Nikon DE-1 dismantle instructions please

[sanmich]

Hi all

I have just received a nice DE-1 that needs a good cleaning.
In the attempt of opening it, I have so far broken a small something (no idea what, I thought it was the housing release latch) and released in the eyepiece a small metal piece that is now nicely floating and rattling around.:bang:

Before I start doing some real harm, if it isn't done yet, could some good
samaritan explain me, how on earth I am supposed to open the thing?

Thanks!

 

[Vickko]

Take off the leather covering, and you'll expose 4 screws. Take them out, and you can pop the top cover off, and expose the entire frame and rest of the parts

Good luck

Vick

 

[sanmich]

Thanks a lot Vickko.
Things are looking pretty good. The optics are clean and it seems everything will reassemble nicely.

I have a few more questions:
I have lost the direction of the eyepiece glued optics. Would someone remember wether the double convex element should be towards the prism or the convex-concave one?
Where is it critical to put back foams?
Also, what is the electrical wiring for?

 

[Bobbo]

The wiring goes to a little bulb in the top of the eyepiece, which lights up when a Nikon flash (assuming you use an SB-2 or SB7/7e flash) is ready.

The little button you probably broke (was it on the rewind knob side?) was the contact for the flash connection. Yeah, that's not a release. The only release is on the body on the back behind the shutter speed dial.

You should put all foam back in, just to be safe. As to where exactly it should go, I don't know off-hand.

 

[sanmich]

The wiring goes to a little bulb in the top of the eyepiece, which lights up when a Nikon flash (assuming you use an SB-2 or SB7/7e flash) is ready.

The little button you probably broke (was it on the rewind knob side?) was the contact for the flash connection. Yeah, that's not a release. The only release is on the body on the back behind the shutter speed dial.

You should put all foam back in, just to be safe. As to where exactly it should go, I don't know off-hand.

The wiring WENT to a little bulb that WAS in the top ... etc.😱
Thanks!😉