| Author |
Message |
    
matthew
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 09:14 pm: | 
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the screws to my mnolta x-370 are really tight. i mean REALLY TIGHT. what am i to do?? i need to remoce the tops, bottom, and plastic coverings so i can repair the shutter curtain. does anybody have a tip on how to loosen the screws without stripping them??? thanks. |
Henry
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 10:23 am: |
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Matthew, I see you decided to go ahead on your X370. I warned you about those screws! They are buggers, aren't they?
A couple hints might be helpful. Use a very good quality CROSSPOINT (don't even think about using a phillips) one size larger than you think fits. You'll need the driver strength.
Next, two ways to go, but I favor the latter. By hand or in drill press. By hand you'll need to increase the diameter of the handle. Out to 1" diameter should do it...unless your fingers are very strong. What I do is chuck up a Niwa crosspoint bit and clamp the body in the press vise. Wrap it in rags, of course. With down pressure on the quill turn the chuck by hand. It'll need several turns before you'll be able to easily remove by hand.
Warning: You'll regret stripping the screw heads...which you probably have already done if using a phillips.
Granted I am weaker than most folk, due to my MD, but the drill press trick works EVERY time.
Henry |
Glenn Middleton
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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I pass on this tip from an old friend. Make yourself a large handled screwdriver just for removing tight screws.Most miniature drivers have thin handles and you just cannot grip them tight enough. My friend's dodge was to build up the thickness using car body filler or epoxy putty.You must start with a good driver point that fits the screw properly.I can vouch that these really work on power driven screws,even those trilobal self-tappers.
Do not use the modified drivers to tighten screws,you will twist the heads off if you are not careful.
If your camera has not been stripped before,I suspect that the screws will have been torqued up with a power driver.They will thus be under quite a bit of tension.Support the camera on a cloth bag filled with rice.This will allow you to safely apply downward pressure to the driver/screwhead.
If threadlock has been used, you will just have to break the bond.Solvents will attack the finish. |
rick oleson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 12:36 pm: |
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You can also get 1/4" hex interchangeable bits in these sizes to use in a full size screwdriver. As Glenn suggested, something like this is for emergency use only and should never be used for tightening. |
Frank Marshman
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 11:56 am: |
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Having opened probably 1500 of these cameras as well as over 75000 other cameras I will offer several of my techniques. First, get good drivers. The blades should be interchangeable since they will break over time. Adding a torque tube to these drivers helps to give some help. Another choice is adding a breaker bar through the driver handle. Second, if the screw is tight try giving it a light tap with a small hammer, 1oz, which will losen the really tight screws. Third, with a good downward pressure on the driver give it a quick snap rather than constant pressure.
None of these techniques work every time. Sometimes it is important to learn how to get the screws out after the head has been buggered. |
Michael Linn
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 06:32 pm: |
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As the previous posters have suggested, having the proper srewdriver is essential. On these particular Minoltas I have found that a drop or two of Ronsonol (naptha) applied to the screws can really help with the release. |
