484RC2 head on 190CX3 legs- help!

Hey all,

I just recieved my 190CX3 and 484RC2 from a fred miranda member. My last tripod was the 7302YB so I'm new to the removeable head/legs game with tripods. I'm having a bit of trouble with the ball head. The ball head mounts fine (so it seems) onto the legs, but when the locking lever is rotated as far as it can go in the locking position, the ball head still moves- and quite freely might I add. Any insight?

I did google this and something I noticed was that the head is a mini head and smaller than the diameter on the legs so the three locking screws don't touch the head. Could this be the problem?

Any insight would help a ton. Thanks in advance!

The 484 is a very small head and is definitely not suitable for heavier cameras for the very reason you have discovered.

Replace the 484RC2 with either a 488RC2 (older production) or the currently produced 498RC2 and you'll have no more problems.

SkipD wrote in post #11816670
The 484 is a very small head and is definitely not suitable for heavier cameras for the very reason you have discovered.

Replace the 484RC2 with either a 488RC2 (older production) or the currently produced 498RC2 and you'll have no more problems.

Well see the thing is, i haven't even mounted a camera on it. the ball head itself just does NOT lock whatsoever.

I'll probably end up replacing it with the 498RC2 and using this for a monopod if it does work.

travisrockphotography wrote in post #11816989
Well see the thing is, i haven't even mounted a camera on it. the ball head itself just does NOT lock whatsoever.

I'll probably end up replacing it with the 498RC2 and using this for a monopod if it does work.

If you're saying the ball itself isn't locked tightly within the head, maybe you're simply not rotating the handle far enough. If the handle is bottoming out on the lower end of the head, you need to re-position the handle.

To re-position the control handle, pull it out away from the ball head body about 1/4 inch or so. While it is pulled out, you can rotate it to any other position and then push it back toward the ball head body. The handle and the shaft it rides on are splined and you can choose any of quite a few relative rotational positions between the two.

SkipD wrote in post #11817166
If you're saying the ball itself isn't locked tightly within the head, maybe you're simply not rotating the handle far enough. If the handle is bottoming out on the lower end of the head, you need to re-position the handle.

To re-position the control handle, pull it out away from the ball head body about 1/4 inch or so. While it is pulled out, you can rotate it to any other position and then push it back toward the ball head body. The handle and the shaft it rides on are splined and you can choose any of quite a few relative rotational positions between the two.

No I know the control handle is splined, but thats pulled all the way down. it doesn't come in contact with the base it's mounted upon. That's why I'm confused as to why it won't lock all the way. ??

travisrockphotography wrote in post #11818807
No I know the control handle is splined, but thats pulled all the way down. it doesn't come in contact with the base it's mounted upon. That's why I'm confused as to why it won't lock all the way. ??

It sounds like something's misaligned internally or broken.

I have a 484RC2 (along with a 486RC2 and a 488RC2) and it locks up tightly. It just won't hold six pounds of equipment when it's tilted off to the side without creeping.

SkipD wrote in post #11818936
It sounds like something's misaligned internally or broken.

I have a 484RC2 (along with a 486RC2 and a 488RC2) and it locks up tightly. It just won't hold six pounds of equipment when it's tilted off to the side without creeping.

That's what i unfortunately thought as well.

Thanks for the help!

By any chance is the little tension know opposite the main lever knob loosed off all the way?
If you loosen it off enough, it's possible that the main knob can't produce enough pressure
to lock the ball. Failing that, it sounds like something is either missing or broken. In either
case you should be able to order any missing or broken part fairly inexpensively.

--Evan

Evan Idler wrote in post #11819175
By any chance is the little tension know opposite the main lever knob loosed off all the way?
If you loosen it off enough, it's possible that the main knob can't produce enough pressure
to lock the ball. Failing that, it sounds like something is either missing or broken. In either
case you should be able to order any missing or broken part fairly inexpensively.

--Evan

The 484RC2 has only one control lever and no knobs.

Sounds like it was bought used and the first owner may have tried to "fix" it when it couldn't hold his gear. If you're feeling adventurous, you might want to try looking up the parts diagram and seeing if you can disassemble it and put it back together right.

SkipD wrote in post #11819216
The 484RC2 has only one control lever and no knobs.

My Mistake. I went to B&H and did a quick search on the 484rc2 and
didn't pay attention to is showing me the 494rc2 as a replacement.

It doesn't look like the 484rc2 is very mechanically complicated.
Here is the parts Diagram.
http://mediacdn.shopat​ron.com …2_20031126.pdf?​1272346468

--Evan

If you look at the diagram, you see that the knob pushed on a little half moon sleeve.
If the knob was unscrewed, and the little sleeve got turned and is out of alignment
with the bolt on the knob, it wouldn't be putting any pressure on the shaft to lock it
into place, but could be going in far enough to tighten up the knob.

It might be worth unscrewing the knob, and looking thru the hole to see if the
little sleeve is in place. Beyond that, other than the sleeve is missing, or the
bolt on the knob is worn off, there isn't a lot to go wrong.

--Evan

Evan Idler wrote in post #11819546
If you look at the diagram, you see that the knob pushed on a little half moon sleeve.
If the knob was unscrewed, and the little sleeve got turned and is out of alignment
with the bolt on the knob, it wouldn't be putting any pressure on the shaft to lock it
into place, but could be going in far enough to tighten up the knob.

It might be worth unscrewing the knob, and looking thru the hole to see if the
little sleeve is in place. Beyond that, other than the sleeve is missing, or the
bolt on the knob is worn off, there isn't a lot to go wrong.

--Evan

Just looked at the diagram and that may be what's wrong. I'll check that out in the AM, looks fairly simple to fix. Thanks guys! Appreciate it!