Need Larger Wheels for Hotshoe Adapter

To mount the GoPro on top of the camera, I got these two items:

Hotshoe Adapters:

https://www.amazon.com …tle_o07_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

Tiny Ball Head (the clamp was a bonus and very handy)

https://www.amazon.com …tle_o08_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

I have ran into an annoyance that I wasn't expecting; the base of the ball-head is 1.128"; the lock-wheels are 0.98"

With so little room to work in, it is quite the chore to lock the upper wheel against the ball-head.

If push came to shove, I could machine some homemade wheels of larger diameter; I will look into that if I fail to find something already made.

Ideally, if I could find something of 1.5" O.D.; that would give me about an eighth more to grip.

Most of the vendors think the shipping box dimensions are the only measurements of consequence; and, if you ask for a specific measurement, they will point you toward the package dimensions.

Can anyone point me toward some larger diameter knurled wheels ? 1/4x20 threaded hole

Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated.

I found these:

https://www.amazon.com …2552&s=electron​ics&sr=1-8

They are no bigger around; but, the offset shoulder might get me far enough away to get a grip.

The exact same design, just bigger around, would be ideal.

What if you go smaller? Remove one of the knurled nuts from the hot shoe adaptor and replace with a standard 1/4" nut and a bonded washer. The washer would face the ball head side. You could use an open end wrench to tighten to the ball head leaving the knurled nut for finger tightening to the camera.

My own approach to your problem would be to get some black marine epoxy from a boating store, the stuff is really tough and sticks tightly to shat it is adhered to. The epoxy would be used to form a lobe at one (or two) location on the knob knulred surface that you can press your finger against as a level. Since that lobe sticks out farther than the rest of the knob, it forms a more accessible surface than the existing diameter of the knobs.

infrared guy wrote in post #19274028
What if you go smaller? Remove one of the knurled nuts from the hot shoe adaptor and replace with a standard 1/4" nut and a bonded washer. The washer would face the ball head side. You could use an open end wrench to tighten to the ball head leaving the knurled nut for finger tightening to the camera.

Thanks; that thought had occurred to me; I was thinking a very thin sheet-metal washer and a Nylock nut and some blue Loctite on the shaft where it goes in the ball-head.
Not sure what a bonded washer is; I will have to DuckDuckGo that one.
A Nylock may end up being too thick; I also have some thinner-than-normal nuts for use in tight places.
I have had great success in the past by taking weed-eater string, hammering it flat and thin, and forcing it between the nut and threaded bolt, thus making a homemade nylon lock.

Wilt wrote in post #19274064
My own approach to your problem would be to get some black marine epoxy from a boating store, the stuff is really tough and sticks tightly to shat it is adhered to. The epoxy would be used to form a lobe at one (or two) location on the knob knulred surface that you can press your finger against as a level. Since that lobe sticks out farther than the rest of the knob, it forms a more accessible surface than the existing diameter of the knobs.

Thanks; I always keep on hand and swear by those plumber's epoxy sticks and have used them to fix all manner of situations from wrenches slipping and knocking holes in radiators to rebuilding stripped-out threaded holes; it is maybe the same as Marine epoxy.
Your idea put thoughts in my head as to how to address the lower "hotshoe" wheel; I may drill/tap the edges and insert threaded rod, leaving about 1/4" protruding and then use the epoxy to form a smoother surface; the rod would be the rebar and the epoxy would be the concrete.

Nice addition to basic idea. I would be careful about weakening the plastic knob with much diameter of the pin. Marine epoxy is very hard, and based upon past boating usage, the hole and pin are good additions but not really necessary.
I used it to beef up a piece of wood that had broken, where a hole had been drilled by manufacturer to keep an alcohol stove from swinging while under way. It held up in spite of racing in some pretty nasty weather (gale force winds) out in the ocean.

Wilt wrote in post #19274097
I would be careful about weakening the plastic knob with much diameter of the pin.

Good point.
As best I can tell, my thumb-wheels are some sort of anodized Aluminum, or at least metal of some sort.