Olympus Trip 35 repair gone wrong - FREE BLACK TRIP 35

[TheSohnly]

I recently had the misfortune of having a all black trip 35 that did not want to change focus or aperture - something was jammed.

Took it apart via http://www.thermojetstove.com/Trip35/ and focusing the lens elements via http://www.flickr.com/photos/98428543@N00/sets/72157614403778591/

I was SO careful - i worked over the top of an all-white shoebox so i could find the black screws, had white gloves and worked on top of a white table. I worked so carefully and took my time.
As I was putting it back together to focus the lens elements, the disassembled lens tipped forward out of my hands and I heard either a screw or a ball bearing tip out onto my shoebox and bounce out of it onto the floor - i heard the little *tink*tink*tink as it killed my 5 hours worth of work and reading.

My floor is "little-parts camouflage". I'm not finding this thing.

I've got a headache, eyeache, and a backache now.

I have every other part and it works beautiful (when it was together). I've also got a mostly unused bottle some graphite lubricant i used to lube up some of the elements.

If anyone wants to try and put it back together I'll trade it off or give it to someone who wants to take a stab at putting it back together - all the loose pieces (minus an unknown piece) will be put into separate baggies and sent to that person, along with the disassembled camera.
(both ball bearings are here, so it was probably a screw that dislodged itself)

I'd prefer someone in the USA or Canada (in that it's cheaper for me to send it off in a small package).
I'm open to trading offers before I'm open to giving offers. I'll check this on monday or tuesday (EST) and and send it to a random person.

 

[lxdude]

I recently had the misfortune of having a all black trip 35 that did not want to change focus or aperture - something was jammed.

Took it apart via http://www.thermojetstove.com/Trip35/ and focusing the lens elements via http://www.flickr.com/photos/98428543@N00/sets/72157614403778591/

I was SO careful - i worked over the top of an all-white shoebox so i could find the black screws, had white gloves and worked on top of a white table. I worked so carefully and took my time.
As I was putting it back together to focus the lens elements, the disassembled lens tipped forward out of my hands and I heard either a screw or a ball bearing tip out onto my shoebox and bounce out of it onto the floor - i heard the little *tink*tink*tink as it killed my 5 hours worth of work and reading.

My floor is "little-parts camouflage". I'm not finding this thing.

I've got a headache, eyeache, and a backache now.

I have every other part and it works beautiful (when it was together). I've also got a mostly unused bottle some graphite lubricant i used to lube up some of the elements.

If anyone wants to try and put it back together I'll trade it off or give it to someone who wants to take a stab at putting it back together - all the loose pieces (minus an unknown piece) will be put into separate baggies and sent to that person, along with the disassembled camera.
(both ball bearings are here, so it was probably a screw that dislodged itself)

I'd prefer someone in the USA or Canada (in that it's cheaper for me to send it off in a small package).
I'm open to trading offers before I'm open to giving offers. I'll check this on monday or tuesday (EST) and and send it to a random person.

Have you tried using a magnet to locate it? That should work. It could have travelled farther than you think, so cover a large area.
If the floor is reasonably smooth, shine a flashlight horizontally along the floor and it will accentuate anything lying on it.
Can you figure out what kind of screw it was or where it went? Maybe if there's more than one of the same size, you can extrapolate what's missing. Someone (like me) might have one to replace it.

 

[Amir Aziz]

I would gladly take it off your hands. What I would do if you send it to me or recommend that you do yourself is go on *bay and buy a Chrome Trip35 suitable for 'spares/repair' and use it for parts to get your camera working again.

 

[sangetsu]

Don't give up on the project just yet, that's a bad habit to get into. Keep looking for the part you dropped. It's there somewhere, and after you get rid of the camera you'll probably end up finding it, and kicking yourself for being impatient.

There's a silver Trip 35 for sale at my local used junk shop nearby for 200 yen (about $2), these cameras are common and inexpensive. Just hunt the thrift shops/online auctions and get parts camera, you'll probably find one for less than the cost of the small part which went missing. Having the extra camera might come in handy in case something else gets dropped during reassembly.

 

[Mike Wilde]

I have a chrome trip 35 that I broke the focussing tang off of- I did not see the screws to have me lift off and twisted it instead.

All attempts at a fix have not been satisfactory, so I spent $5 for a second one, and use the first on as a fixed focus camera that can be manually refocussed with some difficulty.

I will caution you that pstage across the border will not be as cheap as domestic postage. PM me if no usa donations eventuate.

Now I work on cameras in my workshop, over a smooth weave towel that I tape to my work bench. I vaccuum the painted concrete floor before I start, so that dropped parts can be found by sweeping. All of this is due to past experiences like you have described here.

 

[TheSohnly]

alright guys, you win; I'll try and find the screw and i'll make sure to put this trip back together again, good as new.

thanks