IFixit guide for the Pentax ME Super

[vandergus]

I've been exploring the capabilities of iFixit lately and how good a fit it is for camera repair tutorials and guides. I've put together a page for the ME Super that covers the most common failures of the camera. Here's a link.

Pentax ME Super Repair Help: Learn How to Fix It Yourself.

A compact 35mm SLR introduced by Pentax in 1980. It was an upgrade to the Pentax ME and was targeted towards advanced amateur photographers.

www.ifixit.com

Some cool things about iFixit
- The guides are collaborative. Anybody can edit them and add to them, fix mistakes, make comments, leave helpful tips, etc.
- You can download the guides as a pdf if you want to use them offline or are worried the website might go away some day.
- Guides can be reused in other guides. You only have to make one guide for removing the top cover, then you can 'import' that guide into any new guide where you need to remove the top cover.
- Each device has a home page and a troubleshooting page where general information and documents can be stored.
- You can make 'Technique' guides for calibration and adjustment routines. This format is not quite as elegant as the step-by-step guides because there tends to be a lot more nuance but I'm still experimenting with it.

Let me know what you think about this format.

 

[MFstooges]

Very nice and clear write ups!!
Appreciate it very much. What is the solution for degrading rubber bushing? Is there an aftermarket part?

 

[vandergus]

Very nice and clear write ups!!
Appreciate it very much. What is the solution for degrading rubber bushing? Is there an aftermarket part?

I've found that stripping the insulation from 12 gage wire and cutting it to length fits perfectly. I've heard other folks have used rubber tubing but I'm not sure what size. Which reminds me...I need to add the dimensions of the rubber bushings to the guide.

 

[MFstooges]

I've found that stripping the insulation from 12 gage wire and cutting it to length fits perfectly. I've heard other folks have used rubber tubing but I'm not sure what size. Which reminds me...I need to add the dimensions of the rubber bushings to the guide.

Thanks. I watched few videos and it seems the newer one is made of ABS plastic which is better. Mine is older type. I haven't disassemble the bushing, my concern is if it will be disintegrate and left me with nothing.

 

[vandergus]

Thanks. I watched few videos and it seems the newer one is made of ABS plastic which is better. Mine is older type. I haven't disassemble the bushing, my concern is if it will be disintegrate and left me with nothing.

The bushings will almost certainly fall apart if they are the rubber ones. I've heard reputable camera techs say that you don't really need to replace them, that the mechanism will operate fine without the bumpers, but I haven't tried this myself. The insulation trick was easy enough to do, so why not.