Ballhead has stripped screws and is fused to column...help?

I have a decent manfrotto 190cx3 and 484rc2 ballhead.

I thought about upgrading, though to be honest I really don't want to spend more money if I can help it if I can salvage this - it's a good tripod and I really like how steady it is for the money I paid for it.

I do want a new head, something that can handle a lot more weight than the 484.

Problem is, upon trying to remove the old one...I found its screw has stripped threads and now they're fused to the center column.

Now what? Anyone got any ideas? Would manfrotto repair it if I sent it out? Anyone got any ideas on how to fix this yourself?

If the threads are unusable then you could get a screw extractor
which is available at your local Sears, Ace Hardware etc.
Also might want to consider some type of liquid wrench or other
type of spray to help release the threads of they have been overtightened.

so you cross-threaded it? it's a bit confusing because you say the threads are stripped, but now they're fused...

or do you mean you stripped the head of the screw? by fused, did you mean it had loc-tite and was tough to remove, which therefore caused you to strip the head? if so, a screw extractor might work.

Karl,
Are you aware that Manfrottos have several set screws which are accessed from the underside of the baseplate which is part of the center column? These can prevent the head from unscrewing off the 3/8" thread of the center column. Have you loosened these?...or is one of these the 'stripped screw'?

The ballhead won't come off no matter how much you unscrew it.

It's not completely stuck, just unscrews into oblivion.

Not aware that there are set screws under the center column, I could try that. Thanks.

You said the head was fused to the tripod. Is there any space at all between the tripod mount plate and the head? If there is, you might try inserting a small screw driver between the two to create a tight fit, which might allow the head to start grabbing the screw threads and allow it to screw off.

I have not had to do this with a tripod and head mount, but have done it lots of times in other mechanical applications with good results.

I'm leaning towards Walt's mention of the set-screws on the underside
of the plate which receives the head. If these aren't loosened, there's
likely to be no movement when trying to remove the head, especially
if this combo has been tight and used for some time.

EDIT: are you sure it's not just spinning around on its panning axis?

i'm sorry, i totally misread this. i thought you were trying to remove one of those top mounted clamps (hence, the screw head i was referring to).

how could the OP freely spin it if it were the set screws, though. also, i don't think the 484 had a panning base.

klr.b wrote in post #10310037
i'm sorry, i totally misread this. i thought you were trying to remove one of those top mounted clamps (hence, the screw head i was referring to).

how could the OP freely spin it if it were the set screws, though. also, i don't think the 484 had a panning base.

...which is why OP needs to provide us with a more lucid description of what is happening and not happening.

SkedAddled wrote in post #10309931
I'm leaning towards Walt's mention of the set-screws on the underside
of the plate which receives the head. If these aren't loosened, there's
likely to be no movement when trying to remove the head, especially
if this combo has been tight and used for some time.

EDIT: are you sure it's not just spinning around on its panning axis?

I lean towards this theory, and also wonder if the OP is gripping the base of the ballhead, or just the body...

ive fallen into engineer hell

..panning base? set screws? base of the ballhead...body of the ballhead...what is this language ?

the thing wont come off the way it normally would, its stuck !

OK Karl, time for some basic terminology so that you can describe it better...it is kinda like being a doctor with a patient who simply says "It hurts"!

Ballheads often have 1) an upper main body section with the socket for the ball and controls, 2) the ball, the 3) camera base or quick release (partially visible at top), and a 4) lower panning base section that allows the main section to spin 360 degrees so that you can pan the camera -- rather than releasing the ball to do so. The center column has the 5) column, and the 'tripod base plate'.