How to clean Skipping Control Wheels... My way.

I wanted to bump this for an update... so last may, I posted a thread on this issue and thank again to Photosopher for posting this "how to..." thread. But here in Canada, we don't have Radio Shacks... At the time I didn't know The Source is basically the same, I went to London Drugs looking for the the Electronics Cleaner spray but they only had the compressed air sprays. I figured, I'd just try it. And it worked.

But this week, the issue came back and this time it's happening to both the front AND the rear dials... I tried using the same compressed air method that I used last time, but it didn't work this time.

so I went to The Source today, I asked about electronics cleaners, and they had this:


I followed the steps (from page 1) and thank goodness, it worked right away!

I just wanted to update this for the Canadian members.

and FYI, it was $10 for the can

The front dial on my α-9 skips, is this procedure really safe to try? Just spray a little and it should be fine?

Thanks neilt3 for the reassurance. I did want to hear from another film camera user.

Edited by jasz - 16 December 2012 at 02:52

Very helpful "manual" indeed.

At my A77, the on-off-switch is running very hard / rough.

Can I use this procedure here too?

Pallanza wrote: Very helpful "manual" indeed. At my A77, the on-off-switch is running very hard / rough. Can I use this procedure here too?

I used it on mine because my a77's on/off switch the was starting to stick, as in becoming rather hard to turn on and off, so I sprayed a little there too (but I took the batteries out first so I could flip the switch on and off without actually turning the camera on and off repeatedly, something you'd want to do before the stuff evaporates)

Hi, just a warning. I tried this on my α-9 film camera. The lubricant spray completely loosened the rubber grip that fits around the control wheel. Perhaps the rubber is glued to the wheel? Well, It's off the wheel now just floating around not connecting at all. Anyone know how to get it back on? Could I super glue it in sections? Meaning glue one section, turn a bit and glue the next section? Thanks.

jasz wrote: ...The lubricant spray completely loosened the rubber grip (α-9 film camera) that fits around the control wheel...

Don't clean camera with lubricant spray. You want electronics cleaner.

Assuming you did use electronics cleaner, I guess it could possibly loosen any glue on an older camera. But I'd wager it was getting ready to go anyway. We must keep in mind that older cameras used lots of glue and foam to hold parts together. Over time, they become compromised with age. The older the camera, the more likely a problem. Hard to buy a film camera without deteriorated foam seal on film chamber or mirror box. And the leather covers often peel in corners. Not surprised to hear a control wheel came loose from grip.

Were it mine, I would disassemble as much as possible, and re-attach with rubber cement. I don't know how super glue reacts to rubber.

Good luck jasz. Let us know how it works out. And thanks for posting the problem to this thread.