How do I lubricate my balls?

I have a couple of tripod ball heads one being a manfrotto MN486rc2. It's about 2 years old and is becoming harder and harder to use. With only the slightest tightening movement becomes a very jerky affair which of coarse if useless for slight composition changes. I notice there is little to no lubricant left on the ball which going to be the cause but how do I relube?

I am presuming I can't just slap any old grease on there? Is there an accpeted method for this?

I have recently purchased a Gitzo lightweight ballhead and it's wonderful to use with smooth movement. I wouldn't want this to go the same way.

if ever there was a thread for the ladies...

the only ball I've ever used wasn't lubed, and also wasn't mine. I'm not a big fan of balls to be honest, so I tend to go with pan/tilt options, which are ribbed for her pleasure.

best thread title all week

milorad wrote in post #6435098
if ever there was a thread for the ladies...

the only ball I've ever used wasn't lubed, and also wasn't mine. I'm not a big fan of balls to be honest, so I tend to go with pan/tilt options, which are ribbed for her pleasure.

best thread title all week

lol sorry I couldn't resist

I have a pan/tilt as well for the same reasons but recently I was looking for a super lightweight tripod solution for backpacking and decided on a (bank breaking) gitzo setup but the best all round head turned out to be a ball head. It's really is superb and kind of counteracts every reason why I went back to a pan/tilt in the first place. I just want to make sure it stays that way and I want to at least try and bring my manfrotto one back to life.

Instructions for the Manfrotto ball heads that I own (484RC2, 486RC2, and 488RC2) all say that you should NOT lubricate the balls.

Merely cleaning the ball (by wiping all of its surface with a lint-free rag) should be enough to provide free operation again. It's likely that dirt/grit has gotten onto the ball.

SkipD wrote in post #6435223
Instructions for the Manfrotto ball heads that I own (484RC2, 486RC2, and 488RC2) all say that you should NOT lubricate the balls.

Merely cleaning the ball (by wiping all of its surface with a lint-free rag) should be enough to provide free operation again. It's likely that dirt/grit has gotten onto the ball.

Funny you just said that but that's exactly what I have just tried. By the the looks of things I can't dismantle it so I just turned the ball around bit by bit wipeing it. Problem is that it's now worse than before

Thing is they do come with a lubricant on them (I have stained clothes to prove it) so it's wierd they should say not to re-lube them.

I have found this:

http://www.earthboundl​ight.com …ing-tripod-ball-head.html

I might give it a try.

Lithium Grease should be safe.

But....your risk

Deckham wrote in post #6435254
Lithium Grease should be safe.

But....your risk

Think about the subject for a moment or two....

1. We want our ball heads to be able to lock up without creeping, even though we put several pounds on them and then tip them 90° to the side.

2. Almost any fluid lubricant I can think of, such as greases, oils, etc., will cause dust and other particulates such as sand to adhere to the lubricant. That would be quite the opposite of what you really want, as the particulates would wind being ground into the surface of the ball and whatever is used to clamp it. With a metallic ball and clamp, it probably would not be damaging, but my ball heads all have some sort of plastic balls and I would rather just keep them clean.

The article mentioned two posts back really supports what I'm saying, as the use of WD-40 is NOT as a lubricant, but as a cleaning agent.

I second the WD-40, spray it on and really wipe it off thoroughly. Works great, no slip. Just be sure to wipe it off good.

SkipD wrote in post #6435381
Think about the subject for a moment or two....

1. We want our ball heads to be able to lock up without creeping, even though we put several pounds on them and then tip them 90° to the side.

2. Almost any fluid lubricant I can think of, such as greases, oils, etc., will cause dust and other particulates such as sand to adhere to the lubricant. That would be quite the opposite of what you really want, as the particulates would wind being ground into the surface of the ball and whatever is used to clamp it. With a metallic ball and clamp, it probably would not be damaging, but my ball heads all have some sort of plastic balls and I would rather just keep them clean.

The article mentioned two posts back really supports what I'm saying, as the use of WD-40 is NOT as a lubricant, but as a cleaning

Good points.

SkipD wrote in post #6435381
Think about the subject for a moment or two....

1. We want our ball heads to be able to lock up without creeping, even though we put several pounds on them and then tip them 90° to the side.

2. Almost any fluid lubricant I can think of, such as greases, oils, etc., will cause dust and other particulates such as sand to adhere to the lubricant. That would be quite the opposite of what you really want, as the particulates would wind being ground into the surface of the ball and whatever is used to clamp it. With a metallic ball and clamp, it probably would not be damaging, but my ball heads all have some sort of plastic balls and I would rather just keep them clean.

The article mentioned two posts back really supports what I'm saying, as the use of WD-40 is NOT as a lubricant, but as a cleaning

I understand what your saying but how come they come with a grease on and why not apply the same grease if it's what they put on in the first place? That part just doesn't make any sence to me.

I bought a used grip style head a few years ago and it squeaked. Drove me nutz! I applied a little vasoline and I haven't had to touch it since.

siejones wrote in post #6435430
I understand what your saying but how come they come with a grease on and why not apply the same grease if it's what they put on in the first place? That part just doesn't make any sence to me.

The real problem is figuring out WHAT the factory puts on the ball and HOW (and why) they apply it. The factory says, in their literature, that nothing should be applied by the users.

I can't remember where I read it, whether on the RRS site, or another arca-swiss style ball manufacturer, but they mentioned explicitly that you shouldn't put anything on their ball... but that it does come with grease on it which is intended to preserve the mechanism in long-term storage only.

If I remember right (not sure I do) but I think they suggested wiping it off prior to use. That seems to make the most sense, but don't quote me, I'm not a ball user, I don't own one and I never will.

Simply keep your balls clean, you should not lubricate them as that will simply leave something for dust to adhere to. You don't want idle balls becoming dusty balls, nor do you want them to become unnecessarily soiled thru use.

A friend of mine had a sticky RRS BH40 ballhead...a very light coat of automobile paste wax did the trick. Makes the surface smooth, without any potential for dirt and other contaminants to stick as with a grease or oil. Just apply it through the drop slot while turning the ball, then the same process when wiping it off. Just don't over-apply.