FIX: Manfrotto 143N Magic Arm Lever Doesn't Lock

[@Longdancer]

Absoutely bloddy awsome. I was very septical when i began this...but it has actually worked and now i don't need to buy another Magic Arm. Thank you Thank you Thank you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad it worked out! It's a solid piece of gear; I'm glad there's a way to maintain and keep using (for hopefully many many more years. :-)

[@Longdancer]

Thanks again @@FirstL00k

[@FirstL00k]

@@Longdancer you betcha!

[@begin2dig]

worked! thank you to your doner of a diagram and your demoing this - i also have a "super clamp" and found that by leaving it in the super clamp it was much much easier to adjust and reseat.

[@lepontquimenela]

Mine stopped working 7 years ago or so, but I kept it hopping to have it fixed one day and thanks to you it is working again. Thank you very much!

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad you kept it, it's a great piece of gear! They're just like most mechanical things; they need a bit of maintenance love every now and again. :)

[@DeGrey]

Same here. Sitting for years and years. Decided today would be the day to figure out if it was fixable. It's working again!

[@fisher314]

Same!!

[@digitalduck]

Thanks, Young Jeohn, you saved the day again 2 years after posting this video.

[@FirstL00k]

I'm just glad it was helpful!

[@RhiannonFan]

Many thanks for your super helpful video - and of course, thanks to whoever wrote the original fix-it instructions. It's perhaps worth mentioning that the small hex-bolt is just a locking bolt. In my case, it only needed unscrewing about a couple of turns.

[@fotistirokomos2958]

You are a life saviour my good friend!!! I cannot express my gratitude enough!

[@FirstL00k]

@@fotistirokomos2958 sounds like it worked for you, I'm glad to hear it!

[@lamodification]

Life saver, that's the power of the community. Sending much love, mate!

[@FirstL00k]

You betcha! I'm glad the video helped!

[@amiradmoni3576]

Thank you so much, saved our day here. Our magic arm had exactly this issue and it is fixed now. I'm always amazed by random generosities addressing specific issues that fit so perfectly to our needs. Thanks again.

[@FirstL00k]

You're very welcome, I'm glad it was helpful. I hope your magic arm gives you many more years of service!

[@yahmox]

Brought two arms on eBay, and both "broke" waiting about 5 minutes. Doing this sorted them both out! Thanks a lot

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad you were able to fix them; it's really useful gear!

[@richardwathen7627]

Thank you for helping me fixing my 143 Magic Arm. It is probably the most useful device I (as a professional photographer and video maker) have ever owned. I have become reliant on it so much for so many things.. lighting, microphones and timelapse cameras (even my heavy Canon 5D MkII with a really heavy lens).. it copes with everything. But it was crunching, now it doesn't and is back to being solid as a titanium rock (sorry, i'm a simple photographer not a geologist or metallurgist LOL) And you are a funny guy and made the fix fun, unlike those boring fix it videos from US / India / England etc :-)

[@FirstL00k]

Thank you sir, I'm glad I could help! Haha, and now you know a somewhat funny guy in the USA (me!) :-) You hit the nail on the head these magic arms are indispensable! So useful in many situations, in photos & videos both!

[@juliosof]

THANKS !!!!!!! I was ready to throw it in the trash, but your video saved me! 👍👍

[@FirstL00k]

@@juliosof I'm glad you saved it! It's a good piece of gear - when it works. :-)

[@SkyFocal]

Thank you for this video. And thank you for dropping the ball bearings, so that I didn't have to. You just saved me about $154!

[@FirstL00k]

Haha, I'm glad it helped, even with the dropped ball bearings!

[@timjones4594]

I got a free magic arm today and just fixed it in a few minutes ! THANKS SO MUCH :)

[@FirstL00k]

Awesome, free magic arms for the fixing! :) I hope you enjoy using them!

[@IamWhoYouSayIam]

Thank you so much for sharing. I ordered on yesterday and because of you now I KNOW WHAT TO DO IF MINE EVER JAMMED

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! This video will come in handy when it happens, but overall, the build quality is very good and should last you a very long time. :)

[@shawnchen2021]

Thank you for your 143 + 244 comparison video. I wanted to review the difference as I am looking to purchase them. Glad you had the video and it looks like that many others have agreed as well. Although old still very great!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! I agree, these are some very useful pieces of gear for having been around for so long.

[@matti-und-ich]

thanx bro, this really helped me 2 years ago and now again ...

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad to hear it! Hopefully it keeps working for a long time with this bit of maintenance.

[@ShorlockArt]

Thank you!! Glad to know how this works and how easy it is to fix.

[@FirstL00k]

@@ShorlockArt I'm glad happy to know this helped!

[@andresbra9768]

Mil gracias!!! me salvaste!!! un gran saludo desde Argentina!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! I'm glad this video helped you. Greetings from NY!

[@johnmatchett3548]

Thank you, thank you. I've had one of these for (25?) YEARS and it suddenly started crunching but not locking. Just picked one up on eBay: guess what?! Now I have two with the same problem... I shall apply your fix! John M.

[@FirstL00k]

Just needs a little TLC and they'll go right back to working. Good luck!

[@pcorradi]

Works perfectly on my Magic Arm. The only thing I did differently I added red grease and now is super smooth and hopefully will stay lubricated and won’t happen again. Thanks!

[@FirstL00k]

Glad to hear it! I hope it gives you many more years of service.

[@StarshipSmoochers]

Thank you a thousand times, this worked perfectly.

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! I hope you get many more years of use from it!

[@bnfimages]

Thanks so much! My Arm is back!!!

[@FirstL00k]

That's great to hear! I hope it keeps working for many more years to come!

[@unitedpuppets6837]

Thank you so much for explaining everything so well and nive in every detail. It works again.

[@FirstL00k]

Awesome, great that you got it to work!

[@zoobiewa]

OMG, I'm excited. Just found this video. I've had a few of these break and basically had to just give up on them.

[@FirstL00k]

I hope this helps you fix them - good luck! :)

[@paulprescott72]

Thank you for taking the time to do this tutorial. It saved me!!

[@FirstL00k]

Glad it helped! A little maintenance and good as new!

[@mikecondon9576]

Excellent. I needed this assistance myself.

[@micheldennler278]

Did not think i would find that information on youtube. You saved my day. Thanks so much! I’ll subscribe to your channel right away :-)

[@FirstL00k]

Awesome, I'm glad this helped! Thanks man!

[@paulashley1894]

Perfect cheers. Also added some grease whilst repairing as mine were bone dry 👍

[@GuidoFTO]

thanks mate :D

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, glad to be of help!

[@Henry-lk5pm]

Very helpful! Worth cleaning out both top and bottom bearing races and wiping down both sets of BBs (an old towel is best for this). Then applying a little bearing grease to the races - this stops the bbs falling out while reassembling and will prolong the life of them.

[@FirstL00k]

That's good advice! Wish I had some grease when I made the video.

[@voiceovercop]

This was a great help thanks for making this video!

[@FirstL00k]

@@voiceovercop you're welcome, glad this was able to help!

[@JamesHendy-r5b]

Thank you so much, great video! So helpful

[@FirstL00k]

@@JamesHendy-r5b glad I could help!

[@johnthorpe7914]

Great tutorial. Thanks very much

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, I'm glad this was helpful!

[@ricrob2]

Thanks for this vid. I have a few and noticed that even when locked I still get slight movement

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! It's unfortunate that Manfrotto manuals are pretty sparse.

[@richiev2]

Thanks so much. I was floppy but I’m stiff again now!

[@FirstL00k]

hahaha, all fixed & ready for more action!

[@nyemikeonwuka2516]

You saved me…Thank you so much!

[@FirstL00k]

@@nyemikeonwuka2516 you're welcome! I hope they last you many more years to come!

[@314ale]

Served to me well, thank you!

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad this helped!

[@toreaasland8085]

Thank you. I have one with this problem.😃

[@FirstL00k]

I hope you can fix it! These are really useful.

[@spinjim]

I have the impact pivot arm, fixed that too. Thanks!!

[@FirstL00k]

That's great, it's good to hear it works for other magic arms too!

[@devtank]

GREAT help, thank you!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

[@adamneale2442]

So useful, thanks!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, glad to be of help!

[@Gael_AG]

Man you saved my life !! Thank you so so so much

[@FirstL00k]

Glad to be of help! :)

[@ChinskiChat]

Very good, thank you. Fixed my Amazon warehouse purchase!

[@FirstL00k]

Great, glad it's working again!

[@manfredmeier1500]

Thank you very much 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. I have 2 magic arms and 2 have this exact error. Now, i can repair 👍🏻

[@FirstL00k]

Great, I'm glad this helps! The magicarms will serve you for many more years to come!

[@AName805]

thanks, man, great tutorial - I have one of these 143 and it's a pain in the ass!!!. this happened to me twice the first time I had it serviced by a professional, and the second time I gave up and put it aside, but with this tutorial I fixed it myself Thanks!. you should really only buy the 244N or 244RC variable friction arms, I have 4 of those and they never broke down,

[@FirstL00k]

Glad to be of help! I guess for those of us "lucky" enough to already own the 143, no more wasting time and expense bringing it to a service center. A couple of wrenches, a shot or two of courage, maybe a steady hand - it'll fix in no time! ;-)

[@chantalrosengurt4820]

Hi, I have an 244Rc, but I need to take out the camara base to put another clamp, could you do that? It would really help me. Thansk!!

[@ethemilhan]

Thank you so much 🤗🤗🤗 you saved me

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! Glad this helped!

[@rixxsoundfactory3823]

Thank you so much ... it works

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! I hope it gives you many more years of service!

[@guillaumelenel1083]

Perfect ! thanks ! one used arm repaired

[@FirstL00k]

Awesome, I hope they give you many more years of use!

[@michaelwilkinson6279]

Awesome Video Thank you so much.

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

[@dutchsoundman]

Thanks, you saved my day :-)

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad this helped!

[@alejandromaciel9748]

Thank you!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! I hope the video helped!

[@blursedblarn]

Thank-you thank-you thank-you!!!!!

[@Micro-Moo]

Very nice! This relatively expensive kind of magic arm simply doesn't work, this is how I call it. Their engineers failed to prevent this glitch.

[@FirstL00k]

They left it to the customers to deal with long-term problems that happen. They didn't test it out long enough I guess, but at least we can fix this (even if they don't help us.) :)

[@johanstoffels7244]

Thank You !!!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! Hopefully another one saved!

[@racefanrob]

Awesome tut! 👍😁

[@FirstL00k]

Thanks a lot! If it helps someone out, it was well worth doing!

[@jonathanbrigden3524]

amazing. that was really helpful

[@FirstL00k]

Glad it helped!

[@KyleHaubert]

can you make the same video but for the 244N? Please, I need help!

[@TiberVisuals]

dude thats a saver!!!

[@FirstL00k]

Glad it was helpful!

[@magicphred]

My brain hurt from waiting as you discovered the fascinating world of ball bearings.

[@Alexhobby32and7]

thank you, it helped a lot

[@FirstL00k]

@@Alexhobby32and7 you're welcome!

[@renatogomes8844]

Hey man, you're amazing, thanks.

[@FirstL00k]

Thanks! I hope you found the video helpful!

[@retoanca]

thankkk youuu veryyy muchhh!!!!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome!

[@marionsnowdon6070]

thanks so much!

[@AdrienDuquesnel]

Thanks man / you save my magic arm ! not easy but it work now :)

[@FirstL00k]

I'm glad you saved your arm! They're expensive and it's good we can fix it ourselves somehow. I hope it serves you many more years!

[@dansmakitchen]

thanks a lot

[@Alex_machin_animator]

Does anyone know the total number of ball bearings? I stupidly opened mine up when it was playing up and the ball bearings spilled out, I managed to find 10. Manfrotto spares sells a set of 11. I’ve just put it back together and it works with 7 in the bottom and 3 in the top, but I can’t help but think it should be 8 in the bottom. I don’t wanna fuck this thing up.

[@elsyhajjar8489]

I'm facing the same issue, I opened it to fix it then realized i have 4 bearing balls on the top instead of 3, not sure if i previously opened it and got them mixed up. did you end up knowing the total number of ball bearings?

[@Alex_machin_animator]

@@elsyhajjar8489 I can’t remember, I managed to get it operating for a while and then it just started crunching again. Now I have resorted to adjusting it with the two hex keys and just locking it off, not ideal!

[@zampa1973]

I split it before watching the video and I too did a mess with bearings all around. Then check Manfrotto's spare site and they sell 11, because they are 3 on top (the ones that usually got jammed) and 8 on the other side. So if you got 10 in total you're missing one

[@IndoonaOceans]

I did this but could not get the handle to a lock position (it just didn't move). I had to make it lock just by tightening the two main bolts and not using the lock handle - which works but means you cannot adjust it without the allen keys. Bit of a bad and unreliable design that is bound to fail don't you think?

[@FirstL00k]

It shouldn't be like that, I think. Those 2 hex screws are independent; there's a certain way it needs to be screwed back together for the lever to work correctly.

[@IndoonaOceans]

@@FirstL00k Thanks - I am sure you're right but sometimes you have to decide whether it's worth the time - if you can get it to work quickly then you can get on with the main thing you wanted to do which was to do some work on the screen it is holding. Something that is this tricky is a 'fail' as far as product design goes.

[@Phb_777]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@FirstL00k]

Thanks!

[@Csnumber1]

Actually the real lesson is not to buy this piece of kit at all!! Manfrotto once again credits itself on being built in Italy, yet produces another poorly designed piece of equipment. Why they don't use a cased ballbearing design is beyond me. They should pay you for having to fix their own stuff being used under normal operation. And you haven't had that arm for very long either!! Sad!!

[@FirstL00k]

Ah, you probably didn't know that the problem was with my first one (which I've had for years beforehand. The one from the comparison video was a newer one.) Haha, so funny... what you wrote reminds me of most Italian products, like Alfa Romeo. Their cars are gorgeous, but quality is usually shit with resale value falling like a stone the minute its driven off the lot! (they might be different nowadays though...)

[@vincekehn7624]

Truly it is a piece shit!

[@Alex_machin_animator]

Mine spilled all over the floor when I opened it up. Terrible design!

[@txm100]

@@Alex_machin_animator Lol yeah piece of shit when you can't open it lol.

[@seralegre]

it sounds like a broken bone, lol

[@FirstL00k]

It feels just as awful as it sounds!

[@RobbieTJones]

Thank you!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome, I'm glad if this helps you!

[@rexthedog1980]

Thank you!

[@FirstL00k]

You're welcome! :)