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Repairing A1 Main Dial

Started Dec 13, 2020 | Discussions
davidwien Contributing Member • Posts: 572
Repairing A1 Main Dial

This is one of those pictures that saves, if not 1,000 words, at least a lot!

I used this camera extensively for nearly 10 years from 2004 and it still works well, except for being slow to respond to the shutter button. I have often thought about fixing it.

The dial broke off cleanly, and I think the spindle must have been glued on originally. Does anyone know how to fix this? I am reluctant to try gluing without getting the spindle out of the camera, as I dont think it would be successful; but I have no idea how to disassemble the camera to do this.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks!

David

 davidwien's gear list:davidwien's gear list
Sony RX100 VA Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM +6 more
neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Repairing A1 Main Dial

I have the service manual in PDF for the A2 , they share the same body and most of the internals .

Just a different sensor and shutter unit .

You should find enough information in their to enable you to dismantle it for repair work .

Glued without dismantling it is likely to bond everything together if not careful  .

Is it just the centre post that needs to turn ?

What's the underside of the dial look like ?

P.M me you email and I'll forward a copy onto you .

 neilt3's gear list:neilt3's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE 7 Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 +68 more
OP davidwien Contributing Member • Posts: 572
Re: Repairing A1 Main Dial

neilt3 wrote:

I have the service manual in PDF for the A2 , they share the same body and most of the internals .

Just a different sensor and shutter unit .

You should find enough information in their to enable you to dismantle it for repair work .

Glued without dismantling it is likely to bond everything together if not careful .

Is it just the centre post that needs to turn ?

It seems so. It is loose.

What's the underside of the dial look like ?

What looks like it might be a screwdriver hole at 9 o'clock is just a dimple!

P.M me you email and I'll forward a copy onto you .

Many thanks! I have PMd you.

David

 davidwien's gear list:davidwien's gear list
Sony RX100 VA Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM +6 more
neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Repairing A1 Main Dial

Just a thought on the repair .

It does look like the peg part was a push fit into the dial , with some glue , and has snapped off .

The peg part looks like it is hollow ?

If so what might be a good idea is you drill a hole in the dial and when you glue it together use a self tapping screw to reinforce it .

When you do glue it , I can recommend this stuff ; https://diy.evo-stik.co.uk/product/serious-glue  . It's the best stuff I've used .

Where there is a thin coating it sets hard and very strong .

Thicker layers remain slightly flexible depending on thickness , and still very strong .

.

If it has to be glued in situ , put a tiny bit of 3 in 1 oil on an ear bud and rub against the parts you don't want glue to stick too .

Apply a bit of the glue to the area on the dial , and with the camera upside down , place everything together and leave upside down to set .

Set the mode to aperture priority mode first ( if that's what you tend to use it in ) , so if it all goes wrong , at least you can use it as normal after everything is permanently stuck together !

 neilt3's gear list:neilt3's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE 7 Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 +68 more
OP davidwien Contributing Member • Posts: 572
Re: Repairing A1 Main Dial

neilt3 wrote:

Just a thought on the repair .

It does look like the peg part was a push fit into the dial , with some glue , and has snapped off .

The peg part looks like it is hollow ?

If so what might be a good idea is you drill a hole in the dial and when you glue it together use a self tapping screw to reinforce it .

When you do glue it , I can recommend this stuff ; https://diy.evo-stik.co.uk/product/serious-glue . It's the best stuff I've used .

Where there is a thin coating it sets hard and very strong .

Thicker layers remain slightly flexible depending on thickness , and still very strong .

If it has to be glued in situ , put a tiny bit of 3 in 1 oil on an ear bud and rub against the parts you don't want glue to stick too .

Apply a bit of the glue to the area on the dial , and with the camera upside down , place everything together and leave upside down to set .

Set the mode to aperture priority mode first ( if that's what you tend to use it in ) , so if it all goes wrong , at least you can use it as normal after everything is permanently stuck together !

Thanks for the manual and these very helpful comments. It should be very little different from making microphones, which I do.

Actually, it is in Av mode, so I have been able to use it. I am just unhappy that it should be nobbled like this!

David

 davidwien's gear list:davidwien's gear list
Sony RX100 VA Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM +6 more
neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Repairing A1 Main Dial

Good luck , hopefully you'll get it back to full working order .

 neilt3's gear list:neilt3's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE 7 Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 +68 more
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