ME Super battery cover won't fit

moggi1964 · 02-08-2021, 10:55 AM

I just purchased two ME Super's and one did not have a battery cover. My aim is to use both and see which works best and then sell on the other.

I removed the battery cover from Camera A and tried to screw it into Camera B but it is almost as if it is slightly too small and so won't stay in; the threads don't grab it. The threads look clean on both and I cannot see any damage to the threads on the cover or in Camera B though there is minor scuffing around the hole.

Is there any chance however unlikely that Pentax changed the size of the cover part way through production? Camera A starts with serial no. 310**** and Camera B with 292****.

I appreciate that I could swap baseplates and then sell Camera A with Camera B's baseplate but the baseplate on Camera B looks in much better condition. I would also need to inform any purchaser about the battery issue which would reduce what I got for it.

The ME Super was my first camera in 1981 so it's a joy to have picked one up again.

Any suggestions are welcomed and thanks in advance.

**ismaelg** · 02-08-2021, 08:58 PM

Hello,

I am not an expert, but I've never heard of such a change in the middle of a run. From your picture it seems the battery cover you have may not be the correct one. It seems a little bit small.

Thanks,

moggi1964 · 02-09-2021, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by ismaelg

Hello,

I am not an expert, but I've never heard of such a change in the middle of a run. From your picture it seems the battery cover you have may not be the correct one. It seems a little bit small.

Thanks,

Thanks for the speedy response. I would have thought the same about the cover size yet it screws in on Camera A which appears to be an identical bottom plate. I'm hesitant to spend £10 on ebay for an ME Super battery cover only to find the same problem.

It is very odd!

Vendee · 02-09-2021, 03:13 AM

I don't know if this is relevant but I've just looked at the battery covers on my K1000, MX, MV and ME Super. They all have the "Open-Battery" etching on them like your photo....... except for my ME Super which has no markings at all.

moggi1964 · 02-09-2021, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by Vendee

I don't know if this is relevant but I've just looked at the battery covers on my K1000, MX, MV and ME Super. They all have the "Open-Battery" etching on them like your photo....... except for my ME Super which has no markings at all.

Interesting! Thank you for doing that. The plot thickens!!

Ray-uk · 02-09-2021, 03:59 AM

My ME super has the words "battery open" engraved on it so I'm not sure that is much of a clue.

It may be possible that the whole bottom plate of one of your cameras has been changed before, perhaps one from an ME, I know that the battery covers do vary in size between some models.

moggi1964 · 02-09-2021, 04:40 AM

Originally posted by Ray-uk

My ME super has the words "battery open" engraved on it so I'm not sure that is much of a clue.

It may be possible that the whole bottom plate of one of your cameras has been changed before, perhaps one from an ME, I know that the battery covers do vary in size between some models.

Thanks for the additional input. I feel this is likely the case so I now need to find the right size cover. Looking at other baseplates I can see the MG1, Super Program and a few others use the same layout but could have slightly different size battery covers. I might drop the Pentax guys at Harrow Technical an email and see if they can help.

Cheers!

**ismaelg** · 02-09-2021, 05:18 AM

Hello,

Beware that in the MG, the battery cover screws to the battery compartment, not to the baseplate.

Maybe in your camera A the battery compartment was replaced and you are actually grabbing that thread instead of the baseplate. Can you swap the baseplates to see what happens?

Thanks,

moggi1964 · 02-09-2021, 05:35 AM

Originally posted by ismaelg

Hello,

Beware that in the MG, the battery cover screws to the battery compartment, not to the baseplate.

Maybe in your camera A the battery compartment was replaced and you are actually grabbing that thread instead of the baseplate. Can you swap the baseplates to see what happens?

Thanks,

Thanks for pointing that out Ismael.

I'll remove both baseplates and see what happens when I swap them over. I'll let you know.

moggi1964 · 02-09-2021, 07:16 AM - **1 Like**

Okay, so I didn't resolve the conundrum of why the Camera A battery cover would not fit on Camera B.

HOWEVER, I did find a battery cap for Camera B that fits. What I now need to admit is that I had not opened the back of Camera B since it arrived the other day but when I just did I found the battery cover wrapped in a piece of newspaper in the spot where the film roll is inserted.

So thanks to everyone for their input and suggestions.

Oh and, as an aside, the Camera B battery cover also has the writing on it!

moggi1964 · 02-11-2021, 02:50 AM

Both cameras are on their way to Harrow Technical (Pentax repair specialists) with the instruction to give me back one cosmetically stunning and reliably operational ME Super

At some point I'll send them my Spotmatic SPII and have them service that.

womble · 02-11-2021, 12:05 PM

Robin is pretty good. I've not sent anything to him since he sort-of retired.

Vendee · 02-11-2021, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by womble

Robin is pretty good. I've not sent anything to him since he sort-of retired.

Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously.

moggi1964 · 02-11-2021, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by Vendee

Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously.

Thanks. Good to know; I like having options.

I used Newton Ellis to fix up my Yashica Minister 700 and will likely use them for my Agfa Isolette II. I'll decide where to send my Spotmatic SPII when I get the ME Super back.

womble · 02-12-2021, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by Vendee

Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously.

Miles has had one of my cameras for four-and-a-half months and no sign of it being returned anytime soon.

02-08-2021, 10:55 AM	#1
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178	ME Super battery cover won't fit I just purchased two ME Super's and one did not have a battery cover. My aim is to use both and see which works best and then sell on the other. I removed the battery cover from Camera A and tried to screw it into Camera B but it is almost as if it is slightly too small and so won't stay in; the threads don't grab it. The threads look clean on both and I cannot see any damage to the threads on the cover or in Camera B though there is minor scuffing around the hole. Is there any chance however unlikely that Pentax changed the size of the cover part way through production? Camera A starts with serial no. 310** and Camera B with 292**. I appreciate that I could swap baseplates and then sell Camera A with Camera B's baseplate but the baseplate on Camera B looks in much better condition. I would also need to inform any purchaser about the battery issue which would reduce what I got for it. The ME Super was my first camera in 1981 so it's a joy to have picked one up again. Any suggestions are welcomed and thanks in advance.

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02-08-2021, 08:58 PM	#2
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Hello, I am not an expert, but I've never heard of such a change in the middle of a run. From your picture it seems the battery cover you have may not be the correct one. It seems a little bit small. Thanks,

02-09-2021, 02:13 AM	#3
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Originally posted by ismaelg Hello, I am not an expert, but I've never heard of such a change in the middle of a run. From your picture it seems the battery cover you have may not be the correct one. It seems a little bit small. Thanks, Thanks for the speedy response. I would have thought the same about the cover size yet it screws in on Camera A which appears to be an identical bottom plate. I'm hesitant to spend £10 on ebay for an ME Super battery cover only to find the same problem. It is very odd!

02-09-2021, 03:13 AM	#4
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	I don't know if this is relevant but I've just looked at the battery covers on my K1000, MX, MV and ME Super. They all have the "Open-Battery" etching on them like your photo....... except for my ME Super which has no markings at all.

02-09-2021, 03:44 AM	#5
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Originally posted by Vendee I don't know if this is relevant but I've just looked at the battery covers on my K1000, MX, MV and ME Super. They all have the "Open-Battery" etching on them like your photo....... except for my ME Super which has no markings at all. Interesting! Thank you for doing that. The plot thickens!!

02-09-2021, 03:59 AM	#6
Ray-uk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kent Photos: Gallery Posts: 159	My ME super has the words "battery open" engraved on it so I'm not sure that is much of a clue. It may be possible that the whole bottom plate of one of your cameras has been changed before, perhaps one from an ME, I know that the battery covers do vary in size between some models.

02-09-2021, 04:40 AM	#7
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ray-uk My ME super has the words "battery open" engraved on it so I'm not sure that is much of a clue. It may be possible that the whole bottom plate of one of your cameras has been changed before, perhaps one from an ME, I know that the battery covers do vary in size between some models. Thanks for the additional input. I feel this is likely the case so I now need to find the right size cover. Looking at other baseplates I can see the MG1, Super Program and a few others use the same layout but could have slightly different size battery covers. I might drop the Pentax guys at Harrow Technical an email and see if they can help. Cheers!

02-09-2021, 05:18 AM	#8
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Hello, Beware that in the MG, the battery cover screws to the battery compartment, not to the baseplate. Maybe in your camera A the battery compartment was replaced and you are actually grabbing that thread instead of the baseplate. Can you swap the baseplates to see what happens? Thanks,

02-09-2021, 05:35 AM	#9
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Originally posted by ismaelg Hello, Beware that in the MG, the battery cover screws to the battery compartment, not to the baseplate. Maybe in your camera A the battery compartment was replaced and you are actually grabbing that thread instead of the baseplate. Can you swap the baseplates to see what happens? Thanks, Thanks for pointing that out Ismael. I'll remove both baseplates and see what happens when I swap them over. I'll let you know.

02-09-2021, 07:16 AM - 1 Like	#10
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Okay, so I didn't resolve the conundrum of why the Camera A battery cover would not fit on Camera B. HOWEVER, I did find a battery cap for Camera B that fits. What I now need to admit is that I had not opened the back of Camera B since it arrived the other day but when I just did I found the battery cover wrapped in a piece of newspaper in the spot where the film roll is inserted. So thanks to everyone for their input and suggestions. Oh and, as an aside, the Camera B battery cover also has the writing on it!

02-11-2021, 02:50 AM	#11
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Both cameras are on their way to Harrow Technical (Pentax repair specialists) with the instruction to give me back one cosmetically stunning and reliably operational ME Super At some point I'll send them my Spotmatic SPII and have them service that.

02-11-2021, 12:05 PM	#12
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	Robin is pretty good. I've not sent anything to him since he sort-of retired.

02-11-2021, 12:32 PM	#13
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by womble Robin is pretty good. I've not sent anything to him since he sort-of retired. Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously.

02-11-2021, 01:44 PM	#14
moggi1964 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Manchester Posts: 178 Original Poster	Originally posted by Vendee Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously. Thanks. Good to know; I like having options. I used Newton Ellis to fix up my Yashica Minister 700 and will likely use them for my Agfa Isolette II. I'll decide where to send my Spotmatic SPII when I get the ME Super back.

02-12-2021, 04:31 AM	#15
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	Originally posted by Vendee Same here. I recently sent my ME Super to Miles Whitehead MWCameraRepairs He did a great job of the CLA and sorting out the metering. He was also cheaper than Robin had been on my MX CLA a few years previously. Miles has had one of my cameras for four-and-a-half months and no sign of it being returned anytime soon.