Replacing Mirror Damper Foam in my Nikon FE. Help!

zacharyeoman · Nov 28, 2018

So I began the process of cleaning the area where the old foam was, and I don't know if it's clean enough to put the new foam down yet. Thoughts?

P.S. While working on my camera, I unfortunately got bits of the old foam on my focusing screen. How do I clean this?

shutterfinger · Nov 28, 2018

Double check for loose paint chips and if all are gone apply the new foam.

P.S. While working on my camera, I unfortunately got bits of the old foam on my focusing screen. How do I clean this?

Use caned air 4 to 6 inches away holding the can steady while moving the camera. Moving the caned air can can result in the chemicals spraying out onto the surface being sprayed.
Cotton swab moistened with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol and very gently wipping if the foam will not blow off.

zacharyeoman · Nov 28, 2018

Sweet, thanks man!! I got the foam in there, I just need to get things cleaned up. Frustrates me a little bit because it was perfectly clear before I took the foam out

Pentode · Nov 28, 2018

Just be very careful not to smear the foam goo into the fresnel screen. Definitely go the canned air route first. Only use a cotton swab or alcohol as a last resort.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 28, 2018

zacharyeoman said:
Sweet, thanks man!! I got the foam in there, I just need to get things cleaned up. Frustrates me a little bit because it was perfectly clear before I took the foam out

I took a Sears shop vac once and it ripped the mirror off; never do that again; blowing with canned air while pointing camera to the ground is probably the best you can do.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 28, 2018

shutterfinger said:
...
Cotton swab moistened with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol and very gently wipping if the foam will not blow off.

Yes, that's what I do. I've replaced the seals and dampers on the cameras owned by many other people. Before working on their cameras, I place lens cleaning tissue over the groundglass so that particles of sticky old foam won't fall onto the groundglass or elsewhere. When replacing seals, I cover the film gate to protect the shutter.

MFstooges · Aug 15, 2019

Sorry to resurrect old thread. I am not sure which direction does the focusing screen fresnel face, mirror or prism but if I smeared the goo on fresnel side is there a way to completely clean it or should I call it a loss and buy new/used one?

Replacing Mirror Damper Foam in my Nikon FE. Help!

zacharyeoman

shutterfinger

zacharyeoman

Pentode

RalphLambrecht

Theo Sulphate

MFstooges

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