Cheap fix for LX5 thumbwheel problems

[jrstrider]

I've heard that a number of people have had the same problem I had with the thumbwheel on the LX5 crapping out after a year or so. I wasn't going to spend $150 or more to have it fixed professionally, so I decided to take a risk. I bought a can of Radio Shack "Control/Contact Cleaner and Lubricant" for about $10. On the can it says "For electro-mechanical devices- especially drum-type TV Tuners". I thought that sounded pretty good, so I masked off the thumbwheel slot with masking tape and paper towels so the spray wouldn't mess up the rest of the camera, then sprayed a decent blast of cleaner into the slot from about a foot away so that the slot wouldn't get overloaded. Removed the masking materials, rotated the thumbwheel in both directions for a minute or so, and presto, my thumbwheel works like new! I have no idea how long this will last, or if it will end up causing other problems, but a wek later it's still working like a champ. I was about to throw the camera away, which I was not at all happy about, as I bought it new for $400 a year or so ago. I like the camera very much, but this thumbwheel issue is very bad, and Panasonic should do something about it. I'm going back to Olympus myself. In any case, if you feel like taking the risk, this might work for you too... Good Luck!

 

[windmillgolfer]

Thanks, my LX5 thumb wheel started to mis-behave after 18 months and I was about to open it up but will try this now.

 

[Jerry045]

I fixed many a TV with the old type turret tuners with that stuff. I am surprised it is still being sold.

Congrats on your fix. I'll remember that when my FZ150 gets wonky.

 

[MaxSav]

Mine is doing the same thing!

How is your fix holding on since you did it, have you used it a lot?

I was about to open up the camera to try & clean it,

maybe with the same kind of product.

Thanks!

 

[Erik Ohlson]

You should be fine.

That sort of cleaner leaves virtually no harmful residue, so you need not be particularly concerned.

Masking as the OP did "Just in Case" is a really good idea - who knows what -inside the camera - it might "clean" that should not be 'cleaned'?

I'd use the tape & paper towels and some plastic wrap, just to be ultra-safe. That spraying from a distance instead of right into the camera is very wise.

I would be particularly careful of the lens: most if not all of the many lens surfaces are coated with various things - I wouldn't want to take a chance with any solvent and the possibility of harming the coatings.

-Erik





--
'He who hesitates is not only lost - he's miles from the next Exit.'
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]

 

[Beeks1]

Ive had my Panasonic FZ200 for less than 6 months...Thumbwheel stuck on F stop control..Grrrrr sending in today...read about others same problem...this THUMB WHEEL looks like an inherent problem and they probably will redesign...in the mean time...500.00, OUCH!

 

[offertonhatter]

Thanks for this, my LX-5 is doing the same, I miss using it mainly due to having the MX-1 as well, but I loved using it.

I have googled the spray concerned, as we don't have a Radio Shack in the UK, and WD-40 is the same stuff and I have a canister. So I will give it a go. What is there to lose, currently I have a non-working camera due to this and hopefully it will work.

Shame Panasonic don't admit that this is a real design problem in the first place with so many copies of the camera have the same issue.

Once again, thank you.

 

[Isola Verde]

Thanks for this, my LX-5 is doing the same, I miss using it mainly due to having the MX-1 as well, but I loved using it.

I have googled the spray concerned, as we don't have a Radio Shack in the UK, and WD-40 is the same stuff and I have a canister. So I will give it a go. What is there to lose, currently I have a non-working camera due to this and hopefully it will work.

Shame Panasonic don't admit that this is a real design problem in the first place with so many copies of the camera have the same issue.

Once again, thank you.

Odd that no one bothered to come back with thanks for the original suggestion, if it had worked for them.... or other comments, if it didn't.

But of the WD range, this may be a better choice than the usual penetrating oil/water-displacing formulation?

Electrical Contact Cleaner Lubricant | WD-40

Apply the WD-40 Specialist electrical contact cleaner spray to establish strong electrical connections on circuit boards, controls, switches and more. This electrical contact cleaner lubricant removes dirt and residue and dries quickly to leave a clean surface for contact.

www.wd40specialist.com

None though are quite the same as that "RadioShack Control/Contact Cleaner and Lubricant", of which the mix is apparently....

1) 1,1-Difluoroethane Cas 75-37-6
2) White mineral oil Cas 8042-47-5
3) Poly Dimethyl Siloxane CAs 63148-62-9

So you may need a quick puff of a curtain-track cleaner or similar as well?

Peter

 

[djddpr]

Thank-you for your cure. My wife and I have FZ200's with thumb wheels, both still working fine. I have heard so many complaints about the thumb wheel, that this and Isola Verde's suggestion will be kept in mind.

David Dollevoet

 

[Jon_R]

I recently had this same problem with my LX-5. Fixed it with DeoxIT-D5. Amazon sells it in their Electronics Department for about twelve bucks. Just wanted to mention that CONTACT CLEANER IS EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE CAMERA'S BATTERY BEFORE YOU BEGIN! And don't smoke or do this next to your computer (exposed circuits).

Another point I'd like to make is that if the process doesn't work at first, don't give up. It's not easy to actually get the contact cleaner inside the camera and onto the wheel's electrical contacts. You shouldn't need more than a second's worth of spray, using the little straw attached to the cleaner's can, but it may not have actually gotten inside. Give the wheel a couple of puffs of air from a good-sized photographic air blower such as a Giotto's Rocket blower, then work the wheel slowly for ten or twenty seconds. Let everything dry for a few minutes, then put the battery back in the camera. Rinse and repeat if it didn't work.

 

[photoeng]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

I used this trick today and it worked! Here's a few pics from my old LX5.















--
David

 

[photoeng]

Ok. I am back to say that the 'squirt some oil' trick did not last for long. THe next time I picked it up, it was non-responsive.

But here is the good news - i ended up fixing it and I am fairly certain it will stay fixed this time.

Also good news is that it is not difficult. You do need some tools.

#1. tiny philips screwdriver. I was able to use one from an eyeglass repair kit. I should warn however, that those aren't the best. I had another one better suited which came with phone battery replacement kit and that one worked much better.

#2. 99% pure isopropanol (that's what I used. I would not advise anything less than 99%. water will damage electronics).

#3. liquid dropper or syringe

#4. tweezers and something to hold the screws are also helpful.

Procedure.

I won't go into detail, but basically:

#1. Remove rear of camera case (

)

#2. The rear thumwheel will be exposed. There was a *bunch* of lint that accumulated at the wheel. I removed it and I used a syringe to drop droplets of isopropanol. I dried it off with hair dryer. After one round of doing this, I tested the thumbwheel before reassembling. it was better, but still marginal. So I did it a few more times.

#3. Once I confirmed it was working reliably, I ensured it was all dried up and reassembled everything.

Hopefully this is useful to someone else.

Here's some pics from this weekend to celebrate!









--
David

 

[GreenEyesGTA]

Glad this 11 year old thread popped up! I have an LX7 with this exact problem that really bugs me... going to try these fixes, thanks

 

[GreenEyesGTA]

Wow, miracle cure! I tried contact cleaner on a borderline-useless LX7 click wheel this morning... seems to be working perfectly. We'll see if it lasts but quite amazing.