Failed repairs: Why did it go wrong and how to deal with it?

[Andreas Thaler]

Another thread recently discussed, among other things, failed repair projects that no one hears about. Which is a shame, because you learn from mistakes, even if they hurt, and as a repairman you'd much rather report successes.

So let's talk about what we failed to achieve with faulty cameras and lenses

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I have a box here with the innocuous label „replacement“:

That's right, because when I open it …

… there are lenses and cameras in there that I couldn't repair.

So it is a final resting place for spare parts donors.

The question now is why the repairs were not successful. Was it a lack of ability, overconfidence, mistake, sloppiness or just bad luck? Here you should be honest with yourself so that you don't have to buy a second box because the first one is already full.

To be more precise, I have to be honest with myself here, because it's my box

Let's take a look at what, among other things, failed repair projects are in the box. And I will answer honestly what were the reasons for the failure. At least as best as I can.


3 x Canon T90

All three show EEE on the display and HELP in the viewfinder. I suspect problems with the two locking magnets that I can't get to. I could try it, but it's too much work for me because I would have to massively disassemble the camera and then reassemble it. The risk of success is therefore high.

And what do I do with the magnets once I have uncovered them? And what if it's not the magnets?

Lack of courage? Or reason?


Tamron 35-70/3.5, Adaptall-2

One of Tamron's best non-SP lenses.

I was able to clean the optics, but then failed because of broken plain bearings and screws inside that I couldn't loosen.

For the plain bearings in the zoom mechanism, I could have found replacements from other lenses or asked other repairers about them. The screws would certainly have been tamed if I had better mechanical knowledge and skills.

Convenience? Incompetence?


Tokina RMC Tele-Auto 135/2.8

The aperture blades only ran in slow motion. So I opened the beautiful lens and ended up with a swarm of loose and small ball bearing balls that I couldn't fit anymore.

Bad luck? Carelessness?


Minolta MD 135/3.5 (II)

The telephoto lens had fungal growth on one of the front lenses, which I was able to remove and had not yet etched the glass. While cleaning, I scratched one of the lenses because I didn't realize that the bottom of it was soft. I haven't had that yet.

Bad luck, I would say.

Or should I have informed myself better beforehand?

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It's not always clear to me what the reason for the failure was. You can always prepare better, work more carefully, try to anticipate eventualities better, or improve your skills.

But don't you learn on the job?

I now accept failures with more humility. I know what I can do, I succeed in most of it and I can estimate what I don't try myself. And as long as I learn from it, it makes sense, even if it fails.

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How do you deal with failures when repairing? Does it take away your self-confidence and motivation or does it take you further?

 

[campy51]

If you stay out of Starbucks for a month there's your mad money for playing with broken cameras and lenses to play with.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

If you stay out of Starbucks for a month there's your mad money for playing with broken cameras and lenses to play with.

Unless that's an American saying I don't know, then your point is that I'm throwing my money away?

Yes, that can be discussed.

I see it as an investment, I get practice material and one day I'll start my own business. Perhaps.

On the other hand, I haven't spent any money on new photography equipment for a long time and won’t do. My investment is much cheaper and more sensible when I think about the future.

 

[VinceInMT]

While camera repair is above my pay grade, what I do know is that when I tackle a repair job (automobile, motorcycle, old tape decks and turntables, appliances, etc.) I am quite successful at repairing what was wrong but usually create 2 or 3 other broken things in the process.

 

[campy51]

Unless that's an American saying I don't know, then your point is that I'm throwing my money away?

Yes, that can be discussed.

I see it as an investment, I get practice material and one day I'll start my own business. Perhaps.

On the other hand, I haven't spent any money on new photography equipment for a long time and won’t do. My investment is much cheaper and more sensible when I think about the future.

Starbuscks coffee is expensive so the money you save not going there will fund your camera and lens purchases.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Starbuscks coffee is expensive so the money you save not going there will fund your camera and lens purchases.

 

[4season]

Olympus A16 flash, Olympus Camedia flash: I suspect the main photoflash capacitors have failed, but they are an unusual type which is long and narrow; ordinary capacitors will not fit in the available space. Suitable replacements are still being manufactured, but they aren't stocked in the USA, and minimum order is 1000 pieces!

But I've since discovered that disposable cameras such as the ones sold by Harman, incorporate similar parts which might work as replacements.

Olympus XA: Actually, a tidy design which is very repairable. But I made a wiring error which damaged the primary integrated circuit. Particularly when one's eyes are tired, it can be surprisingly easy to confuse tiny white and yellow, orange and brown wires.

Minolta X700: I successfully replaced faulty capacitors, but needed to extract the shutter module, as the ribbons had become tangled. I was careless when reassembling body, shutter, and mirror box, and when the film advance lever appeared jammed, I forced it, destroying some gears in the process. Fortunately, this camera was in poor condition to begin with.

Olympus OM1: Bought a beat-up black camera body as parts unit, but liked it too much, so I opted to repair it instead. But when I developed my first roll of film, I discovered why the camera had been junked: Lens flange wasn't parallel to the film plane, causing visible focus shift on one side of the frame. Maybe one or more of the body castings was bent?

Random 3rd party zoom lens: Part of aperture lever was broken and missing. Had been given the lens for free and wasn't very interested in it. Gave it away without attempting a repair.

 

[KerrKid]

Konica Auto S2 with stuck lens aperture. Liberal application of naptha got it working like a charm until the naptha dried and then back to square one. Shelved it.

Olympus XA2: Sounds like the same shutter speed regardless of light conditions. Didn't even attempt a repair. Wouldn't know where to start. Shelved it.

Olympus XA2: Parts camera. Attempted to repair and lost a spring somewhere. Shelved it.

Kodak VR35 K12. Dead. Tried to fix it. Had it almost all apart. Cracked a piece putting it back together. Shelved it and bought another.

Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic SP II parts camera. Film back stuck shut. Got it open. Cannot install rewinder. Something frozen up. Soaking in Ballistol now. Jury out. Nothing to lose by opening it up and seeing if it's fixable.

 

[Richard Mander]

Just fixed my T90 with flashing cursor error. Not too difficult at all. Did a YT to add to the many already on there. Mine is VERY clear and features my Siamese cat!

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Just fixed my T90 with flashing cursor error. Not too difficult at all. Did a YT to add to the many already on there. Mine is VERY clear and features my Siamese cat!

What was wrong and how did you fix it?

 

[Niglyn]

I would love a scrap T90. Want to dig down to this pesky release magnet, to see exactly what it is and if it can be repaired.

There are bodgy repairs, where a magnetised screwdriver is poked down to the magnet & then they work for a while.

Maybe the core just needs re-magnetising, or what it mates to needs de-magnetising. Both easy.
Alas, even scrap T90 still sell for expensive prices, so I have not been able to obtain one.

 

[eli griggs]

Olympus A16 flash, Olympus Camedia flash: I suspect the main photoflash capacitors have failed, but they are an unusual type which is long and narrow; ordinary capacitors will not fit in the available space. Suitable replacements are still being manufactured, but they aren't stocked in the USA, and minimum order is 1000 pieces!

But I've since discovered that disposable cameras such as the ones sold by Harman, incorporate similar parts which might work as replacements.

Olympus XA: Actually, a tidy design which is very repairable. But I made a wiring error which damaged the primary integrated circuit. Particularly when one's eyes are tired, it can be surprisingly easy to confuse tiny white and yellow, orange and brown wires.

Minolta X700: I successfully replaced faulty capacitors, but needed to extract the shutter module, as the ribbons had become tangled. I was careless when reassembling body, shutter, and mirror box, and when the film advance lever appeared jammed, I forced it, destroying some gears in the process. Fortunately, this camera was in poor condition to begin with.

Olympus OM1: Bought a beat-up black camera body as parts unit, but liked it too much, so I opted to repair it instead. But when I developed my first roll of film, I discovered why the camera had been junked: Lens flange wasn't parallel to the film plane, causing visible focus shift on one side of the frame. Maybe one or more of the body castings was bent?

Random 3rd party zoom lens: Part of aperture lever was broken and missing. Had been given the lens for free and wasn't very interested in it. Gave it away without attempting a repair.

On the OM1, use brown paper bags/butcher papers between the camera mount, and test the levelness, N,S,E,W, with a good caliper, analog or digital, until the mount is level.

It might also possibly be that instead of inserting shims, you may need to remove some from below the mount.

Mark them and put them back in place, as needed.

You can read/see more on this process on YouTube about shimming FED M39 body mounts for better results with non Soviet lenses, like Leica, etc

Good luck

 

[eli griggs]

What was wrong and how did you fix it?

Does anyone know of a replacement LCD replacement panel or simply a LCD panel to check if that's all that's needed to 'fix' a T90?

 

[eli griggs]

Ricoh 500 G, partly disassembled, all parts in plastic peanut butter jar.

Its become a bucket list dream

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Does anyone know of a replacement LCD replacement panel or simply a LCD panel to check if that's all that's needed to 'fix' a T90?

I don't fully understand your question, but maybe this will help:

Canon T90: Defective display replaced

Checking my little T90 family, I saw that one family member was having problems with her display on the top of the case. When the camera was switched on, but also every time any button was pushed or the selector wheel was turned the display showed signs and symbols that did not match the...

www.photrio.com

 

[eli griggs]

I don't fully understand your question, but maybe this will help:

Canon T90: Defective display replaced

Checking my little T90 family, I saw that one family member was having problems with her display on the top of the case. When the camera was switched on, but also every time any button was pushed or the selector wheel was turned the display showed signs and symbols that did not match the...

www.photrio.com

I'm referencing both replacement display panels and a larger display panel for testing if the camera display panel is the only issue a T-90 needs to function again as a working Canon.

 

[Laurent]

Starbuscks coffee is expensive so the money you save not going there will fund your camera and lens purchases.

Not sure my wife would agree with this argument so I won't try

 

[Laurent]

I would love a scrap T90. Want to dig down to this pesky release magnet, to see exactly what it is and if it can be repaired.

There are bodgy repairs, where a magnetised screwdriver is poked down to the magnet & then they work for a while.

Maybe the core just needs re-magnetising, or what it mates to needs de-magnetising. Both easy.
Alas, even scrap T90 still sell for expensive prices, so I have not been able to obtain one.

I had a similar dilemma, finally pulled the trigger on a T90 with a different issue than mine. Normally the "new" one has a working mirror magnet, so I hope I'll be able to get mine back to work

I contacted a workshop in Paris, but they ask for a minimum of 150€, and I'm not sure I'm willing to commit for this amount if the camera break again.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you stay out of Starbucks for a month there's your mad money for playing with broken cameras and lenses to play with.

The problem is I haven't been to Starbucks for years now.

 

[eli griggs]

I had a similar dilemma, finally pulled the trigger on a T90 with a different issue than mine. Normally the "new" one has a working mirror magnet, so I hope I'll be able to get mine back to work

I contacted a workshop in Paris, but they ask for a minimum of 150€, and I'm not sure I'm willing to commit for this amount if the camera break again.

What would a full CLA run and would they put a new display panel and give a sharp discount for replacing the magnets?

It might be worth it for a quality shooter.

 

[KerrKid]

Ricoh 500 G, partly disassembled, all parts in plastic peanut butter jar.

Its become a bucket list dream

I have a 500G in perfect working condition but find it a pain to shoot with and the built quality is nothing to write home about. Having yours in pieces in a peanut butter jar is probably not a bad idea.

 

[eli griggs]

I have a 500G in perfect working condition but find it a pain to shoot with and the built quality is nothing to write home about. Having yours in pieces in a peanut butter jar is probably not a bad idea.

Cheers,.