Minolta SLR pressure plate problem

[xkaes]

On the early Minolta X-### cameras -- the X-700/X-570 -- the camera back was metal, and the pressure plate -- which was also metal -- had four thin, metal "sleeves" that slid under four metal tabs on the inside of the back door.

At some point during the later Minolta X-### cameras -- the X-370/300/300s/300n??? -- the back was changed to plastic. The pressure plate stayed metal as did the four connecting sleeves. However, the four tabs on the inside of the back door were now plastic with a thin, small metal washer on top of each.

The camera I have has lost the four plastic tabs and washers for attaching the pressure plate.

The pressure plate is designed to slide as the door is closed, and I can't think of any way to get the pressure plate back on to let it move. All I can think of is some epoxy, but that will restrict its movement.

I got the camera for free and everything else works fine.

Any ideas on reattaching a pressure plate?

 

[xkaes]

After a thorough examination, I've solved the problem.

The pressure plates on the Minoltas I've checked out only slide on the end near the film advance lever when the film door is closed. The side closer to the rewind lever flattens, but does not slide when the film door is closed.

I can solve my problem by gluing the "sleeves" on the rewind lever end of the pressure plate to the inside of the film door, and leave the "sleeves" on the other end unglued, and able to slide. What's left of the alignment pins -- in addition to the glue -- should keep everything in place.

I hope someone else might find this useful -- but other pressure plates are likely to operate differently.