@yoclay Last time I checked you talked about fluid cartridges :-) So, I do not know why you need to re-grease anything :-) Normally, counter balance mechanizm and spring are easy to see after even initial disassembly steps.
It's not just counterbalance. Quick release compatibility, slider integration, etc. After trying out 3 cheap tripods, I sold all. Still hard to make up the mind.
I meant a sturdy tripod that can support a slider firmly. Prolly it depends on length of the slider, too. I've seen some people getting new tripods for better sliding movement.
Why do you need to disassembly the head? Despite any tripod such setup is always worse than two tripods. So, if you want only slider solution it is much better to get two photo-like carbon tripods and 717AH heads. It is simply physics. But as standalone tripods they are no competition for good video carbon legs and FC-HDSLR head.
I think it is Vitec/Manfrotto part sold separately, not the disassembled head :-) Head has big advantages, as possible angles are much larger. You can just use 717 head and modify it with large levers to lock it as hell. 7060 head is also very good option is this regard. I think I could talk about such modified head.
For a low angle ground shot, you can spread the tripod legs wide angle. To get down really low, you can either saw off the lower end of the center columns, or get a pair of low angle adapters:
@tida That sounds interesting. Got a link to the one youre using? You have the Igus? like this? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?is=REG&sku=298200&Q=&O=&A=details I got tired of all the hardware and fittings DSLR's require, so that's why I started just using wooded blocks, so if I can't make my slider work with them, I don't use the slider. It's a frill piece any how.