Tripod twistlock issue

[HillyDevon2]

Hi, all! newbie here, so I hope I've chosen the right sub-group for posting a question.
In late 2024 I bought a Joby Rangepod tripod - not an expensive bit of kit, but would suit me, I thought, for the very occasional use I'd put it to. Probably only dug it out a handful of times when I used it the other day, and it looks in pristine condition. Now the problem.... one of the twistlock sections froze completely. The locking nut unscrewed completely from the fitting and the leg wouldn't budge. (I contacted Joby, who were extremely unhelpful, but that's a matter for them and the Trustpilot review I've given them!)
I've managed to push the stuck section back in - plenty of friction to overcome -so it's now frozen in the retracted rather than extended position. Surely I can't be the first person this has happened to? That's one of the questions I put to Joby, which they studiously ignored!
Hopefully the attached pics will help to clarify the issue. You'll see it's the thinnest, bottom section that's the problem. I removed the rubber end cap from the foot.
Hoping someone here has a better idea than the manufacturer as to how to rectify the problem!
Regards,
Tim

 

[snowbear112]

Welcome aboard.
It may be that some debris has gotten inside the tube. Perhaps some penetrating oil (I don't know if it is called something different in GB) or some light heat (blow dryer on high setting applied to the tube will help loosen it. If you can pull the inner tube out and wipe it down.

 

[HillyDevon2]

some

Many thanks - I'll give it a go! I have got WD40 - assume that might loosen things up? I guess all twistlocks work pretty much in the same way?

 

[snowbear112]

WD40 should do.

 

[cgw112]

With respect, short of premium brands, twist-locs are failure-prone and often fix-proof. Guess I've never been keen on slapping a pricey camera+lens on iffy support. I like Manfrotto. Admittedly old school but they've never embarrassed me.