When an classic style Wimberley Head becomes stuck to his tripod, it is most often the case that the Wimberley Head has been attached to the tripod for many months.  Removing the Wimberley Head should be relatively easy, and we have found that it is very unlikely that there is a mechanical problem with the threaded part of the bottom of the tripod.
The following procedures can be used to remove the Wimberley Head:

• First, tighten the pan locking knob before trying to remove the Wimberley Head.
• Make sure that you have been turning the Head in the right direction.  It is important that you turn the Head counter-clockwise (looking down on it).

If the normal method for removing the Head fails, try the following:

• It is often useful to remove the platform or center column from the tripod.  Once the platform or center column has been removed, you can hold the Wimberley Head and lightly tap downward on the platform surrounding the base of the Wimberley head with a wooden or rubber mallet.  This will often loosen the bond between the bottom of the Wimberley Head and the top of the tripod.
•  Another thing you may want to try is to spray some penetrating oil around the bottom of the Head.  Let it soak overnight.
• If you are forced to use a mechanical device on the Head, we recommend that you wrap the base of the Wimberley Head with several layers of protective tape, such as masking tape or medical adhesive tape.  The best tools for turning the Wimberley Head are water pump pliers or special Vice-Grip pliers designed for large objects.  (A pipe wrench may be a little too aggressive, even with tape.)

Once you have separated the Wimberley Head from the tripod, you may want to wax the bottom of the Wimberley Head lightly with paste wax or shoe polish to reduce the probability that this problem will occur again; However, this is generally not necessary.

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