because they don't want to suggest the obvious. Don mentioned losening the locking set screws, but Victor has also had problems removing the head from his slider, and my slider does not have locking set-screws.

So like Don said, it sounds like the pan break, but there again,, it is just too obvious and surely Victor would know if his pan break is not working.

[Don Bloom]

I want to see pics of what Victors pan break lever/mechanism looks like. It sounds like it might be broken or in some disrepair right now so with some pics we might be able to figure out the proper fix for it. I have a 501hdv sitting on top of one of my tripods and had a 501 that I used for many years so I'm kinda familiar with it.

[Victor Nguyen]

not that bad right?

[Don Bloom]

Wow...While the 501 series of heads may not be the top of the heap for fluidity, they are pretty tough. You have seemed to bring this one to it's limits and beyond. No offense meant but what did you tighten it down with? A small sledge hammer? From now on, not quite so much force on the parts OK!? Now on to the fix.

Do you have all the parts? The lever, the screw and anything else that may have popped? If yes then simply re-assemble. If no, tell me what parts you're missing or are broken.

[Victor Nguyen]

okay, so now Manfrotto have sent me the replacement part and I have reassemble everything. However, the head still would not come off. I even unscrew the screws on the bottom and it still would not come off. I'm starting to be really pissed again...

[Trevor Dennis]

OK I have just looked through the thread again, and you said the head is spinning but not undoing. Have you said what tripod you are using? The set screws that lock the head to the tripod are part of the tripod legs or the levelling bowl, and not part of the 501 head.

If you are using a 75mm levelling bowl, then you may need to remove it from the legs to get to the set screws, (I can't remember). You can see the screws in this drawing:

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

They are accessible via the cut outs under the half ball. I'm guess that having loosened the set screws you'd need to put the half ball back on the legs to give yourself something to twist against.

The trick is a sharp twist so that you use inertia to unscrew the head from the legs/half ball. I generally find that you can do it with the legs in one hand and head in the other, but you might need to give the pan bar a sharp push with the heel of your hand.

Apologies if this is an egg sucking lesson, but your situation sounds kind of desperate.