K-01 Mode Dial problem

**PJ1** · 02-15-2013, 08:34 PM - **1 Like**

On returning to my truck today after taking a photo I found a small silver cap lying upside down on the driver's seat. As I had the K-01 in my hand I didn't have to be Einstein to figure out where it came from. It was the Mode Dial. I guess I am lucky it fell where it did and not somewhere out in the bush.

So ...in case others have this happen to their K-01:

The Mode Dial sits over a smaller black dial on top of the camera. There is a small locating pin on this black dial (see pic below)which fits into a recess in the mode dial when the Mode Dial is in its proper place. I have my K-01 set to Av at which point the pin is in about the ten o'clock position. As it would be still be possible to use the Mode Dial without its silver cap, I suppose at a pinch - if the Mode Dial was lost - one could still start from this reference point to manage the mode. But Mode Dials should not be falling off. My K-01 is only a couple of months old and has not yet reached 500 on the shutter count!

Closer inspection revealed a small ring of flexible, clear adhesive inside the Mode Dial. It appeared to be of the same type that is used to affix credit cards temporarily to letters when new cards are sent - and just about as good. I peeled it off with my fingernail!. The silver cap is a slip fit over the black dial underneath, but it is not a very tight fit. Really, such dials should be fitted securely using jewellers' screws and Loctite. (Take note, Pentax!)

I will be using a dab of silicone to replace the dial. (I am not game to drill into it a fit a screw.

)

Last edited by PJ1; 02-15-2013 at 08:36 PM. Reason: typos

shiner · 06-23-2013, 09:39 PM

Interesting, Just saw this problem posted on another forum. If it happens to me I may go the drilling/screw route.

robtcorl · 06-24-2013, 07:23 AM - **1 Like**

must resist tugging on mine to see if it's tight.

Thanks for posting about a potential problem.

houseofstyles · 06-25-2013, 12:34 AM - **1 Like**

Mine recently fell off too. Luckily a bystander found it on the floor and guessed it might be mine as I was the only one standing nearby with a camera. I stuck it back on with Tarzans Grip— I was reluctant to use superglue in case it dribbled down inside the camera (I've never had much joy with the stuff anyway). So far so good, but I'm not about to test it by tugging at it. My frame count is about 2000. Let's know how your fix goes.

Steve.Ledger · 06-25-2013, 06:09 AM

I always imagined it was a solid aluminium mode dial

rickn · 06-26-2013, 05:54 PM - **1 Like**

This seems to be a pretty common problem. It happened to me 2 or 3 months ago. I used a very small amount of glue to fix and it hasn't been a problem since.

FOX · 06-30-2013, 07:45 AM

same thing just happened, i have extended warranty but i'll apply glue

PiDicus Rex · 06-30-2013, 09:10 AM

No bits falling off, shot counts at 3124, about 2 months since purchase.

RonHendriks1966 · 06-30-2013, 09:26 AM

This is new to me too. Not a nice surprice. Luckily I haven't got this problem my self (yet). Used three different K-01 body's, making over 25.000 images.

Thingo · 07-03-2013, 08:35 AM

Mine fell off some three months ago. There was the remains of a small dab of glue to hold the plastic silver coated mode wheel (with round hole) on top of the black spindle (with matching round pip).

I put a tiny dot of "blue tac" on the top of the black spindle, and it seems to have done the trick: the silver mode dial has stayed put for some weeks now. If necessary, it can just be removed.

Kesha · 08-19-2013, 10:09 AM

I lost mine, where to buy it? pls help.

PiDicus Rex · 08-22-2013, 12:14 AM

Annnnnnd,.... mine came off while changing modes on set yesterday

Think I've got some Tarzan Grip in a tube somewhere.

mndean · 08-23-2013, 08:06 PM - **1 Like**

Mine came off a few weeks ago and I just put a dot of Loctite Gel CA on each of the three raised spots, and no problems since.

cmv · 08-25-2013, 10:27 PM - **1 Like**

Mine fell off too while on vacation and I used a couple drops of superglue to put it back on. I was worried about it possibly affecting removal in case of need to repair but decided to glue it anyway. The glue is on top of the original glue so in theory it should still separate with whatever method they would use at the factory (heat?).

Designosophy · 09-02-2013, 02:36 PM

My mode dial fell off while I was walking through the woods a little over a week ago. I couldn't find it. Does anyone know how to get a replacement? I really don't want to send my camera in for warranty repair.

02-15-2013, 08:34 PM - 1 Like	#1
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,482	K-01 Mode Dial problem On returning to my truck today after taking a photo I found a small silver cap lying upside down on the driver's seat. As I had the K-01 in my hand I didn't have to be Einstein to figure out where it came from. It was the Mode Dial. I guess I am lucky it fell where it did and not somewhere out in the bush. So ...in case others have this happen to their K-01: The Mode Dial sits over a smaller black dial on top of the camera. There is a small locating pin on this black dial (see pic below)which fits into a recess in the mode dial when the Mode Dial is in its proper place. I have my K-01 set to Av at which point the pin is in about the ten o'clock position. As it would be still be possible to use the Mode Dial without its silver cap, I suppose at a pinch - if the Mode Dial was lost - one could still start from this reference point to manage the mode. But Mode Dials should not be falling off. My K-01 is only a couple of months old and has not yet reached 500 on the shutter count! Closer inspection revealed a small ring of flexible, clear adhesive inside the Mode Dial. It appeared to be of the same type that is used to affix credit cards temporarily to letters when new cards are sent - and just about as good. I peeled it off with my fingernail!. The silver cap is a slip fit over the black dial underneath, but it is not a very tight fit. Really, such dials should be fitted securely using jewellers' screws and Loctite. (Take note, Pentax!) I will be using a dab of silicone to replace the dial. (I am not game to drill into it a fit a screw. ) Last edited by PJ1; 02-15-2013 at 08:36 PM. Reason: typos

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06-23-2013, 09:39 PM	#2
shiner Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N GA USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,127	Interesting, Just saw this problem posted on another forum. If it happens to me I may go the drilling/screw route.

06-24-2013, 07:23 AM - 1 Like	#3
robtcorl Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,606	must resist tugging on mine to see if it's tight. Thanks for posting about a potential problem.

06-25-2013, 12:34 AM - 1 Like	#4
houseofstyles Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Canberra Posts: 35	Mine recently fell off too. Luckily a bystander found it on the floor and guessed it might be mine as I was the only one standing nearby with a camera. I stuck it back on with Tarzans Grip— I was reluctant to use superglue in case it dribbled down inside the camera (I've never had much joy with the stuff anyway). So far so good, but I'm not about to test it by tugging at it. My frame count is about 2000. Let's know how your fix goes.

06-25-2013, 06:09 AM	#5
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	I always imagined it was a solid aluminium mode dial

06-26-2013, 05:54 PM - 1 Like	#6
rickn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mechanicsburg, Pa, Dania, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 122	This seems to be a pretty common problem. It happened to me 2 or 3 months ago. I used a very small amount of glue to fix and it hasn't been a problem since.

06-30-2013, 07:45 AM	#7
FOX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa Photos: Gallery Posts: 132	same thing just happened, i have extended warranty but i'll apply glue

06-30-2013, 09:10 AM	#8
PiDicus Rex Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,381	No bits falling off, shot counts at 3124, about 2 months since purchase.

06-30-2013, 09:26 AM	#9
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	This is new to me too. Not a nice surprice. Luckily I haven't got this problem my self (yet). Used three different K-01 body's, making over 25.000 images.

07-03-2013, 08:35 AM	#10
Thingo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UFTG, Oz Photos: Gallery Posts: 77	Mine fell off some three months ago. There was the remains of a small dab of glue to hold the plastic silver coated mode wheel (with round hole) on top of the black spindle (with matching round pip). I put a tiny dot of "blue tac" on the top of the black spindle, and it seems to have done the trick: the silver mode dial has stayed put for some weeks now. If necessary, it can just be removed.

08-19-2013, 10:09 AM	#11
Kesha Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jakarta Posts: 52	I lost mine, where to buy it? pls help.

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08-22-2013, 12:14 AM	#12
PiDicus Rex Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,381	Annnnnnd,.... mine came off while changing modes on set yesterday Think I've got some Tarzan Grip in a tube somewhere.

08-23-2013, 08:06 PM - 1 Like	#13
mndean Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 27	Mine came off a few weeks ago and I just put a dot of Loctite Gel CA on each of the three raised spots, and no problems since.

08-25-2013, 10:27 PM - 1 Like	#14
cmv Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago, IL, USA Posts: 147	Mine fell off too while on vacation and I used a couple drops of superglue to put it back on. I was worried about it possibly affecting removal in case of need to repair but decided to glue it anyway. The glue is on top of the original glue so in theory it should still separate with whatever method they would use at the factory (heat?).

09-02-2013, 02:36 PM	#15
Designosophy Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Northeast Philadelphia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,137	My mode dial fell off while I was walking through the woods a little over a week ago. I couldn't find it. Does anyone know how to get a replacement? I really don't want to send my camera in for warranty repair.