Good news, Paul. I've noticed that only one of the locking pin mechanisms on my two flashes is working.
Based on your story, I should take apart the one that's in-op and check for broken pieces before using it again. I'll see about ordering the replacement part(s). If I get the part number(s), I'll forward them along to the list. I think we've determined a major Achilles Heel of the 540 flash. Pentax engineers take note :-[ -Brendan --- Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Success! > I was able to remove the screws with a long thin > Phillips screwdriver > from my box. They weren't very tight. Once inside it > was obvious that > the external plastic pin had broken off the plastic > strut to which it > was attached. The strut is retained on the metal > locking pin by two > nuts, so that the metal locking pin is lifted when > the plastic pin is > depressed. Once the flash was open, lifting the > steel locking pin was > a simple matter. The flash will still have to go to > Pentax for repair > (or alternatively I could order the part). But I > think it's still > under warranty. > > Some people who've had this problem have simply > eliminated the > locking pin, but I don't trust the flash to stay in > proper position > without the pin. I had a lot of trouble maintaining > good hot shoe > contact with the Sigma 500. I think the pin is > necessary. Too bad > Pentax used a plastic release mechanism. It appears > to be quite fragile. > Paul > On Jan 28, 2008, at 12:14 AM, Bob Sullivan wrote: > > > Paul, > > The 4 screws that hold the male shoe onto the > bottom of the flash are > > sized Phillips #0. > > If you can find a 1/4 inch ratchet wrench, a 6 > inch extension rod, and > > a #0 Phillips head socket, > > you can get the bottom off and release the pin. > Sears used to carry > > that stuff... > > Regards, Bob S. > > > > On Jan 27, 2008 3:20 PM, Paul Stenquist > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > wrote: > >> Yes, it's true. I mounted the 540 flash on the > K10D this afternoon in > >> an effort to shoot some birdies, and now it won't > come off. I tried a > >> little bit of WD40 ( a light lubricant), lots of > tugging and pulling. > >> I'm guessing that a screw has come loose on the > hot shoe and is > >> locking it in place. Any ideas? I'm thinking I'm > going to have to > >> send camera and flash to Pentax. A pisser. > >> Paul > >> > >> -- > >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > >> [email protected] > >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the > link directly above > >> and follow the directions. > >> > > > > -- > > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > [email protected] > > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the > link directly above > > and follow the directions. > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link > directly above and follow the directions. > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
