Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
05-24-2011, 02:45 AM   #1
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Tripod mounting screw stuck in camera!!!

Hello,

I'm in a real pickle and need some help! First a little background... I'm backpacking around Asia and just the other day lost my ball head for my tripod. Right now I'm in Northern Laos so there isn't exactly any camera shops around. No big deal, I'll just have to wait a couple more weeks before I can get to a major city and buy one. So in the mean time I was mounting my camera straight onto the tripod. Worked fine it was just a hassle to get my composition right. Anyway just today the tripod fell with the camera attached and sadly the mount where the screw goes in has come loose. Now I have a mounting screw stuck in the bottom of my camera!

I have tried to remove the screws from the camera to see if the bottom would just fall off, however it seems I can't remove the bottom with a great big mounting screw stuck in it!

Any ideas???

Attached Images
 
05-24-2011, 02:48 AM   #2
Veteran Member
wlachan's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,625
Can it be twisted off with a piece of rubber?
05-24-2011, 03:35 AM   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
GTP17's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Maitland,NSW
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 15
You will need two nuts screw them on to the thread then tighten them against each other as tight as you can. use the bottom nut to unscrew them post.
Your best bet would be a light engineering shop or mechcanics
05-24-2011, 03:40 AM   #4
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Flyover America
Posts: 4,469
Just looking at it...

Get two 1/4"x20 nuts and put them on shaft. Unscrew with wrench using the bottom nut.

1/4-20 screw is very standard throughout the world.

05-24-2011, 04:40 AM   #5
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,857
If nothing else, grab the bolt with a pair of pliers and turn it.
05-24-2011, 05:41 AM   #6
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Original Poster
Good ideas all around however the mounting screw actually spins when I turn it. I think the bit where the mounting screw meets the camera is actually broken inside. Because at the moment not only does the screw spin in the base of camera but it can actually wiggle, a bit like a loose tooth....
05-24-2011, 05:54 AM   #7
Senior Member
Kim C's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lincoln, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 229
Then it is probably a case of removing the bottom plate. It should then be fairly easy the unscrew the bolt. You will need a good screwdriver to do it and quite possibly a tube of super glue the stick the broken plastic piece back on!

Kim


QuoteOriginally posted by kyles_jollies Quote
Good ideas all around however the mounting screw actually spins when I turn it. I think the bit where the mounting screw meets the camera is actually broken inside. Because at the moment not only does the screw spin in the base of camera but it can actually wiggle, a bit like a loose tooth....


05-24-2011, 06:41 AM   #8
Veteran Member
fccwpe's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Perris, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 380
With only rudimentary tools available..... File a slit in the bottom of the stud, then use a screwdriver to unscrew it. Pliers may be an option as well if you can get a good grip. Rubber, as stated, may well work too. I wouldn't take the bottom off the camera.
05-24-2011, 07:19 AM   #9
Veteran Member
Jodokast96's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Erial, NJ USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,134
QuoteOriginally posted by fccwpe Quote
With only rudimentary tools available..... File a slit in the bottom of the stud, then use a screwdriver to unscrew it. Pliers may be an option as well if you can get a good grip. Rubber, as stated, may well work too. I wouldn't take the bottom off the camera.
From what the OP is describing, taking the bottom plate off is the only option.
QuoteOriginally posted by kyles_jollies Quote
Good ideas all around however the mounting screw actually spins when I turn it. I think the bit where the mounting screw meets the camera is actually broken inside. Because at the moment not only does the screw spin in the base of camera but it can actually wiggle, a bit like a loose tooth....
05-24-2011, 11:30 AM   #10
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicago suburbs
Photos: Albums
Posts: 848
There is a service manual here for the K10D.

Downloads

There is a photo of the bottom of the camera removed in the manual.
It shows a small metal plate for the tripod mount. Yours seems to have stripped threads or something. You might need to order a new part from Pentax.
05-24-2011, 01:23 PM   #11
Veteran Member
slip's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,535
you should be able to use what is the tool and die industry standard fix for threads, the Helicoil
hear is a site that sells them but you should be able to get one at most any machine shop supplies
when you try to get it out, pull outwords to put pressure on the bolt while you are turning it with pliers which might work well

good luck

HeliCoil Screw Head Inserts and Thread Repair Kits | Babco Tools Canada's Source for Automotive Tools
05-24-2011, 01:26 PM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hilversum
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 215
From the issue, my opinion is that it has to be taken in to a proper repair shop and taken apart and fixed. If the mount is spinning inside the body, then the part inside the body is broken and need fixing/replacing.
05-24-2011, 01:47 PM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,421
Take the camera to a local mechanic shop and borrow a vice grip and unscrew it out or pay the mechanic a small sum to have it removed. It should be a simple operation.
05-24-2011, 01:50 PM   #14
Veteran Member
wlachan's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,625
QuoteOriginally posted by kyles_jollies Quote
Good ideas all around however the mounting screw actually spins when I turn it. I think the bit where the mounting screw meets the camera is actually broken inside. Because at the moment not only does the screw spin in the base of camera but it can actually wiggle, a bit like a loose tooth....
In that case, just remove the bottom plate and unscrew it. It's a 5min job. Something is probably torn off.

Last edited by wlachan; 05-24-2011 at 02:46 PM.
05-24-2011, 02:41 PM   #15
Veteran Member
Ratmagiclady's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: GA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 13,563
OK, yeah, you have damage inside, sounds clear enough.

To remove the tripod bolt, I suggest just trying to cock it sideways enough to hopefully put enough pressure on the mounting socket to hold it still enough while you unscrew the mounting bolt with vise grips, or , better, use that trick with the two nuts tightened against each other someone else mentioned. I'd also try to at least put some thumb-pressure on the side of the bottom plate where the tripod mounting might otherwise want to bend upward.

If that fails, you might just want to hacksaw that off till you can get proper repairs or tools.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
bottom, camera, pentax help, screw, tripod
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mounting a camera on a telescope v5planet Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 11 01-06-2011 06:41 PM
Backpacking with a camera: The review of the Syncpack front mounting system Bactman Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 2 09-20-2010 12:54 PM
Hanging K-x on hip using tripod mounting hole TWN Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 25 09-12-2010 10:21 AM
screw mount lens aperture stuck.. Gooshin Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 15 01-21-2009 11:11 PM
Large lenses and tripod mounting xecutech Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 5 02-15-2007 02:37 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:09 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top