A headache, but worth it

[LewisM]

Or, as an alternate title, Disassembling your DSLR...

I have had a BAD trigger on a Canon 40D for MANY years - so bad sometimes you just cannot make it fire. I plan on modding this with a cooling case, IR cut sensor etc to make it a dedicated astrocam (I have my 5dMkII for usual use, and it is also a GREAT astrocam surprisingly, though needs cooling too). I sw online a way to clean the trigger, which requires COMPLETE disassembly, and went to it.

There are LOTS of screws. LOTS. And all different length and thread. LOTS. Disassembly was SIMPLE, and cleaning was child's play (I used propanol on the trigger pad plates - lots of oxidation and grease came off). Reassembly was not so... I had forgotten where some screws went, and by the time I had realised where I went wrong, I had stripped the head on one screw, rendering taking one panel off again impossible. So, i went with what I had, and only have 4 screws left over. It's solid, so shouldn't fall apart any time soon, and functions FLAWLESSLY now.

Now to get the Baader IR plate in and do that - seems only need to remove the front plate, so no issue there.

Maybe i'll dry ice cool the camera like they used to with the hyper-film cameras years ago (may not be as silly as it sounds, if I can rig an external power source in lieu of the battery).The Canon tech manual shows one

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

This is proof that Canon built it with too many screws

Over engineering gone wild.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Sounds like a mate of mine who keeps modding his car. He always has a few nuts and bolts left over. He reckons the factory adds extras just for this purpose ..

[LewisM]

I have no clue where the extras went. I double and triple checked before adding each panel back.

Ah well, she seems to hold together... and since it will be pure astro, not like it's going to be carried much.

[DIYman (Doug)]

LOL You are a much braver man than I am LewisM.

When I take anything apart that is complicated I use my cheap point and shoot camera to take images at every step. It is an essential part of my tool box now.

I stopped relying on my memory years ago after making some dreadful stuff-ups - too many left over bits and pieces etc. This simple precaution has saved my bacon on many occasions. I give thanks regularly for the development of cheap digital photography.

[2stroke (Jay)]

Originally Posted by ZeroID

Sounds like a mate of mine who keeps modding his car. He always has a few nuts and bolts left over. He reckons the factory adds extras just for this purpose ..

Lol sounds like my current notebook, i have had it apart over 10 times for a dodgy power jack and every-time i've ended up few a few spares

GW Lewis, lol its get easier every time ya rip one apart though, i think its just instantly fear and frustration after that ya kinda know the ins and out and everything runs fast and smooth.