It’s very important to clean and maintain your Really Right Stuff tripod in order to maintain top-level performance and ergonomics in the field. This post will focus on proper cleaning and maintenance of the leg angle joint which contains both the “wrist pin” that holds the leg onto the apex and sets the joint tension, and the pull-tab style angle stop mechanism that allows setting of the leg angle. These areas are corrosion-resistant like the rest of the tripod, but can be susceptible to dust, grit and other contaminant buildup over time. It’s important to keep these tightly-fit moving parts clean and free from contamination whenever possible to allow smooth operation and maintain the desired leg angle joint tension set by the two black screws at the top of each leg.
In normal operation, the Wrist Pin and Clevis Screws act as a single unit and rotate in tandem with the tripod leg whenever the leg joint rotates. Grease on the Wrist Pin and inside the Apex Wrist Pin Bore assures smooth rotational action. However, leg joints can seize when they become contaminated with debris or if corrosion is present due to exposure to water or high moisture conditions. When this happens, the Wrist Pin freezes in place but the Clevis Screws continue to rotate with the leg joint; when the Clevis Screws start to unscrew, the leg joint loses tension and feels floppy or wobbly. In this situation, the tripod will never regain proper leg joint tension until you disassemble it and follow these maintenance steps.
Install hex keys into the Clevis Screws on both sides of one leg joint. Rotate leg joint. If hex keys do not rotate evenly in tandem with the tripod leg, then your Wrist Pin is frozen and you should use the procedure below to perform the necessary maintenance.
This video covers diagnosis of a problem tripod leg joint in depth.
Maintenance requires just a few household items in addition to the tools provided along with your tripod. You will need:
For tripods with severely corroded or contaminated joints, or those with stuck wrist pins, you may also need the following:
This video covers all the necessary tools and steps for maintaining a tripod leg angle joint. Jump to (2:35) in the video to start the process if you have all the necessary tools and items assembled. We also have the procedure’s basic steps outlined below.
• If you applied threadlocker fluid to your Clevis Screws after you received your tripod, you may need to apply heat to loosen the bond; use a heat gun.
• Corrosion or contamination can make the screws difficult to remove.
• Your tripod may have been assembled with a stainless washer under each screw head; these washers will not be re-used and can be discarded.
**Please note that as of May 2014 we no longer use or recommend using threadlocker on the threads of the wrist pin or its screws.
• Washers are matched in pairs at the factory, so it’s important to use the same Washers for re-assembly.
• Corrosion or contamination can make it difficult to remove the Wrist Pin. Jump to (3:00) in the video above for tips on removing a stubborn Wrist Pin.
• Scrub the brass Washers with the Scotch-Brite scour pad to remove any corrosion. Wipe them clean and dry and set them aside.
• Determine best cleaning method for Apex Bore. Depending upon the level of contamination of your tripod, use a combination of fresh water & soap and/or Formula 409 cleaner. See our online video for specific cleaning suggestions.
• If there is residue from previous use of threadlocker fluid, use toothpicks or chopsticks to dislodge it. In worst case scenarios, we recommend using a .38 caliber bore brush with nylon or brass bristles to remove all traces.
• Re-insert the Wrist Pin. Examine the inside of the Wrist Pin one last time; if there is any grease inside, remove it with a cotton swab.
• Install new Clevis Screw. Rotate the Clevis Screw clockwise while holding the other hex key fixed. Tighten and check leg angle tension; tighten or loosen as desired.
If you have any further maintenance concerns or questions, please feel free to contact our friendly and helpful Customer Service Department by email at info@reallyrightstuff.com or by phone at (385) 248-0777 (8am-5pm Mountain, Monday-Friday).
If you find that any of your tripod hardware is beyond reasonable cleaning or is damaged, we do offer replacement kits for all tripod models that include the necessary hex keys, screws, wrist pins, and a single-use tube of our recommended grease. You are also encouraged to send in your tripod for maintenance if you feel that other issues may exist – please note that the determination of warranty coverage for repairs must be made after the gear has been inspected and diagnosed by our technicians.