Aluminum replacement locking levers for Bogan 3021 tripod?

[PureQuill Photo]

Hi I have a old Bogan 3021 tripod that was a gift from my father.
Anyone know where to get the “orginal” aluminum locking levers?
The Manafrotto replacement plastic levers cost $11.50 plus shipping and are crap!
Hopefully you can see the difference in the photos.


Thanks
PQ

[Kirk Gittings]

look up Manfrotto replacement parts.

[AtlantaTerry]

"Bogen"

[PureQuill Photo]

"Bogen"

Thanks for the spelling correction Yes Bogen!

[PureQuill Photo]

look up Manfrotto replacement parts.

I did.
All they have is the Plastic levers.

[PureQuill Photo]

OK so it seems that both the cast aluminum & the plastic levers are easily broken.
And expensive to replace @ $11.50 Each plus shipping from England. Ouch!
I think the problem is the material, cast aluminum & plastic are just not strong enough to endure the rigors professional field work & travel
Judging from what I see on ebay it’s the #1 problem with these tripods.

I wonder what it would cost to have someone CNC machine these parts out of solid bar stock aluminum with a beefed up design.
I am pretty sure that the milled solid aluminum would probably bend before it broke.

Any machinist here have any ideas?
I know its feasible but is it practical?
I was thinking if we got the cost per unit reasonable we could offer retrofit levers that will last a lifetime & keep a lot of these tripods out of the scrap heap.
Just my thoughts...ramblings of an insomniac.

[bdkphoto]

OK so it seems that both the cast aluminum & the plastic levers are easily broken.
And expensive to replace @ $11.50 Each plus shipping from England. Ouch!
I think the problem is the material, cast aluminum & plastic are just not strong enough to endure the rigors professional field work & travel
Judging from what I see on ebay it’s the #1 problem with these tripods.

I wonder what it would cost to have someone CNC machine these parts out of solid bar stock aluminum with a beefed up design.
I am pretty sure that the milled solid aluminum would probably bend before it broke.

Any machinist here have any ideas?
I know its feasible but is it practical?
I was thinking if we got the cost per unit reasonable we could offer retrofit levers that will last a lifetime & keep a lot of these tripods out of the scrap heap.
Just my thoughts...ramblings of an insomniac.

Heres the place I used for parts - fwiw the metal levers work fine. I have a bogen 3055 that I replaced the levers on and have been using professionally for 26 years

http://www.bogentripodparts.com/parts.htm

[PureQuill Photo]

Heres the place I used for parts - fwiw the metal levers work fine. I have a bogen 3055 that I replaced the levers on and have been using professionally for 26 years

http://www.bogentripodparts.com/parts.htm

Well, I think you just made my point.
Yes, the levers work fine ( they clamp the leg in place firmly) except they break very easily.
You have had to replace the levers yourself..why because they break?
My tripod only has 1 of the original 6 levers and I still need a new one( they only come in plastic now)!
To my way of thinking if 5 out 6 levers have broken that is an 86.8% failure rate. Oh & I still need another so make it 6 out of 6 replaced a 100%.
That is a design problem in my book.
One look at the tripod my dad gave me & you can tell that it was well taken care of & not abused in any way.
He used once or twice a year on vacations to photograph birds with a 500mm lens.
The only replacement levers available are plastic. I have no doubt they will break again.
Frankly I think Manafrotto is making a killing selling these plastic parts at $11.50 each plus shipping from England.

Think I will buy a new plastic part so all the levers are there & then dump the Bogen on ebay.
Too bad its a pretty nice tripod except the for the levers.

[bdkphoto]

Well, I think you just made my point.
Yes, the levers work fine ( they clamp the leg in place firmly) except they break very easily.
You have had to replace the levers yourself..why because they break?
My tripod only has 1 of the original 6 levers and I still need a new one( they only come in plastic now)!
To my way of thinking if 5 out 6 levers have broken that is an 86.8% failure rate. Oh & I still need another so make it 6 out of 6 replaced a 100%.
That is a design problem in my book.
One look at the tripod my dad gave me & you can tell that it was well taken care of & not abused in any way.
He used once or twice a year on vacations to photograph birds with a 500mm lens.
The only replacement levers available are plastic. I have no doubt they will break again.
Frankly I think Manafrotto is making a killing selling these plastic parts at $11.50 each plus shipping from England.

Think I will buy a new plastic part so all the levers are there & then dump the Bogen on ebay.
Too bad its a pretty nice tripod except the for the levers.

Do what you like - the metal levers worked fine for 26 years and counting…
You can find the metal ones at the link I provided for about $12

[John Koehrer]

Think it might help to reinforce them with fiberglass cloth?
Shucks, you can even get small sizes of carbon fiber at ye olde hobbye emporium.
Use 'em both.