Why 7Hi desintegrates

Plamen Antonov · Feb 12, 2003

Not like Columbia (God bless those people there), but cracks are a fact.

There are several reasons IMHO (I apologize for the bad quality of the photos - have forgotten my close-up lenses at home):

1. First and obvious: Overtightened screws. The marks on the plastic are visible.

2. Improper design of the body. Some small steps exist under the screws. When the screws are overtightened those steps cause torque resulting in cracks.

3. Additional part (probably a capacitor) is installed and raises the plate, causing additional torque.

Because of No 3. the right-hand screws should be unscrewed more (let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or that additional part should be repositioned. I noticed that my lower right-hand crack stopped developing after unscrewing the screw with 1 turn (it is still there).
--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

MinotaMan · Feb 12, 2003

Thanks for the pics. I have one crack and have loosened some over torqued screws. Your assumptions seem most correct. Do you think the capacitor was an after thought?

MinoltaMan

Plamen Antonov said:
Not like Columbia (God bless those people there), but cracks are a
fact.
There are several reasons IMHO (I apologize for the bad quality of
the photos - have forgotten my close-up lenses at home):
1. First and obvious: Overtightened screws. The marks on the
plastic are visible.

2. Improper design of the body. Some small steps exist under the
screws. When the screws are overtightened those steps cause torque
resulting in cracks.
3. Additional part (probably a capacitor) is installed and raises
the plate, causing additional torque.

Because of No 3. the right-hand screws should be unscrewed more
(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or
that additional part should be repositioned. I noticed that my
lower right-hand crack stopped developing after unscrewing the
screw with 1 turn (it is still there).
--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

Peter Brentlinger · Feb 12, 2003

Have you sent your camera in to Minolta for repair? Will they fix it under warranty? I loked at my 7Hi and I also have a crack on the same plastic plate that you show removed in the photo.

Thanks, Peter

MinotaMan · Feb 12, 2003

Yes, they are fixing the cracks now under warranty.Thay emailed me a tag, but I have not sent my camera to them yet.I will miss it too much!

MinoltaMan

Peter Brentlinger said:
Have you sent your camera in to Minolta for repair? Will they fix
it under warranty? I loked at my 7Hi and I also have a crack on the
same plastic plate that you show removed in the photo.

Thanks, Peter

mkovach · Feb 12, 2003

I just received my new 7I. No cracks, after checking out the camera by takeing a few shots I loosed and retightened the screws. Did not find any that appeared to be over tightened. Better safe than sorry I guesse.

Plamen Antonov · Feb 12, 2003

MinotaMan said:
Thanks for the pics. I have one crack and have loosened some over
torqued screws. Your assumptions seem most correct. Do you think
the capacitor was an after thought?

99% yes - it could happen. IMO repositioning the capacitor NEXT to the PCB, nor over it will solve the problem. And the little steps on the body wont be a problem, if the screws are tightened correctly.

After those pics were ready I saw that one of the wires of the PC terminal has been squeezed between the cover and the body - another torque.

--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

Plamen Antonov · Feb 12, 2003

Peter Brentlinger said:
Have you sent your camera in to Minolta for repair? Will they fix
it under warranty? I loked at my 7Hi and I also have a crack on the
same plastic plate that you show removed in the photo.

Thanks, Peter

They are fixing them without problems IMO. My 7Hi is from B&H, NY - I called Minolta USA after I saw the first crack and they immediately offered me to exchange the camera (not to repair it). But as I reside in Europe, my next call was to Minolta Europe main service center in Bremen, Germany - they fixed my camera without any problems, any questions and any charges. Hope this helps.
--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

Plamen Antonov · Feb 12, 2003

Mike Kovach said:
I just received my new 7I. No cracks, after checking out the camera
by takeing a few shots I loosed and retightened the screws. Did not
find any that appeared to be over tightened. Better safe than sorry
I guesse.

As I see most of the cracks are on 7Hi, not 7i. Probably the guy/girl with big hands hasn't been involved in 7i assembling, lol.
--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

dab63 · Feb 13, 2003

...

Plamen Antonov said:
As I see most of the cracks are on 7Hi, not 7i. Probably the
guy/girl with big hands hasn't been involved in 7i assembling, lol.

I'm waiting for my 7Hi delivery (bought one week ago) .. and now I'm scared to find cracks on it .. are usually there since the 'birth', or do they appear and grow after some time?

Anyway, now I know that before charging the batteries ... first thing is to loose screws.

ciao

----------------------------------
daniele borghi
http://www.casaborghi.it

Plamen Antonov · Feb 13, 2003

dab63 said:
dab63 said:

As I see most of the cracks are on 7Hi, not 7i. Probably the
guy/girl with big hands hasn't been involved in 7i assembling, lol.

Click to expand...

I'm waiting for my 7Hi delivery (bought one week ago) .. and now
I'm scared to find cracks on it .. are usually there since the
'birth', or do they appear and grow after some time

My camera came from B&H with a crack, it was too small and being so happy I decided not to return it - big mistake, second crack developed later.

dab63 said:
Anyway, now I know that before charging the batteries ... first
thing is to loose screws.

It is not for sure - I believe a specific range of S/Ns are affected only. Do a search here.

dab63 said:
ciao

----------------------------------
daniele borghi
http://www.casaborghi.it
-----------------------------------

Good luck!

(If unscrewing - use precisely shaped tools!)

--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

MinotaMan · Feb 13, 2003

I agree Plamen 100% after goof!

Thanks

MinoltaMan

Plamen Antonov said:
MinotaMan said:

Thanks for the pics. I have one crack and have loosened some over
torqued screws. Your assumptions seem most correct. Do you think
the capacitor was an after thought?

Click to expand...

99% yes - it could happen. IMO repositioning the capacitor NEXT to
the PCB, nor over it will solve the problem. And the little steps
on the body wont be a problem, if the screws are tightened
correctly.

After those pics were ready I saw that one of the wires of the PC
terminal has been squeezed between the cover and the body - another
torque.

--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

MinotaMan · Feb 13, 2003

Mine appeared to just appear. They can and will grow depending on the position ofthe crack. Mine is small and can't grow anymore. I am waiting a bit to send mine in.

MinoltaMan

dab63 said:
dab63 said:

As I see most of the cracks are on 7Hi, not 7i. Probably the
guy/girl with big hands hasn't been involved in 7i assembling, lol.

Click to expand...

I'm waiting for my 7Hi delivery (bought one week ago) .. and now
I'm scared to find cracks on it .. are usually there since the
'birth', or do they appear and grow after some time?

Anyway, now I know that before charging the batteries ... first
thing is to loose screws.

ciao

----------------------------------
daniele borghi
http://www.casaborghi.it
-----------------------------------

Pete · Feb 13, 2003

Plamen Antonov said:
(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or

Screw them all the way out, apply a very small amount of mild grade Loctite to the minor diameter of the screw threads and then re-install - - so they are not much tighter then just touching the plastic. The Loctite will keep the screws from vibrating out - but they will still be easy to remove with a scredriver.

J2D2 · Feb 13, 2003

Now, now, Pete!

Your solution is too simple, effective and lasting........
People need to moan and gripe endlessly. Dont spoil the fun!

Pete said:
Pete said:

(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or

Click to expand...

Screw them all the way out, apply a very small amount of mild grade
Loctite to the minor diameter of the screw threads and then
re-install - - so they are not much tighter then just touching the
plastic. The Loctite will keep the screws from vibrating out - but
they will still be easy to remove with a scredriver.

MinotaMan · Feb 13, 2003

Plamen just showed people why the Minolta is cracking up. Something wrong with taking the time to point out suspected flaws in design or assembly? What fun is Pete spoiling here?The topic is busted up Minolta bodies.I have one, no fun either.

MinoltaMan

J2D2 said:
Your solution is too simple, effective and lasting........
People need to moan and gripe endlessly. Dont spoil the fun!

Pete said:

J2D2 said:

(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or

Click to expand...

Screw them all the way out, apply a very small amount of mild grade
Loctite to the minor diameter of the screw threads and then
re-install - - so they are not much tighter then just touching the
plastic. The Loctite will keep the screws from vibrating out - but
they will still be easy to remove with a scredriver.

Click to expand...

Plamen Antonov · Feb 13, 2003

J2D2 said:
Now, now, Pete!

Your solution is too simple, effective and lasting........
People need to moan and gripe endlessly. Dont spoil the fun!

IMO it would be better not to have reasons for moaning and griping! Especially when spending $1k. But anyway, Minolta's service compensates somehow their flaw.

J2D2 said:
Pete said:

J2D2 said:

(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or

Click to expand...

Screw them all the way out, apply a very small amount of mild grade
Loctite to the minor diameter of the screw threads and then
re-install - - so they are not much tighter then just touching the
plastic. The Loctite will keep the screws from vibrating out - but
they will still be easy to remove with a scredriver.

Click to expand...

--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

J2D2 · Feb 13, 2003

Come on, be realistic. We've known about this issue for weeks and weeks, and all we hear is moan moan moan. Then Pete comes along and makes a sensible point which is so clear. Now, if I'm wrong, the thread will just stop. But it wont will it? No, people will continue it because moaning is their nature.
Seems to me that the way to deal with all this is obvious:
1/ If its cracked, send it back
2/If it isnt, then do a Pete on it.

So simple isnt it???

Go on, moan at me. Go on.

MinotaMan · Feb 13, 2003

I did the super glue and the Pete and the Plamen disassembly. OK with you! Or feel like moaning some more here. I bought my 7hi first week 1300+ gives me 1300 reasons to talk to Plamen about a design flaw. I think. Besides we love the stupid camera anyway!!The cracks suck!!

MinoltaMan

J2D2 said:
Come on, be realistic. We've known about this issue for weeks and
weeks, and all we hear is moan moan moan. Then Pete comes along and
makes a sensible point which is so clear. Now, if I'm wrong, the
thread will just stop. But it wont will it? No, people will
continue it because moaning is their nature.
Seems to me that the way to deal with all this is obvious:
1/ If its cracked, send it back
2/If it isnt, then do a Pete on it.

So simple isnt it???

Go on, moan at me. Go on.

MinotaMan · Feb 13, 2003

disentigrate for no reason before Plamen? I had to drop mine or throw it against the wall to crack my other cameras. How about you? Fair Pictures, good product, fine topic.

MinoltaMan

Plamen Antonov said:
J2D2 said:

Now, now, Pete!

Your solution is too simple, effective and lasting........
People need to moan and gripe endlessly. Dont spoil the fun!

Click to expand...

IMO it would be better not to have reasons for moaning and griping!
Especially when spending $1k. But anyway, Minolta's service
compensates somehow their flaw.

Plamen Antonov said:

Pete said:

Plamen Antonov said:

(let's say 1-2 turns, but who will find them when they fall out) or

Click to expand...

Screw them all the way out, apply a very small amount of mild grade
Loctite to the minor diameter of the screw threads and then
re-install - - so they are not much tighter then just touching the
plastic. The Loctite will keep the screws from vibrating out - but
they will still be easy to remove with a scredriver.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Plamen
http://www.pbase.com/plamen_antonov

J2D2 · Feb 13, 2003

MinotaMan wrote:
I had to drop mine or throw it against the wall to crack my other cameras.

Yes. That sums it up doesnt it?

Gosh, I had to CRASH my car to dent it. Wow! I had to throw my rattle out of my pram.
Hey, arent you the guy who upset Peteri? Nice one.
Grow up.

Why 7Hi desintegrates

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