488RC2 panning bit stuck!

I have a Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head which also has a separate panning control.

Only when I tried it last night it would not rotate. So I tried the screw underneath the head which tightens or loosens the panning feature, but that also will not turn.

It is most definitely stuck. Though the ball head itself is fine.

Any suggestions or help on how I can unstick it?

Michael.

Try tapping it evenly around on a solid surface that of course won't cause damage. Might wrap it in a towel to protect its surface.

Gee, I just got mine last week and it didn't seem bad. What legs you have with it? I have the 3021 and the 190XB.

The 488 can be dismantled, so all is not lost. I'm sure I've got details somewhere if you want them.

Richard

Got my 488RC4 about a month ago and have it on a set 055XPROB legs and it seems to pan just fine after loosening the panning screw.

WD40?

Sorry everyone for not returning to the thread sooner, pretty bad form on my part!

Lowner wrote in post #5140354
The 488 can be dismantled, so all is not lost. I'm sure I've got details somewhere if you want them.

Have you still got those? I think that might be my only option.

I did try the suggestions on this thread (oil, tapping, even remembered I have a powered screwdriver) but the tightening screw will still not turn. Although it would not surprise me if the instructions say to remove that screw first!

SuzyView wrote in post #5139244
Gee, I just got mine last week and it didn't seem bad. What legs you have with it? I have the 3021 and the 190XB.

My tripod is just a cheap one I bought on eBay as part of some liquidation sale, a Qentis. Never heard of them but at the time it was being heavily recommended on some British forum for being sturdy but incredibly cheap, only £35 ($70) for a carbon fibre! I think it is made by one of the Chinese clone manufacturers.

I have had the Manfroto head for a couple of years and never had any problems with it. My heavies lens is only a 70-200/2.8 but it has never slipped. Even now the ball still works, it is just the panning feature that is stuck, so it has become a bulky 486 in effect. Despite my problems I would still recommend it. Just a bit strange that it has become stuck when it was fine the last time I used it, which was about a month before I discovered the problem.

Michael.

Have you taken the head OFF of the tripod to see whether or not you can loosen it up? If not, do so. I suspect the threaded stud on the tripod may be too long and could be jamming things in the head.

Skip, I have taken the head off as the screw which is the problem is on the underside of it.

The lever to use the panning feature turns normally, but it does not release the main part of the head to rotate on its base. There is a screw set into the thread though which I guess is what holds the two pieces together, and so would normally be set to allow just enough movement that there is a bit of give so that you can position it better, and the lever then fixes the two parts in that position.

Somehow this screw seems to have gotten itself stuck tight so the two parts are firmly held together despite the lever. Although before discovering the problem I had not removed the head, let lone adjusted the screw, for quite some time so cannot imagine how this happened as there was nothing to suggest it was getting tighter in use.

Michael.

1st - oil / lubs are dust magnets - don't use .
2nd - try taking with you on buss , in a car , vibration can loosen up stuff . If you have a washing machine set it on top when you wash .
good luck

mij wrote in post #5386976
Skip, I have taken the head off as the screw which is the problem is on the underside of it.

The lever to use the panning feature turns normally, but it does not release the main part of the head to rotate on its base. There is a screw set into the thread though which I guess is what holds the two pieces together, and so would normally be set to allow just enough movement that there is a bit of give so that you can position it better, and the lever then fixes the two parts in that position.

Somehow this screw seems to have gotten itself stuck tight so the two parts are firmly held together despite the lever. Although before discovering the problem I had not removed the head, let lone adjusted the screw, for quite some time so cannot imagine how this happened as there was nothing to suggest it was getting tighter in use.

Michael.

Here is a parts diagram, which may help you (assuming you do not have it already)...

http://www.manfrotto.c​om …pdf/4/488RC2_20​050510.pdf

[QUOTE=r.morales;53886​02]1st - oil / lubs are dust magnets - don't use .[.quote]

I know not to get oil on the actual ball itself so I made sure to only apply the WD40 to the screw itself. Not that it helped.

As for the bus idea, that is how I normally travel around so I wonder if that could have had the opposite effect and tightened it? I will try the washing machine idea though, it cannot hurt and it does make sense. Thanks for the tips.

jrsforums wrote in post #5389299
Here is a parts diagram, which may help you (assuming you do not have it already)...

I had not seen that so many thanks. Having already peeled back the labels wondering if they were covering any holes it seems that the diagram sadly confirms the problem screw is the one part that keeps everything held together.

It looks like if r.morales' suggestion does not work it will mean finding a specialist I can pay to take a look at it.

Michael.