Where to find an aperture ball detent?

[altim]

I have a Minolta 55/1.7 that needs a ball detent for the aperture, no idea why it doesn't have one now as I got it second hand. Anyone know where I can find one? I'm thinking about sacrificing my Kiron 28-70mm for the cause, assuming it uses the same size ball.

 

[ic-racer]

http://www.bocabearings.com/bearing-types/balls

Link points to Boca Bearing "Ball" ordering page. They have what you want, but the quantities are too much. Maybe they will send a single 'sample' ball.

 

[Russ - SVP]

Microtools.com You want a 0.5 size.

 

[altim]

Thanks guys, I ordered a bunch of balls to try. Funny story about this though, today I was working on a different lens. Of course instead of the ball flying out, the aperture SPRING popped out. While on my knees and looking for the spring, I found a ball in the carpet fibers...who wants to bet this is the missing aperture ball Of course, now I am missing a spring and I can't find it.

 

[Simplicius]

Thanks guys, I ordered a bunch of balls to try. Funny story about this though, today I was working on a different lens. Of course instead of the ball flying out, the aperture SPRING popped out. While on my knees and looking for the spring, I found a ball in the carpet fibers...who wants to bet this is the missing aperture ball Of course, now I am missing a spring and I can't find it.

This is the very reason I do all my camera tweaking inside my largest darkroom tray.. too many hours wasted on my hands and knees looking for springs etc I just put a couple of phone directories on one side of tray where I am sitting to avoid my arms resting on the tray's lip all the time.. and make it comfortable