Changing thread size on Type D Leitz Ball Head

[wlaidlaw]

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I have just bought another Leitz table tripod. It has a type D ball head. My older version has a type B ball head. On my older one to change from a ⅜" thread to a ¼" thread, you just unscrew the top knurled sleeve and reverse the disc underneath, which has a ⅜" male thread in the middle of the disc on one side and a ¼" male thread in the middle of the disc on the other side, then screw the knurled sleeve back on, which firmly locks the disc in place. The disc has a notch in the side, which locates on a lug to prevent it turning. 

 

For reasons best known to them, Leitz has changed this simple and effective method to something else. On the picture below, the sleeve marked Part A screws onto the main shaft of Part B just above the cross bar. A ¼" threaded spigot then passes through a loose ⅜" threaded adaptor, Part C, inside the main sleeve, Part A (you can see it poking out of the bottom of Part A). The adapter is prevented from turning within Part A by means of a steel key. I feel that the ⅜" adapter should be able to be turned when pushed down into the body of part A, so that just the ¼" threaded spigot appears above the platform on which the camera sits. 

 

Has anyone any experience of these Type D ball heads and am I trying to make it do something it cannot do. I feel given that they have made both a ¼" and ⅜" threaded parts, it must be designed to be alterable. 

 

Wilson (puzzled   )

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Edited September 13, 2017 by wlaidlaw

[pop]

Doesn't mounting a camera with a ¼" thread socket simply push the ⅜" threaded part into its sleeve?

 

I don't own this head, but I've read about it somewhere, possibly here in this forum.

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[UliWer]

Can you open the base of the ball head?

[a.noctilux]

Wilson,

 

Just try to screw in one of your camera with 3/8" female thread, it would be secured.

 

Unmount the 3/8" camera.

Then try to mount one of your camera with 1/4" female thread, when screwing in the outer part will retract inside.

Second version of genius Leitz ball head,

your 1/4" camera would be secured with the 3/8" size with 1/4" size inside.

 

 

I think that you wanted 14121, one with reversible threads like this :

http://www.summilux.net/aide/index.php?mot=14121

 

 

Credit a.noctilux

Edited September 13, 2017 by a.noctilux

[wlaidlaw]

The 3/8" adapter should have just pushed down out of the way to reveal the 1/4" screw but didn't. There was a small amount of surface rust on the steel key inside sleeve A, that was jamming the adapter in the up position. Once I had scraped the small amount of surface rust off, and applied the miracle cure-every-ill of WD40, all worked as it should. Many thanks for the help folks. I now have one of each type of ball head, working properly. 

 

Wilson

[jogeor]

The same is true for the bottom thread as it is, too, spring-loaded and will be pushed in, so you can change from a ⅜" thread to a ¼" thread as well.

I hope this helps.

Genius, indeed.

[wlaidlaw]

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The same is true for the bottom thread as it is, too, spring-loaded and will be pushed in, so you can change from a ⅜" thread to a ¼" thread as well.

I hope this helps.

Genius, indeed.

 

I don't think mine had been used for many years, which is why they had stuck solid. Both sets now sliding as they should.