Originally posted by lotech I got a used KX and it got minor problem wonder how hard or easy to fix. Those are common problem in old film camera, namely mirror damping foam rotten and sticky, and dirt in the prism. I planned to replace the foam with nylon material like the “loop side” of the Velcro so that will not melt and sticky, but don't know how difficult to open up the top and clean the dirt, can anyone shed some light ?
There are service manuals floating around online for a couple of the K-series bodies.
Here, I think:
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/mf/mfmanuals.htm
No, that's the owner's manual...
Here's the K1000, which is mechanically similar...
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/markroberts/k1000_man.pdf
The foam isn't really just melting... it's a long-term degradation.
I would suggest you replace the foam with foam meant for that.
I've heard good things about John Goodman's foam sets, though I've never tried them, and that would give you all the other seals as well.
The nylon "carpet" may seem like the best choice now, but when it starts fraying and you get little black threads all over your focusing screen instead of little black foam specks, it may not make you happy
Remember, too, that the specks don't impact the photo, even if they do drive you up the wall...
And make sure they are actual debris and not mirror desilvering. That can't be easily fixed without a new prism...
-Eric