Help on Nikon F3 Memory Lock Button - lost, reprinted, broken, stuck

[sebebe]

A couple weeks ago I purchased a Nikon F3. The overall condition is very good, but the memory lock button was lost. I found a 3D-model here, asked a friend to print it with ASA and it seemed to be alright so I installed it. It clicked in altough it seemed a bit crooked... but ok for now.

On the first test run I noticed the suggested exposure display did not change properly: no matter what shutter speed I dialed in / no matter how far I opened that lens there was a minus on the screen. I assumed this must be an issue caused by the new button as the camera worked just fine before.
That's when I tried to pull out the button until the head fell off. The shaft remained stuck. I already tried a couple of things to remove the remaining part of the button. E.g. used tweezers to grab it, disassembled the mechanical shutter lever and tried it again. I had no success as it is firmly stuck and barely any material to grab.

I have to say, the exposure works again on the small lcd display (I get the minus / plus / both again) since demolishing the fake button. So the easiest would be to just leave that damn thing were it is. But I'm not happy with that solution.
I'm no fine mechanic, so I'm not gonna tear that lovely camera apart without help.

Does anyone know how to get that shaft ouf of the memory-lock-button-hole? I guess I have to remove the front cover... but that's the only cover I haven't found a video removing it.

Thanks in advance - any help is appreciated!

 

[koraks]

Does anyone know how to get that shaft ouf of the memory-lock-button-hole?

I think this is what you need:

Nikon F3: Disassembly of the mechanical release/exposure lock switch (plastic version)

Since I'm removing this switch as a spare part for a colleague, here's the process. Interestingly, I couldn't find any information about this in the Nikon F3 service manual. This is the first version of the button made of plastic, see below in the thread the note from @Mamiya_Repair...

www.photrio.com

Thanks to the always excellent work of @Andreas Thaler

 

[BrianShaw]

Another option to consider is “drilling it out”. No power tools, though… appropriately sized drill in a pin vice and a lot of care to not damage the switch or leave behind debris.

There seem to be very small “EZ outs”, I recall from other people’s experiences. (EDIT: see Google search, below.) That would be my first approach. Might be more challenging because it’s press-fit rather than threaded.

micro screw extractor - Google Search

Personally… I’d quit while I was ahead. The feature is occasionally convenient/useful when shooting in A mode but there are other ways to do the same thing.

 

[sebebe]

Thanks for your suggestions and support.
Just wanted to show the mess. It's not too bad, just ugly for such a great camera.
Like @BrianShaw said: the functionality is still ok, wouldn't have used this feature very often anyways.

 

[Chan Tran]

Personally… I’d quit while I was ahead. The feature is occasionally convenient/useful when shooting in A mode but there are other ways to do the same thing.

Also according to Nikon it can only hold the shutter speed for 30 seconds or so because the voltage that come from the meter to the shutter control is disconnected and there is a capacitor to hold the voltage. The capacitor would discharge in time so it doesn't hold for good. I sold my F3HP with a broken second curtain to someone on Photrio not too long ago. I don't know if that person would sell the button.

 

[sebebe]

I tried to get it out for 1,5 hours now. I actually managed to get 6-8 mm of the shaft out. Unfortunately, it broke way down in the hole and the rest is stuck again blocking the memory function.
I guess this is the point to open the front cover…
I have to remove the leather in order to access the screws, right? Can I reuse the leather patches?

 

[BrianShaw]

Sorry to hear that. Definitely check out the link previously provided. Here are two links to service manuals that might be useful.

http://ss-it.de/data/servicemanuals/F3%20(V.%201).pdf

http://ss-it.de/data/servicemanuals/F3%20(V.%202).pdf

 

[Chan Tran]

I tried to get it out for 1,5 hours now. I actually managed to get 6-8 mm of the shaft out. Unfortunately, it broke way down in the hole and the rest is stuck again blocking the memory function.
I guess this is the point to open the front cover…
I have to remove the leather in order to access the screws, right? Can I reuse the leather patches?

Yes you can reuse the leatherette but it's kind of difficult to put it back on. If Nikon service it they would put on new leatherette but other repairers would reuse it.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I tried to get it out for 1,5 hours now. I actually managed to get 6-8 mm of the shaft out. Unfortunately, it broke way down in the hole and the rest is stuck again blocking the memory function.
I guess this is the point to open the front cover…
I have to remove the leather in order to access the screws, right? Can I reuse the leather patches?

If you mean removing the mirror box from the F3, then that is a complex operation. The mechanics in both parts of the camera also have to be properly coupled when reassembling, which is not trivial.

See for the Nikon F3 Press

Nikon F3P (Press): Stuck mirror

A well-used Nikon F3P sometimes keeps the mirror up after the shutter is released. I suspect that it is due to resinification/a lack of lubrication. This time I will not attempt a shortcut, but a repair. To do this I will have to remove the mirror box, which is connected to the front part of...

www.photrio.com

 

[reddesert]

IMO, you need a pick to winkle it out. This is a pointy steel tool like a dentist's pick or scraper. Failing that a needle might work, but the pick has a better handle.

The pick is also the tool that the person trying to get a battery out of an MR9 adapter in the other thread needs.

 

[sebebe]

I tried it with a needle and actually can reach the shaft and bend it just a little bit. Enough to trigger the memory button on and off. So function would be ok for now (don't know how long this works).
The problem is I obviously can't grab with the needle… even if i managed to break that leftover shaft it would be in there potentially causing the next error.

All that picking already caused the next error: The manual shutter lever is quite loose now. There is some resistance for the actual shutter, like the last 10-20 degrees of the rotation, but the initial motion is loose. The lever moves when tilting the camera.
Any screw to tighten other than the nut holding the lever?

 

[sebebe]

If you mean removing the mirror box from the F3, then that is a complex operation. The mechanics in both parts of the camera also have to be properly coupled when reassembling, which is not trivial.

See for the Nikon F3 Press

Nikon F3P (Press): Stuck mirror

A well-used Nikon F3P sometimes keeps the mirror up after the shutter is released. I suspect that it is due to resinification/a lack of lubrication. This time I will not attempt a shortcut, but a repair. To do this I will have to remove the mirror box, which is connected to the front part of...

www.photrio.com

Hi Andreas, I see you're from Vienna. I'm from Bavaria. Can you recommend a repair shop for my Nikon F3? I don't want to damage more trying to repair it

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hi Andreas, I see you're from Vienna. I'm from Bavaria. Can you recommend a repair shop for my Nikon F3? I don't want to damage more trying to repair it

Unfortunately I can't recommend a repair shop, Nikon won't accept the F3 anymore for sure.

The best thing to do is do a Google search.

 

[koraks]

Can you recommend a repair shop for my Nikon F3?

Not a direct match for Nikon, but maybe you could call the three shops from this post: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/repair-shops-in-and-out-of-business.210509/post-2865118

 

[Chan Tran]

Unfortunately I can't recommend a repair shop, Nikon won't accept the F3 anymore for sure.

The best thing to do is do a Google search.

Would you do it for sebebe if he drives 400 miles to give the camera to you?

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Would you do it for sebebe if he drives 400 miles to give the camera to you?

I am always happy to help where I can, but do not do professional repairs with responsibility for other people's property.

 

[Chan Tran]

I am always happy to help where I can, but do not do professional repairs with responsibility for other people's property.

I don't know but I would trust you more than many repair shops.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I don't know but I would trust you more than many repair shops.

That's very kind but you haven't seen my camera graveyard yet.

Death on the operating table

 

[sebebe]

Thanks for all your help! The tipps, links, recommendations are really appreciated.
I will try to contact a couple of repair shops. Let's see who's still into F3 repairs without busting the bank.

In the meantime I try to tighten the mechanical shutter lever somehow (it got loose without opening the front cover, it may get better without opening).
If there is anyone with an idea how to tighten the lever please let me know. This problem seems to be rather unique as i found nothing on google.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I could have thought of that straight away

Our member @forest bagger also lives in Bavaria and has been running a repair shop for many years, focusing on Nikon DSLRs and Nikkor lenses.

He nearly solves every problem, I recommend him without reservation:

Fotogeraetereparatur Karl Michael Beutler: Reinigung von und Service an Objektiven und Kameras

Fotogeraetereparatur Karl Michael Beutler: Hersteller-unabhängiger Service an Objektiven, Kameras und Blitzgeräten. Digitalfotografie und Gebrauchtgeräte-Verkauf.

www.foto-design.org

In the German Nikon Fotografie Forum, Michael is present with his work in the repair forum:

Service Ecke

Der Informations- und Reparaturbereich im Nikon Fotografie-Forum

www.nikon-fotografie.de