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How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head

  
 
jimmuller
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p.1 #1 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


Magnus VT100, actually two of them. I know, I know, they are inexpensive, a.k.a. cheap. They were purchased for a purpose and served well. They are also light enough to carry when hiking. But I'm concerned about that goop getting on my cameras.

I've tried washing with dish soap and water. That's not a great solution. Google's AI idiot says to use isopropyl alcohol. Okay, I am going to try that. But if it doesn't work is there another approach?

The heads don't look removable/replaceable/take-apart-able. If I can't clean that stuff up I'm tempted to toss 'em. which would be a waste because otherwise they work for my purposes. (Someone gave me a nice Manfrotto but it's a bit heavy to carry hiking, especially if I'm also carrying heavy lenses for which I'd want the tripod in the first place.)



May 20, 2026 at 02:02 PM
rico
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p.1 #2 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


Toss 'em. Avoid damped heads going forward.


May 20, 2026 at 06:05 PM
jimmuller
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p.1 #3 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


rico wrote:
Toss 'em. Avoid damped heads going forward.


Thanks. Probably will soon. FWIW, Google AI-idiot's suggestion of isopropyl alcohol didn't help. (And Microsoft's spell chucker doesn't recognize the spelling of isopropyl.)

Do I want to carry the Manfrotto on Acadia NP's carriage roads? Prob'ly not.



May 21, 2026 at 02:34 PM
Alan Olander
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p.1 #4 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


The viscous fluid is most likely a type of grease. A automotive degreaser would work.


May 21, 2026 at 04:35 PM
 


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jimmuller
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p.1 #5 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


Alan Olander wrote:
The viscous fluid is most likely a type of grease. A automotive degreaser would work.


Yeeeaaah, maybe. It seems more like a silicone substance. I guess it wouldn't hurt (except to dry out my skin) to try something else.

Thanks for the reply.



May 21, 2026 at 04:41 PM
schlotz
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p.1 #6 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


Agree with @rico, toss that dampened head and replace it.


May 23, 2026 at 07:21 AM
EB-1
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p.1 #7 · How to clean the visous fluid coming out my tripod head


Yes, throw it out. It will continue leaking.

EBH



May 23, 2026 at 11:09 AM







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