Strange Nikon F5 Self Timer Problem

[Evanbutson]

Hi all, have a well loved Nikon F5, decided to put a roll through it and it acts as if it is set to self timer mode, no matter what the selector dial is set to (single shot, continuous etc) what's even weirder is, I first thought maybe it's the selector dial being faulty, but if I fire the shutter and self timer starts, if I change the selector dial it cancels the shot (as per the manual) so it's obviously giving the camera a signal. I can also set a custom duration for the self time in custom mode, so the self timer is working correctly, but for the life of me I can get it back to single shot or continuous. Have put in a fresh set of batteries just to be sure. Any ideas?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Try resetting the camera:

At the website https://www.filmbodies.com/accessories/concise-instructions/f5-concise-instructions.html

Search for "Resetting the Camera to Its Default Settings"

 

[Evanbutson]

Try resetting the camera:

At the website https://www.filmbodies.com/accessories/concise-instructions/f5-concise-instructions.html

Search for "Resetting the Camera to Its Default Settings"

Hi, yeah that was my first go to, unfortunately no joy, also it really only resets soft settings like the custom mode stuff etc, not things selected by hard dials such as focus modes or shutter modes
I'm going to try a small shot of contact cleaner into the shutter mode dial on the off chance it is just a weird contact thing, but my hopes are not high.

 

[Evanbutson]

So bit of an update, I tried removing that portion of the top plate, but unless anyone has a dissassembly guide that doesn't involve removing the entire grip covering, I can't seem the get the plate off. However in the process of removing what screws I could see and seeing if I could lever it off I discovered that if I levered up ever so slightly the top cover or the selector dial it seems to work in whatever mode I choose (for a while at least until it settles) so for the meantime I can just pop a plastic surgery under the selector dial for shutter mode and lever up ever so slightly whenever it settles and it works fine. The repair manual for the f5 I have seems to show I have to remove the entire grip covering to be able to remove it, which I don't want to do.
If anyone has a link to anteardown video that would help greatly.

 

[Evanbutson]

Have tried removing the screws marked in yellow

If I pry up ever so slightly under the dial marked in blue that seems to fix it, for a while at least.

Just need to be able to remove that top cap to get at the contacts underneath to see what's shorting

 

[pentaxuser]

You might want to join the Nikonians forum where there is a depth of Nikon knowledge and seek help there

pentaxuser