Bogen 3021 Repair, Can help me identify this issue?

[mdarnton]

It sounds like the tripod is sort of generally trashed, in every possible way. Don't feel too bad--I bought one of these rigs just to get the head and a couple of plates.

[HLLeRoy]

The lever is, indeed, no longer available. I saw an article that described removing the rod, filing down the ears and used a die to thread it. Then screwing on a suitable plastic knob.

I've hunted all over and can't find the article. I did find a guy who was selling a replacement knob on Ebay that he was making, but he seems to have disappeared. Here is that link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bogen-Parts-...p2047675.l2557

I'll keep trying.

[HLLeRoy]

Try this. A replacement for the 3021 column lock. http://bogentripodparts.com/3021modification.htm

[Jon Shiu]

I've hunted all over and can't find the article. I did find a guy who was selling a replacement knob on Ebay that he was making, but he seems to have disappeared. Here is that link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bogen-Parts-...p2047675.l2557

I'll keep trying.

Heck, I'll sell you mine for $27.50

[ottluuk]

I have a somewhat newer, Manfrotto-branded tripod of the same size/series. Mine looks a bit different, especially the shoulder parts but still – any of these should be simple to dismantle almost completely using a hex key and a small wrench (don't remember what size). The friction on the shoulders (how loosely the leg folds out) can be controlled by three bolts that go vertically through the top, IIRC.

These are good basic tripods, IMHO. I've seen a seriously bashed up one where the collar that holds the center column was deformed and the column could not be locked down completely. Pull the column out and check that area. Grub screws under the head are another thing to check: loosen them, twist the head on the base to make sure it's screwed on tight, tighten grub screws again.

Personally, I found that my smaller/weaker 141 series head would flex and vibrate pretty badly under a (relatively lightweight) monorail. So I mounted the rail clamp directly on the tripod for the time being. I set up the general camera position by moving the legs and fine-tune the composition via rise & shift movements.

[tk1971]

This old thread helped me recently when I lost the lever to my pre-1999 3021, so I'm giving some back with an alternative fix.

Unfortunately, even after sourcing and receiving a new lever (from manfrottospares.com), the center column could not get as tight it should. When I opened up the top cover of my tripod, I discovered that my "lock pin" which is the crescent shaped plastic that gets pushed into the center column was broken.

I couldn't simply replace it as the old lever mechanism has a single spiral that mated with the back of the "lock pin". The new lock pins available now doesn't have anything on the back to mate to the single spiral of the locking bolt mechanism so turning the lever does nothing to push the lock pin against the center column.

I sourced the following parts: 1/4" Draw bolt (used to join countertops, I'm using only the threaded rectangular piece); a 1/4" ratchet lever bolt (used for woodworking/drill press clamps); a piece of high density polypropylene I hand shaped (with a 1-1/4" hole saw and a molding cutter/fixture), and misc parts that include a washer & spring.

Check out the attached pictures. Hope this helps someone in a pinch.