Too far gone to be rescued K1000? Let's find out

**ismaelg** · 10-30-2021, 11:44 AM - **2 Likes**

Hello,

How many times have you been in a conversation where photography and cameras are mentioned and somebody says "I used a K1000 way back in..." ?
Over a year ago, in a conversation with fellow Boy Scout's adult leaders one of them told me "I may still have my old K1000 from High School in the 80's". A few months ago he told me he found it and he would bring it to me whenever we met. We met a couple of weeks ago for a district meeting and sure enough, he brought a plastic bag, looked at me and said something along the lines of don't get your hopes too high as it is probably too far gone.
Opening the bag I said No worries, I've restored some pretty rough ones and... Whoaa... Yikes!!!
It is a solid block. nothing moves. Not even the lens release button moves.

This is... well, WAS, a Tokina lens. Never seen a lens that bad. A solid seized frozen chunk.

The flash can be thrown away in a flash

The only item in the bag that MAY have a chance of survival is a fungus infected M50 f2

Back to the camera, if I at least can access the bottom mechanism I may have a chance to.....
OHHhhhhh.....

Those screws are welded there. May need a jack-hammer to open this....
Where is my can opener?

Thanks,
Ismael

g026r · 10-30-2021, 11:48 AM - **1 Like**

I don't think I've ever seen a camera with that much mold & mildew on the metal before. Wow.

aaacb · 10-30-2021, 12:06 PM

Call it solid build, nothing loose or rattling in this one

The lens mount looks pretty clean, but I'm guessing this was kept in a damp basement for decades?

**BigMackCam** · 10-30-2021, 12:39 PM - **2 Likes**

Ismael - have you considered therapy? I'm beginning to think you may have masochistic tendencies

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-30-2021, 02:36 PM

I once saw an eBay listing for a Nikon FM that had been dredged up from the bottom of a lake.

Chris

**jumbleview** · 10-30-2021, 04:47 PM

I think it is fixable.

Stuart · 10-30-2021, 04:57 PM

Would be really nice to have it up and running. Any ideas how to get the screws loosen up?

**AstroDave** · 10-30-2021, 05:16 PM

Nothing that a good shot or two of WD40 can't cure!

(Yeah, yeah, I know that's not what it is for, but that is sorta its (not so well deserved?) reputation.)

**jumbleview** · 10-30-2021, 05:19 PM

At least right screw should be fine to unscrew. Just needed proper screwdriver (not Philips but JIS). If that is successful you can move to the next screw.

**ismaelg** · 10-30-2021, 06:51 PM - **7 Likes**

Hello,

Bottom plate has 3 screws. Both end screws eventually came out. The center screw.......well, here is the story of the last 2 weeks:

Round 1: Screw vs JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 2: Screw vs bigger JIS driver for more leverage
Winner: Screw

Round 3: Screw vs WD40 and JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 4: Screw vs UNDEFEATED PB Blaster
Winner: Screw

Round 5: Screw vs a lot more PB Blaster
Winner: Screw

Round 6: Screw vs copious amount of PB Blaster plus 3 days to let it soak
Winner: Screw

Round 7: Screw vs Tsunami of PB Blaster, a week to soak and a JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 8: Continuation of round 6 but with a flat hardened screwdriver and locking pliers! [insert evil laugh here]
Winner: Screw by knockout. Flat driver tip BROKE!!!!!

Round 9: Screw vs Screw extractor!
Winner: SCREWWWWW!!!!! (Technical win because the extractor was not the right size and could not grab properly)

Coming up next: Round 10
Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER!

Stay tuned...

OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there.

Thanks,
Ismael

**AstroDave** · 10-30-2021, 08:09 PM

Drill that middle screw out?! (Or, at least drill the head off.) You can always tap the hole for a slightly larger screw when you re-assemble.

**jumbleview** · 10-30-2021, 09:25 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ismaelg

OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there.

If you manage unscrew plate the battery lid could be removed by putting the whole plate into 5% vinegar for a day. Worked for me.

**Alex645** · 10-31-2021, 03:12 AM

Originally posted by ismaelg

Coming up next: Round 9
Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER!

Stay tuned...

OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there.

You're in Puerto Rico? No doubt this K1000 has seen seawater and lots and lots of moisture from humidity.

I think a heat gun may be needed, or perhaps a soldering iron to more directly apply the heat to the screw.

Have you tried a bit of impact on the screw to try to loosen it? Usually if it looks this bad on the outside, it's worse on the inside.

I would consider this more of an autopsy than a life saving operation. As rugged and simple as the K1000 is, one rogue wave will fossilize most SLRs. Hope for the best; expect the worst.

mhoule418 · 10-31-2021, 06:51 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ismaelg

Hello,

Bottom plate has 3 screws. Both end screws eventually came out. The center screw.......well, here is the story of the last 2 weeks:

Round 1: Screw vs JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 2: Screw vs bigger JIS driver for more leverage
Winner: Screw

Round 3: Screw vs WD40 and JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 4: Screw vs UNDEFEATED PB Blaster
Winner: Screw

Round 5: Screw vs a lot more PB Blaster
Winner: Screw

Round 5: Screw vs copious amount of PB Blaster plus 3 days to let it soak
Winner: Screw

Round 6: Screw vs Tsunami of PB Blaster, a week to soak and a JIS driver
Winner: Screw

Round 7: Continuation of round 6 but with a flat hardened screwdriver and locking pliers! [insert evil laugh here]
Winner: Screw by knockout. Flat driver tip BROKE!!!!!

Round 8: Screw vs Screw extractor!
Winner: SCREWWWWW!!!!! (Technical win because the extractor was not the right size and could not grab properly)

Coming up next: Round 9
Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER!

Stay tuned...

Hey, I’am sorry for you, but… that was an incredible day start (laughs) for a Sunday morning.
The way you described the fight, I can feel every single punch you throw at this “bad guy”.

**ismaelg** · 11-05-2021, 12:38 PM - **5 Likes**

Hello,

LIVE! From the workbench! ROUND 10!

The screw has been defeated! REPEAT! The screw has been defeated!
Tim Allen would be proud of me "VROOM VROOM!"
Finally knocked that sucker out.

Sure enough, there was a battery there probably since the Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Magaret Thatcher era.

The battery door will be another battle.

Now where were we? Oh yes, the camera!
Hmmm, not as bad as I thought. Maybe there is hope...

Thanks,
Ismael

10-30-2021, 11:44 AM - 2 Likes	#1
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683	Too far gone to be rescued K1000? Let's find out Hello, How many times have you been in a conversation where photography and cameras are mentioned and somebody says "I used a K1000 way back in..." ? Over a year ago, in a conversation with fellow Boy Scout's adult leaders one of them told me "I may still have my old K1000 from High School in the 80's". A few months ago he told me he found it and he would bring it to me whenever we met. We met a couple of weeks ago for a district meeting and sure enough, he brought a plastic bag, looked at me and said something along the lines of don't get your hopes too high as it is probably too far gone. Opening the bag I said No worries, I've restored some pretty rough ones and... Whoaa... Yikes!!! It is a solid block. nothing moves. Not even the lens release button moves. This is... well, WAS, a Tokina lens. Never seen a lens that bad. A solid seized frozen chunk. The flash can be thrown away in a flash The only item in the bag that MAY have a chance of survival is a fungus infected M50 f2 Back to the camera, if I at least can access the bottom mechanism I may have a chance to..... OHHhhhhh..... Those screws are welded there. May need a jack-hammer to open this.... Where is my can opener? Thanks, Ismael

10-30-2021, 06:51 PM - 7 Likes	#10
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Hello, Bottom plate has 3 screws. Both end screws eventually came out. The center screw.......well, here is the story of the last 2 weeks: Round 1: Screw vs JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 2: Screw vs bigger JIS driver for more leverage Winner: Screw Round 3: Screw vs WD40 and JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 4: Screw vs UNDEFEATED PB Blaster Winner: Screw Round 5: Screw vs a lot more PB Blaster Winner: Screw Round 6: Screw vs copious amount of PB Blaster plus 3 days to let it soak Winner: Screw Round 7: Screw vs Tsunami of PB Blaster, a week to soak and a JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 8: Continuation of round 6 but with a flat hardened screwdriver and locking pliers! [insert evil laugh here] Winner: Screw by knockout. Flat driver tip BROKE!!!!! Round 9: Screw vs Screw extractor! Winner: SCREWWWWW!!!!! (Technical win because the extractor was not the right size and could not grab properly) Coming up next: Round 10 Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER! Stay tuned... OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there. Thanks, Ismael Last edited by ismaelg; 11-16-2021 at 02:21 PM.

11-05-2021, 12:38 PM - 5 Likes	#15
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Hello, LIVE! From the workbench! ROUND 10! The screw has been defeated! REPEAT! The screw has been defeated! Tim Allen would be proud of me "VROOM VROOM!" Finally knocked that sucker out. Sure enough, there was a battery there probably since the Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Magaret Thatcher era. The battery door will be another battle. Now where were we? Oh yes, the camera! Hmmm, not as bad as I thought. Maybe there is hope... Thanks, Ismael Last edited by ismaelg; 11-16-2021 at 02:21 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New K1 Mark II. I think I've gone too far.	skolkmeier	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	110	02-03-2022 01:00 PM
My "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" (GAS) has gone away. Is yours gone too?	Fenwoodian	General Photography	64	10-07-2019 08:04 PM
Nature WSSA! We've Gone Too Far!	Rupert	Post Your Photos!	11	03-16-2015 10:52 AM
Shock, awe: British government agrees that copyright has gone too far	RioRico	General Talk	4	08-22-2011 01:38 PM
Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let it F'ing snow	Peter Zack	Post Your Photos!	21	01-02-2008 08:00 PM

10-30-2021, 11:48 AM - 1 Like	#2
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	I don't think I've ever seen a camera with that much mold & mildew on the metal before. Wow.

10-30-2021, 12:06 PM	#3
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	Call it solid build, nothing loose or rattling in this one The lens mount looks pretty clean, but I'm guessing this was kept in a damp basement for decades?

10-30-2021, 12:39 PM - 2 Likes	#4
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,681	Ismael - have you considered therapy? I'm beginning to think you may have masochistic tendencies

10-30-2021, 02:36 PM	#5
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	I once saw an eBay listing for a Nikon FM that had been dredged up from the bottom of a lake. Chris

10-30-2021, 04:47 PM	#6
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 1,069	I think it is fixable.

10-30-2021, 04:57 PM	#7
Stuart New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 19	Would be really nice to have it up and running. Any ideas how to get the screws loosen up?

10-30-2021, 05:16 PM	#8
AstroDave Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 1,644	Nothing that a good shot or two of WD40 can't cure! (Yeah, yeah, I know that's not what it is for, but that is sorta its (not so well deserved?) reputation.)

10-30-2021, 05:19 PM	#9
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 1,069	At least right screw should be fine to unscrew. Just needed proper screwdriver (not Philips but JIS). If that is successful you can move to the next screw.

10-30-2021, 08:09 PM	#11
AstroDave Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 1,644	Drill that middle screw out?! (Or, at least drill the head off.) You can always tap the hole for a slightly larger screw when you re-assemble.

10-30-2021, 09:25 PM - 1 Like	#12
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 1,069	Originally posted by ismaelg OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there. If you manage unscrew plate the battery lid could be removed by putting the whole plate into 5% vinegar for a day. Worked for me.

10-31-2021, 03:12 AM	#13
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	Originally posted by ismaelg Coming up next: Round 9 Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER! Stay tuned... OH! and by the way, the battery cover is in the same league. I fear there might be a dead battery in there. You're in Puerto Rico? No doubt this K1000 has seen seawater and lots and lots of moisture from humidity. I think a heat gun may be needed, or perhaps a soldering iron to more directly apply the heat to the screw. Have you tried a bit of impact on the screw to try to loosen it? Usually if it looks this bad on the outside, it's worse on the inside. I would consider this more of an autopsy than a life saving operation. As rugged and simple as the K1000 is, one rogue wave will fossilize most SLRs. Hope for the best; expect the worst.

10-31-2021, 06:51 AM - 1 Like	#14
mhoule418 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Quebec city Posts: 228	Originally posted by ismaelg Hello, Bottom plate has 3 screws. Both end screws eventually came out. The center screw.......well, here is the story of the last 2 weeks: Round 1: Screw vs JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 2: Screw vs bigger JIS driver for more leverage Winner: Screw Round 3: Screw vs WD40 and JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 4: Screw vs UNDEFEATED PB Blaster Winner: Screw Round 5: Screw vs a lot more PB Blaster Winner: Screw Round 5: Screw vs copious amount of PB Blaster plus 3 days to let it soak Winner: Screw Round 6: Screw vs Tsunami of PB Blaster, a week to soak and a JIS driver Winner: Screw Round 7: Continuation of round 6 but with a flat hardened screwdriver and locking pliers! [insert evil laugh here] Winner: Screw by knockout. Flat driver tip BROKE!!!!! Round 8: Screw vs Screw extractor! Winner: SCREWWWWW!!!!! (Technical win because the extractor was not the right size and could not grab properly) Coming up next: Round 9 Looking at my blow torch while pending to get the right size screw extractor which I am tempted to put in a JACK-HAMMER! Stay tuned... Hey, I’am sorry for you, but… that was an incredible day start (laughs) for a Sunday morning. The way you described the fight, I can feel every single punch you throw at this “bad guy”.