My idea is to spray some WD40 (I also have some gel grease around as an alternate, and that won't run at all under normal temperatures) on a napkin and rub it on the zoom barrel to form a thin film.
I have to say this again - WD40 is
NOT, I repeat
NOT a lubricant!!!!
Go to any forum that talks about repairing cameras, specially older vintage camera and lenses. Every single time, it's the same thing...do NOT use WD40 as a lubricant. Actually, generally speaking, when it comes to old cameras...general saying goes something like..."Those who use WD40 on old cameras...shouldn't be allowed to handle old cameras"
Specifically, WD40 was designed as a solvent/cleaner. It's great cleaning dirt and getting gunk out. But it also leaves a residue behind which over time has a tendency to gum things up. Door hinges? Sure, fine, it would make the squeak go away for a bit...then gum things up so you'll need to do it again. Cameras...well, besides gumming things up again after awhile, it's damaging to your optics (in that it's almost impossible to get off your optics...). There is just no real benefits of using WD40 on a camera or anything else that relies on lubricants (use to lubricate or clean a gun? Err...no...). Well, unless you need to get rust of or some other really bad gunk that just does not come off any other way...even then, I would think it's a last ditch effort...
Personally, when I need to use a lubricant for cameras/lenses etc. I use a silicone lubricant. You still don't want it on your optics but does the job (just make sure it's okay at either high or low temperatures...). Otherwise, there are lubricants specifically designed for camera/lenses...but I believe it's expensive.
My exposure comp dial is stiff and I'd love to loosen it myself instead of paying 150€ and being without my camera for a few weeks. Glad I found this before using classic WD40. But what about this product?
https://wd40.co.uk/specialist/high-performance-silicone-lubricant/
Silicone lubricant by WD40. Seems designed for this sort of use.
...albeit, I have never used this particular product before....actually this is the first I heard of it
. Still, this is a lubricant, and unless I'm wrong, your dial is stiff, which would indicate either there is a 1) mechanical problem (breakage, crack, slippage, etc.) or 2) it's already gunked up with dirt. If either is true, I don't think that lubricant would help. Actually regular WD40 would be of more use in this case, and NO, I'm not saying use regular WD40.
Thanks for this response! Hm, ok maybe the problem is more serious than I hoped for.
My guess is that the dial is gunked up which would mean you have 3 options. 1) take off the top plate (assuming there is one, which camera are you having problems with?)
I have the GX9. I actually sent it to Panasonic and indeed they suggested replacing the top plate - $40 parts, $120 repair. I decided at the time it wasn't worth it, but maybe it was. In any case, with travels coming up, I don't have time to send it in again right now.
or 2) blow compressed air and pray that it would dislodge whatever is gunking up the dial (truthfully I see little hope that this would work)
I did buy some compressed air to try it, but it doesn't seem to do anything.
or 3) Use some rubbing alcohol to try to clean the dial up. Rubbing alcohol, assuming it's pure or close to pure, would evaporate very quickly and is pretty good at cleaning, so as long as it doesn't get to the optics it'll be just fine even on electronics. Just make sure you take out the battery before doing anything. Pour a little (you don't want to make pools inside the camera) into the dial and start moving the dial back and forth. Repeat. With a few tries hopefully, the dial would start moving more freely. Let it be for a bit to let the alcohol evaporate.
I also bought rubbing alcohol as well, but I bought the wrong one - only %70 pure. I didn't pour it on the dial though.
If rubbing alcohol just doesn't work, well, there is option 1 which honestly, most likely isn't that bad. See if your camera is listed on iFixit, in which case you would get a good idea of how easy/difficult the job would be. If you can't find it on iFixit, the best bet is to find the cameras' service manual. You'll probably find it either free or buy for a small price (say $10USD).
The GX9 isn't on iFixit, but the GX85 is:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Panasonic+Lumix+GX80-85+Teardown/121269
But this only covers getting to the sensor.. It does look pretty straightforward to unscrew things and tinker around... I'm wondering if I'm up for that challenge, or if I'll do further harm.
I worry that the dial is stiff because I've dropped the camera before, and the plastics/metals are contorted. Is there any hope if that's the case?
I personally fixed a number of gunked up dials, including the Ricoh GRD (original) and I think the Ricoh GR as well by the rubbing alcohol method.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask and good luck
Cheers,
Hubert
Thanks Hubert. Do you think it's safe enough to proceed with the screws to take a look? I guess I need to get the higher concentrate isopropyl alcohol first.
I would love to solve this quickly, before going to the tropics for the holidays. Sending to Panasonic risks my camera not being back in time, so I might have to just sweat it out until the new year. The camera does operate normally otherwise.
Keith
