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Hello,

Hope I'm not being too stupid here, but I cannot find a hex wrench to fit the screws which attach the electronics bracket (what holds the Gemini) to the HD tripod.

I got my mount about 18 months ago along with a 12" column extension. I moved the bracket and attached it to the extension.? Now I'd like to move it back to the tripod top.

But I can find no hex wrench that fits the screws.? I thought I kept every tool and screw that came with the mount, and found nothing.? I just don't remember anything special doing this.

None of my US or metric wrenches fit; the socket seems rounded (not stripped) somehow.

Was there a special wrench?

If not, what size is it?

Thanks for any help.

On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 05:59 AM, <larrychristianson@...> wrote:

what size is it?

Thanks for the response.?

I re-tried 3/16"; it is close but just doesn't seat into the socket.? I have a set of Harbor Freight SAE and metric wrenches.

3/16 wrench - a bit too big

5/32 - too small

5mm - too big

4 mm - too small.

I'll take a photo when I can, but to my eyes it appears identical to your photo.? The wrench just won't lock down in it and just spins, with a slight friction, in the rounded shoulder of the machine screw.

IDK, maybe I'll track down another 3/16 wrench (there's probably one around here somewhere).

My mount came with the wing-headed type of screws (sorry, can’t remember the name off the top of my head, not even on my native language lol). However, I’ve had similar issues with other screws/bolts and found that, more often than not, using a torx wrench works well enough. Maybe try a couple and see if that helps. Another option would be an appropriately sized flat head screw driver across opposite vertices of the hexagonal key.

?

Lastly, and I mean as an absolute last resort, if the socket is worn down and won’t take any other options, you could use a dremel type of tool with a cut-off wheel to score a slot on the socket head and use a screw driver. Just be careful not to mar that beautiful mount/gemini case :)

?

Good luck

I tried again with my set and every loose hex wrench I could find.? No luck, crazy.? I can't imagine that they're over-tightened.? Here a couple of pix of mine -?

Oops, I misunderstood which screws you were referring to. I thought you meant the ones holding the gemini case to the ear brackets. You can still try the torx and flat head screw driver options, but the dremel tool is definitely out of the race :)

They make 4.5mm allen wrenches.?

Measure across flats with vernier callipers that have metric/imperial ….hopefully imperial fractions option for measurements. ?

cheers

?

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Brendan

If you can't find the right size Allen wrench, here is a last resort option without cutting, grinding etc.? Buy a cheap set of Allen wrenches. Find a wrench that is close and JB Weld that wrench to the bolt head.? Once cured, you should be able to remove the bolt and get some fresh ones.?

?

Chris N

An old trick for removing a rounded-out allen head socket is to slip a piece of rubber like a rubber band or piece of tire inner tube over the allen key when inserting it. The rubber fills the gap and provides friction to allow the allen wrench to turn the screw.

I have a set of imperial Wera Allen Keys, the 3/16" fits perfectly.

If you have tried using a better quality Allen wrench and still not able to get the screw out it probably means the allen slot has become rounded over. You could try the following.? Wrap some aluminum foil around the end of your Allen wrench and see if you can get at tight enough fit to take out the screw. 1st try heating from the inside where the screw attaches to the pier extension. Then try loosing the screw. Some last ditch efforts? you can try to glue a throw away Allen wrench to the screw head and see if that will hold it tight enough to work. You should also heat up the inside with this effort also. Very last effort you may have to drill out the screw head and hope to not damage any thing else.? Good? luck and let us know how you make out.

Sandy?

Get

Use E-Putty to glue the Allen Key into the rounded head.

On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 02:56 PM, <larrychristianson@...> wrote:

I tried again with my set and every loose hex wrench I could find.? No luck, crazy.? I can't imagine that they're over-tightened.? Here a couple of pix of mine -?

?

These fasteners look like the usual suspects.? The issue is most likely that your Allen wrenches are poor quality and/or out of spec.? Experience has shown me that stainless steel socket headed cap screw fasteners can be a tight fit.? I've seen this on dovetails from Losmandy, ADM and Farpoint.

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If your Allen wrenches are a tight fit with conventional flat ground tips try a little wiggly? motion to get them to seat, rotate one flat.? Sometimes inexpensive Allen wrenches are not symetrical, buy another set but a name brand precision set from Wera, Wiha etc. not Harbor Freight brand.? Yes they cost more but they are worth it for their higher precision and hardened tips which help them retain the correct dimensions even when used often.??

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On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 05:56 PM, <larrychristianson@...> wrote:

Here a couple of pix of mine

Here's info from Losmandy:

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We supply all wrenches that are needed for the mounts in the original packaging.?

On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 05:59 AM, <larrychristianson@...> wrote: