Help With A 'New' Gitzo Tripod

[Scott Rosenberg]

good day,

i just received a 'new to me' gitzo tripod. it's a very stout little set of legs, yet compact enough to take traveling when airports are necessary. the tripod does not have a center column, but rather only has a flat plate on top with one 3/8" screw. there are no other screws or screw holes around the periphery, as i am accustomed to, to keep the head from rotating on the top plate. is there a intermediate plate i can add between the head and top plate that will give me the ability to do so, or is this a common set-up on tripods w/o center columns (all my other pods have center columns)?

thanks,
scott

[Walt Calahan]

All my Gitzo tripods simply have the 3/8 screw onto which I hand tighten the head. Never had a problem with this arrangement.

[Brian Ellis]

I don't think it's a question of center column vs no center column. I have a Gitzo tripod with a center column and with a flat plate like you describe. The screw you mention is in the center of the plate and thet plate fits into a pin underneath it. The pin keeps the plate from rotating and once the tripod head is screwed into place via the screw you mention it shouldn't rotate.

[Scott Rosenberg]

thanks, fellas... i was concerned about the head rotating on the top plate, but i guess it's not an issue. all my other tripods are boogens, and on them there are three screws around the periphery of the head to keep it from rotating. i guess it's a non-issue... thanks!

scott

[Scott Rosenberg]

one quick follow-up question... how do you guys lubricate the leg sections? if there are polymers or elastomers in the lockers, i don't want to spray anything on there that is going to comprimise the materials. would a lite wipe-down with WD-40 work... or should i use something different like silicon or lithium?

thanks,
scott

[Walt Calahan]

Scott, I've never had to lubricate the leg sections on a Gitzo.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Scott,

Do not lubricate the legs. You will cause them to gum up and/or not lock. They are not meant to be lubed. Here is a link to Nescape and they have a guide to cleaning and maintaining Gitzos (by the way, I have 3! they are great). If you can't find it e-mail me on the side and I will send it to you. They also have parts for the Gitzos.

http://www.naturescapes.net/home.htm

Mike

[Scott Rosenberg]

mike,

thanks so much for passing along that link... it was exactly what i was looking for!