Aperture Solenoid Repair

I can't remember how long ago I bought my K50 but it finally succumbed to the Aperture Block problem.

I sent it to our Australian Distributor CR Kennedy and after all these years they repaired it free of charge and also freighted it back to me at no cost!

I cannot speak too highly of them. I will always buy Pentax and always from them you can't ask for more IMO

Here's the little offender -also returned.

( Not a macro shot just the 16-85 at its limits - sorry )

You do well with CR Kennedy, Dean.

I have to admit, over the years, I've had much the same experience.

I seem to remember them repairing a couple of 645 bodies I had, gratis.

Not as detailed as yours, though.

Cheers

AB

ozdean wrote:

I can't remember how long ago I bought my K50 but it finally succumbed to the Aperture Block problem.

I sent it to our Australian Distributor CR Kennedy and after all these years they repaired it free of charge and also freighted it back to me at no cost!

I cannot speak too highly of them. I will always buy Pentax and always from them you can't ask for more IMO

Here's the little offender -also returned.

( Not a macro shot just the 16-85 at its limits - sorry )

You're lucky Dean!

I repaired mine myself! Never asked CR Kennedy though!

Good for you and them Andrew, they are most obliging.

Hi Ben they repaired a friends K30 and my sisters K50 - same all free of cost.

Congrats . You are lucky . My K-70 is yet to get the treatment !

Regards ,

mrp .

I sent it to our Australian Distributor CR Kennedy and after all these years they repaired it free of charge and also freighted it back to me at no cost!

Good to hear and what a great service that is!!

ozdean wrote:

I can't remember how long ago I bought my K50 but it finally succumbed to the Aperture Block problem.

I sent it to our Australian Distributor CR Kennedy and after all these years they repaired it free of charge and also freighted it back to me at no cost!

I cannot speak too highly of them. I will always buy Pentax and always from them you can't ask for more IMO

Here's the little offender -also returned.

( Not a macro shot just the 16-85 at its limits - sorry )

I Hope they used a white solenoid for the replacement. Normaly the Pentax spare parts have only the same green solenoid. That is the newer production from China. I ordered a used white solenoid via ebay from the US. They are from older camera's and they strip those to get a donor white solenoid.  My K-X has also the white solenoid and that K_X is still running oke after 50K . My K-S2 with the green one died after 30K. Now my K-S2 has a white solenoid too.

Is your K70 showing problems mrp? I hadn't heard of too many.

Yes very pleased Massao, they have always been great.

I hope they did too KRG - thanks for the info.

Yes such an nicely made piece - it would make a nice necklace - LOL.

Thank you , Dean . My K-70 has stopped working totally . ` have bought a couple of solenoids . As ` am busy with my wife`s health issues , not given much attention to my photography ! ` am using my K-01 .

Regards ,

mrp .

I didn't realize the K70s were having the problem.

I do hope your wife is on the mend mrp glad to hear you are taking good care of her - most important!

All the best.

M R Padmaraju wrote:

Thank you , Dean . My K-70 has stopped working totally . ` have bought a couple of solenoids . As ` am busy with my wife`s health issues , not given much attention to my photography ! ` am using my K-01 .

Regards ,

mrp .

What is the problem with your K-70  ?  The white vs green solenoid things are only helpful when your K-70 is suffering of So called aperture block failure. That problems shows up mostly in this way:  at the start of a couple of pics, the first 2 or 3 are dark, the rest is oke .  At a more severe state the problem gives all the pics are way to dark. Than the solenoid is not able anymore to pull the mechanism that pulls the handle for opening the aperture. So in that case it causes the dark result.

I hope you get my point.

So whan your k-70 does nothing at all, the aperture failure black is not likely to give this result.

I hope you can describe more exactly what is happening. Then may be we can be more helpful.

Thank you , KRG . It is exactly the way you have said . To start with a couple of frames used to go dark . Now it is not able to pull the aperture at all . Almost nine months ago `had reported this in the thread and most of the friends suggested to change to white solenoid / file the edges of the existing one . So far ` have not tried to change or repair the plunger . Other than this K-70 is fine . In a couple of days ( a weeks time ) ` will take it to a friend who is a good camera mechanic , 150 KM away from me , @ Mysuru . `could not get the white one though . Please let me know if there is any other problem with the aperture works ... . (It is happening with KS-1 also ).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4375594

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4383596

Regards ,

mrp .

You can still find a white solenoid vvia eBay. Look for the add from

potmano(780)

Thank you , KRG . ` will try .

Regards ,

mrp .