Sirui VA-5 Head Plate Tension Screw Replacement

[LargeAvos]

I've been using my Sirui ST-125 tripod with the VA-5 head for a bit now and am frustrated with the tensioning screw for the top plates. I have 2 different style plates both from Sirui but they don't fit the same. I've seen people complaining about the same thing and am wondering if anyone has seen or made a change to the tensioning screw allowing you to spin it continuously until it locks Similar to Area 419 Arca Clamp with an enlarged turning knob.

If I don't find anything I will probably end up making something... But just want to see if there is anything out there yet.

 

[sram9102]

You could probably just break the tab on the adjustment knob off and it would be free to spin 360 degrees.

 

[gilby]

I have the same problem, and have just dealt with it so far. If you end up making something post a picture of your solution.

 

[fnf01]

Did you or anyone end up with a fix or replacement for this? About to grind the knob off myself but the screw is on back order so a bit hesitant

 

[LargeAvos]

I ended up switching heads to a ball head for shooting off of. Glassing isn’t as nice though.

 

[kpk]

Did you or anyone end up with a fix or replacement for this? About to grind the knob off myself but the screw is on back order so a bit hesitant

I really dislike that stupid locking knob as well.

You'd have to grind the locking pin and the knob itself to clear the handle.

 

[rcb2000]

Not sure if this is what you guys are talking about?

VA 5 fix

 

[kpk]

Not sure if this is what you guys are talking about?

VA 5 fix

Kind of. I think the common gripe is that you can only turn that knob a quarter turn before you have to pull and reposition it on the nut when switching between different plates. It would be nice if that knob would rotate completely. I run a RRS cinch on my binos and the Sirui plates on everything else - It's a pain switching between them quickly.

 

[LargeAvos]

@fnf01
I ended up swapping back to the VA-5 and when doing so I thought to file down the indicator for the plate tightener knob. This semi fixed the problem I was having by allowing the knob to have more travel before hitting the head’s handle.

I forgot to take an after photo but circled in red is what I filed flush.

 

[valtteri]

What I did was I bought multiple plates from Aliexpress, they are cheap: https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005004321057841.html

No longer do I have multiple different plates with ever so slight variations in dimensions, resulting in the need to fiddle with the tensioner. As the Ali plates are identical in dimensions to one another, one tensioner setting works for all. Problem solved!

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Love that head for the price but that is the most annoying thing about this head! A simple fix I did was take a hacksaw blade and cut that tab off.

By far the best thing I did for that head and no longer have to deal with that for different size plates and have had no tension issue or it coming loose at all! I know some might be scared of this but for me its been the best thing I have done and makes it so much more easier to use different plates.

Let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy to answer.