Ideas needed for broken screw on Pentax Spotmatic

**AstroDave** · 09-16-2019, 07:01 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BigMackCam

A little squirt of WD40 before-hand

Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils

And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible!

Not a Number · 09-16-2019, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by AstroDave

Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils

And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible!

I haven't tried the above Kroil but an auto repair forum turned me on to PB Blaster. Released a stuck spark plug where a couple other penetrating oils failed.

PB B’LASTER PENETRANT – Blastercorp

You can find it at Home Depot, Wally Mart and just about any auto parts/supply store.

I would just spray a tiny bit into a bottle or jar lid and apply with a tooth pick or needle.

dsmithhfx · 09-17-2019, 05:19 AM

Originally posted by AstroDave

Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils

And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible!

I've had some success using WD-40 (applied judiciously with a pin) on seized-up camera guts, haven't tried it on headless screws though.

Snapppy · 09-17-2019, 06:52 AM

I love all the brainstorming, this is really helping - thanks everyone!

Just a small update. I didn't end up having a lot of time last night to work on it, but I did realize there was a lot less sticking up than I had thought and I couldn't get my needle nosed pliers to grip it. Because there's not a lot of space, I discarded my dremel idea and instead thought I could file a slot. That sort of worked, but not enough to really get leverage on it.

I got around it like others suggested and was able to get to the spot I needed to for the repair. I'll spend some time better planning the final repair process for this, as it will likely take equipment I don't currently have.

While I feel annoyed that I broke the camera in the first place, and then that while trying to repair it I broke it further, I am looking on the bright side and saying it's been fun to take it apart and learn a bit more about how these cameras work under the hood. That's what keeps me sane, at least :P

Ranchu · 09-17-2019, 10:44 AM

Try the needle. Use a magnifying glass. Try not to destroy the camera, there's no bright side.

---------- Post added 09-17-19 at 11:58 AM ----------

It must be nice to know you should have done that to begin with, so you wouldn't be in this situation.

Helios 1984 · 09-20-2019, 09:44 PM - **1 Like**

Re-install the frame counter wheel and put a small dab of Shoe Goo in-lieu of the screw head. Press with your thumb and let it cure.
That's what I did with my Spotmatic.

Snapppy · 10-03-2019, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by Helios 1984

Re-install the frame counter wheel and put a small dab of Shoe Goo in-lieu of the screw head. Press with your thumb and let it cure.
That's what I did with my Spotmatic.

I really like this idea, as it just needs to sit there and keep the counter wheel from flying off.

I am encountering other issues now that have delayed putting it all back together. I may even start a new thread if I can't figure out the issue myself. My shutter button was jammed by some epoxy I was using for a custom grip getting in the wrong spot, but after clearing that up my film advance level is stuck in place and won't advance. I wonder if I jammed it somehow when I was fighting with the shutter, or if some epoxy got caught in a gear somewhere that I don't see.

The adventure continues

Thanks again for all the help everyone. It's cool to see how much experience everyone has and how active the film community is still!

wings · 10-05-2019, 11:49 AM

Good luck on that. All of the suggestions seem good.

Sometimes carefully applying a little heat to a screw will help, in your case a small soldering iron could be used by touching the area around the screw. Remember that metal expands when heated therefore carefully applying a little heat around the screw might help. I have even placed items in the freezer to create a temperature difference and that is all that you want to do is create a temperature difference so essentially you want to warm the outside area. I have also used an exacto knife on the edge of a screw and lightly tapping it to get it to rotate. I would break or grind the tip of the blade off sometimes if needed. You might break the blade, but it might be enough to work.

**pentaxus** · 10-08-2019, 01:46 PM

The real solution is something called a slot cutting file. If you need a set screw, you cut the head off and use the slot cutting file to make the slot for your screwdriver.

Thhttps://www.esslinger.com/screwhead-file-with-tang-makes-slot-in-top-of-screws-swiss-vallorbe/

Probably not the economical solution you were looking for.

09-17-2019, 10:44 AM	#20
Ranchu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 151	Try the needle. Use a magnifying glass. Try not to destroy the camera, there's no bright side. ---------- Post added 09-17-19 at 11:58 AM ---------- It must be nice to know you should have done that to begin with, so you wouldn't be in this situation. Last edited by Ranchu; 09-17-2019 at 10:53 AM.

09-20-2019, 09:44 PM - 1 Like	#21
Helios 1984 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Saint-Constant, Québec Posts: 747	Re-install the frame counter wheel and put a small dab of Shoe Goo in-lieu of the screw head. Press with your thumb and let it cure. That's what I did with my Spotmatic. Last edited by Helios 1984; 09-20-2019 at 09:56 PM.

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09-16-2019, 07:01 PM - 1 Like	#16
AstroDave Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 1,637	Originally posted by BigMackCam A little squirt of WD40 before-hand Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible!

09-16-2019, 07:24 PM	#17
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by AstroDave Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible! I haven't tried the above Kroil but an auto repair forum turned me on to PB Blaster. Released a stuck spark plug where a couple other penetrating oils failed. PB B’LASTER PENETRANT – Blastercorp You can find it at Home Depot, Wally Mart and just about any auto parts/supply store. I would just spray a tiny bit into a bottle or jar lid and apply with a tooth pick or needle.

09-17-2019, 05:19 AM	#18
dsmithhfx Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,146	Originally posted by AstroDave Something like this might be better: Penetrating-Lubricating Oils And whatever, use the teeniest/tiniest amount possible! I've had some success using WD-40 (applied judiciously with a pin) on seized-up camera guts, haven't tried it on headless screws though.

09-17-2019, 06:52 AM	#19
Snapppy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 485 Original Poster	I love all the brainstorming, this is really helping - thanks everyone! Just a small update. I didn't end up having a lot of time last night to work on it, but I did realize there was a lot less sticking up than I had thought and I couldn't get my needle nosed pliers to grip it. Because there's not a lot of space, I discarded my dremel idea and instead thought I could file a slot. That sort of worked, but not enough to really get leverage on it. I got around it like others suggested and was able to get to the spot I needed to for the repair. I'll spend some time better planning the final repair process for this, as it will likely take equipment I don't currently have. While I feel annoyed that I broke the camera in the first place, and then that while trying to repair it I broke it further, I am looking on the bright side and saying it's been fun to take it apart and learn a bit more about how these cameras work under the hood. That's what keeps me sane, at least :P

10-03-2019, 09:22 AM	#22
Snapppy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 485 Original Poster	Originally posted by Helios 1984 Re-install the frame counter wheel and put a small dab of Shoe Goo in-lieu of the screw head. Press with your thumb and let it cure. That's what I did with my Spotmatic. I really like this idea, as it just needs to sit there and keep the counter wheel from flying off. I am encountering other issues now that have delayed putting it all back together. I may even start a new thread if I can't figure out the issue myself. My shutter button was jammed by some epoxy I was using for a custom grip getting in the wrong spot, but after clearing that up my film advance level is stuck in place and won't advance. I wonder if I jammed it somehow when I was fighting with the shutter, or if some epoxy got caught in a gear somewhere that I don't see. The adventure continues Thanks again for all the help everyone. It's cool to see how much experience everyone has and how active the film community is still!

10-05-2019, 11:49 AM	#23
wings Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 209	Good luck on that. All of the suggestions seem good. Sometimes carefully applying a little heat to a screw will help, in your case a small soldering iron could be used by touching the area around the screw. Remember that metal expands when heated therefore carefully applying a little heat around the screw might help. I have even placed items in the freezer to create a temperature difference and that is all that you want to do is create a temperature difference so essentially you want to warm the outside area. I have also used an exacto knife on the edge of a screw and lightly tapping it to get it to rotate. I would break or grind the tip of the blade off sometimes if needed. You might break the blade, but it might be enough to work.

10-08-2019, 01:46 PM	#24
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,313	The real solution is something called a slot cutting file. If you need a set screw, you cut the head off and use the slot cutting file to make the slot for your screwdriver. Thhttps://www.esslinger.com/screwhead-file-with-tang-makes-slot-in-top-of-screws-swiss-vallorbe/ Probably not the economical solution you were looking for.