Please don't tell me how stupid I am, I know...

So I decided to break out my little-used manfrotto monopod for a soccer game. My plan was to mount the camera directly to the monopod, sans head. The screw coming out of the monopod was too big but I could feel that it was slightly loose and it appeared that there was a smaller screw inside the larger one - make sense? So, I gently tried to twist the larger screw off with a pliers. Then I got pissed and tried harder. Having messed up the threads at this point I really cranked down on it and totally messed up the threads. The larger screw won't budge.

So....is there any hope at salvaging this thing or should I chuck it in the trash? I can't see a way to take it apart.

Did you try to remove the cork pad to see if there are any screws under that?

Not seeing a cork pad...

Here's a link to the monopod - if you click "more images" there is one showing the top and the screw

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1B_3_Section_Mo​nopod.html

On my Manfrotto gear, there is a small cork pad surrounding the screw for the camera, to prevent scratching the camera's bottom plate.

The outer screw thread seems to be spring loaded, and can be pressed down to reveal the smaller one inside. The smaller one should be the one to match the thread on the bottom of your camera. If you can't find a way to get it apart, maybe finding a way to glue the outer thread in the 'down' position will save your monopod.

You might be on to something there...

I just looked at the pictures and mine must be an older model (with a cork pad). At a guess, I'd think the assembly was either pressed into the top section of the 'pod, hiding how it's put together, or that the top is somehow snapped together.

If the outer screw thread can still retract, it's still usable with a camera, but maybe not if you want to mount a small ball head.

Hope this helps.

Monopod saved! I screwed up the external threads bad enough that it took some pounding to push them down but the internal threads still work - thanks! Boy do I feel stupid. I knew there were internal threads but I have never seen the spring loaded thing before. Thanks!

Yea I was going to say! I had that monopod before and thought I remembered the outer screw threading retracting to fit a smaller size hole. You should be okay if you could get that outer layer to retract. Which it sounds like you did! Good for you!

Next time, hopefully lesson learned: if it doesnt fit smoothly, whatever it is, dont force it!

I was telling myself I was stupid the whole time I was doing it - believe me! The $60 price tag gave me a little comfort.