Pressure plate clip fall off (Olympus 35RD)

[CafeConLeche]

I posted this question on kyphoto.com, but didn't get much response, so I thought I will try my luck here.

I was replacing the light seal on an Olympus 35RD. Everything was done, and I was putting back the pressure plate. Suddenly, the clip that holds the pressure plate falls off as I was trying to clip it on.

Any idea or suggestion on how to fix this? Seems like it was arc welded on the door before painted, I am confortable doing some touch up paint, but how can I get the clip back on it and able hold the plate?

Somebody on kyphoto suggested a workaround to use double-sided tape to hold the plate. I want to see if there is a better "fix" before I had to go with the workaround.

 

[Bill58]

You might try a spot of some kind of epoxy steel or JB Weld brand (best). Other than that, get a new door off a junker camera.

 

[Frontman]

That looks like a broken rivet. You can fix it by using a two-part epoxy glue. Make sure both surfaces are absolutely clean of oil and such, mix the glue, apply too the rear of the clip, set the clip on the pressure plate, and let it dry overnight. Be very careful reinstalling the pressure plate, as flexing the clips too much might cause the glue to break or crack.

 

[sevo]

These rivets were specially shaped with a factory tool so that the pressure plate spring can slip underneath - that can't be done at home. As there is some leverage against the rivet, glue alone will probably come undone at the most unsuitable moment. But it should be possible to drill and thread a small (say M1.5) hole though both halves of the rivet, and join them with a small screw (whose head you grind off once finished) in addition to the glue.

Or get another back. On average the back was the best on most of the ebay cameras I purchased. It should not be that hard to find a broken camera with good back. Would a 35RC back fit?

 

[Frontman]

These rivets were specially shaped with a factory tool so that the pressure plate spring can slip underneath - that can't be done at home. As there is some leverage against the rivet, glue alone will probably come undone at the most unsuitable moment. But it should be possible to drill and thread a small (say M1.5) hole though both halves of the rivet, and join them with a small screw (whose head you grind off once finished) in addition to the glue.

Or get another back. On average the back was the best on most of the ebay cameras I purchased. It should not be that hard to find a broken camera with good back. Would a 35RC back fit?

A plate from a 35 DC would probably work, it is nearly identical to the RD. I have a couple DC parts cameras which have pressure plates I'd be willing to part with.

 

[CafeConLeche]

Thanks guys, for all the suggestions. I think i am going to first try the epoxy, if that doesn't work, then i will try to drill a hole and punch in a tiny flatheat screw of simular size. If all that doesn't work out, then i will have to replace the back. I've tried a 35RC back, the height is the same, but width is about 1cm different, i am going to guess the same for 35DC. The worse case is just to use the double-sided tape until i can find a replacement back.

If anyone reading this post happens to have a spare 35RD back, please PM me. Thanks.

 

[Steve M.]

Just put it back w/ this

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=998031373

I used to repair cracked automotive transmission cases w/ it. It's marine grade, and if you use it correctly I promise you, the next time something on the back breaks, it won't be at this point.

 

[CafeConLeche]

"2500 PSI bonding strength", this looks promising. I will try it out and post the results. Thanks.

 

[CafeConLeche]

Amazingly, epoxy worked... I couldn't find the Devcon brand that Steve recommended at my local ACE/HomeDepot/Lowes, so I went with the next closest match, the
JB Weld (thanks Bill, for the recommandation). The good thing about this eposy that it takes 4hr to set, so I got plenty of time to do my trial and error, it can be easily wiped clean with lighter fluid before it's set, then try again. After about 5 trials, I finally got it in the right place with the right amount of epoxy. Wait over night for it to cure, now it's holding strong. After about 20 hours of curing, I put back the pressure plate back on, it's like nothing ever happened. Thanks for everyone's help.

While we are here, want to show you guys some bad business practice, here is how the film door look like when I got it. The previous owner must have used this shop to service this camera, and the shop put their sticker on it for advertisement:

I rip out the sticker, all adhesive still on the door. Good thing is the adhesive is removable using lighter fluid. But seems like the paint has some reaction to the adhesive over the years, so the texture is not the same anymore:

I just think this is really bad practice to leave advertisement like this.