50 replies to this topic

[EdZ]

That is a unique top plate (the threads are the unique part). I've not seen that before on ANY model or ANY brand of tripod.

edz

[SMark]

From what I could gather from all the web searching I've done on this, my particular tripod is an older model. All the online documentation I could find makes clear reference to the larger handle/crank, where mine is clearly smaller. Not really sure how to date it accurately though...

[Rich V.]

It certainly appears to be an early version of Manfrotto 3046 tripod; the later models sure don't use that design. I'm surprised the top plate is attached in such a crude manner; at least the pin hole should have been accurately centered through the column! I wonder what was going on with that?

I have an "old style" 3036 from the 80's that has the gray cast folding handle and round column. There is a spur gear on the shaft connected to the handle that turns directly against the rack teeth in the column so a "wrap spring" clutch with a release lever is incorporated to prevent roll back under load. This style was made until around 1994 when the "new" design came out.

This newest, post 1994 design uses a worm gear instead of the spur gear so rollback isn't an issue any more. The column is faceted instead of round. The overall gear has a higher ratio so it takes more turns of the crank to move the column a given distance as well. This works better for heavier instruments, IMO. I like the faster gear of the old style for lighter binos like my 16x70s though.

Attached are some photos of the old and new Manfrotto tripod crowns so you can recognize them if need be.

Rich

Old style:

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Rich V.]

New style:

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[SMark]

Does that make mine "really old style" then? Look at the differences...

[Rich V.]

Does that make mine "really old style" then?

Yep.

Well, we all know what they say a picture is worth...

It looks like a family album of photos from three generations of Manfrottos.

Definitely one generation before the two I pictured, by the looks. Your tripod looks to be in pretty good shape, I'd say. Paint looks good. Does it have a "runaway column" if you don't hold the crank when you loosen the lock knob? Don't see any kind of brake lever.

I hope you enjoy your now solid tripod. Hopefully it will serve for decades more.

Rich

[SMark]

Does it have a "runaway column" if you don't hold the crank when you loosen the lock knob? Don't see any kind of brake lever.

Rich

Yep, it definitely will run away if you just loosen the knob without holding onto something. Now that I've gotten my problem fixed it's working great and holds my 10 lb. 25x100 just fine.

[EdZ]

Does it have a "runaway column" if you don't hold the crank when you loosen the lock knob? Don't see any kind of brake lever.

Rich

Yep, it definitely will run away if you just loosen the knob without holding onto something. Now that I've gotten my problem fixed it's working great and holds my 10 lb. 25x100 just fine.

I have two brands of tripods that have runaway center column cranks. BUT both models have a sleeve that encases the center column. That sleeve twists to set the friction on the center column so that it will not roll down when unlocked.

BTW, your tripod looks a lot more like my Davis and Sanford Propod than like any of my Bogens.

[Jon Isaacs]

I have two brands of tripods that have runaway center column cranks. BUT both models have a sleeve that encases the center column. That sleeve twists to set the friction on the center column so that it will not roll down when unlocked.

I removed the hand crank from my 3040, it's a lot faster to raise and lower the scope that way. They are quite a different design but clearly the 3046 is progeny of the 3040.

I believe the 3040 included both the tripod and the head. The head is very similar to the 3047 head but unmarked and probably slightly smaller.

Probably not the best tripod for binoculars as its fully extended height is not sufficient but for telescopes the 3040/3046 are more torsionally stable than the 3035/36, 3050/3051 class tripods because of the widely spaced split upper leg. Over the years I have collected a number of 3035-3050 class tripods, I rarely use them though I think they are great for binoculars. The 3040 though, it gets a lot of use.

Jon

[SMark]

Yes, the 3040 was a head + tripod combo, and when I bought mine the head had been removed. Being 6' tall myself, I could probably use another inch or two in height, but it does extend to 68" with the center column fully extended, so it's comfortable enough unless I'm reaching for something close to zenith.

[SMark]

Here's a related question about that...

The feet on my 3040 tripod easily unscrew from the center tripod legs. Are there "leg extensions" that I could purchase that would get this tripod up another 6 to 8 inches?

[Rich V.]

Manfrotto used to make a 19" extension leg set for that tripod but they are no longer available, it seems.

3052 19" Extension Leg Set - for 3046 and 3051 Tripods

Don't know where you'd find it now...

Rich

[hallelujah]

Manfrotto used to make a 19" extension leg set for that tripod but they are no longer available, it seems.

Don't know where you'd find it now...

Rich

Mark & Rich,

Occasionally Manfrotto legs will show up on e bay.

http://www.ebay.com/...24#ht_500wt_810

Would it be possible to cannibalize parts from a similar 3040 tripod? Just wondering.

http://www.ebay.com/...#ht_4518wt_1027

Stan

[Rich V.]

While the big photo stores seem to be out of stock there are a couple of dealers who claim to stock the 3052 leg kit. Around $62.00:

http://www.prosecuri...bogen-3052.html

http://www.fcitech.c...asp?mod=BOG3052

Rich

[EdZ]

I bought a set of those extension legs (comes as middle and lower leg section) at Adorama.

edz

[SMark]

Well... I have searched and searched and can find only two companies that show these extension legs in stock, and unfortunately both companies get horrible online reviews such that I wouldn't even consider placing an order with either of them. So I guess I will just wait on eBay for the time being...

[EdZ]

Adorama sells them. Never a problem dealing with them in 20 years.

edz

but after a fairly thorough search, I could not find it listed.

[SMark]

Yeah, I went specifically looking for Adorama's listing and they show it as no longer available, as do most of the other more reputable companies...

Adorama listing...

[EdZ]

see if you have luck with these links


http://www.bogenimaging.us/index.html

http://www.manfrotto.us/dealers

http://www.manfrotto...n/identify_part



http://bogentripodparts.com/

[EdZ]

here it is, I think

http://www.manfrotto...pod&model_id=22

R028,32B

these are individual parts for the same type of tripod. Not the same as the LEG SET of 3.

[SMark]

This thread from April of 2012 got me wanting a set of Manfrotto 3052 extension legs for my 3040 (3046) tripod. But, everyone was sold out, and Manfrotto had discontinued making them. So I put this into my eBay daily search and waited for them to show up. Well, it took over a year and a half, but finally I bid on and won a set of these legs yesterday.

I sure didn't think it would take this long though...

[hallelujah]

You know what they always say:
"Better late than never!"

Stan

[SMark]

You know what they always say:
"Better late than never!"

Stan

Indeed Stan, MUCH better late then never. Because these leg extensions ROCK. I now have a much more bino-friendly tripod. I was thinking that I was getting another section of legs to screw onto the old ones, but these leg extensions actually replace the old single-pole legs with new double pole legs. The result is a tripod that reaches 70 inches before raising the center column. With the center column fully extended (which you would never do...) it would be just short of 90 inches. With the head I'm currently using, it's actually just about perfect with the center column all the way down, which results in a very sturdy and stable mount for a large binocular.

What a great find. BIG thanx again goes to Stan for finding it for me. Here's a few pics of it holding my BA8 with the 7-Eyed Monster behind it...

[hallelujah]

Mark,

My pleasure!

I might have bought it myself but we have not received our income tax return
& my wife would have mounted me on it instead.

Please Click Here

Stan

[Jarrod]

Stan, I was wondering where your tripod adapter might be located but the photo cleared that up. Thanks.

Mark, that's quite a lot of binocular joy you have mounted up all at once. Looks great!