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Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement

What you need

  1. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove back cover: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Push down on the screw to depress the spring loaded hinge and release the door.

  2. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove bottom cover: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove six 5.3 mm #00 screws.

    • Remove one 3.4 mm #00 screw.

    • The short screw has a machine thread and screws into the plate underneath. The rest screw into the plastic body.

  3. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove left front cover: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Remove three 5.3 mm #00 screws (the bottom-most screw is not always present).

    • Remove one 7.3 mm #00 screw.

    • Remove the remote trigger cover.

  4. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove front cover: step 4, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove front cover: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Remove one 3.4 mm #00 screw.

    • Remove two 5.3 mm #00 screw.

    • Gently lift up on the flash housing to help remove the cover if necessary.

  5. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove right front cover: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove two 3.9 mm #00 screws.

  6. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove eye cup: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Slide the eye cup up and off to access the screws underneath.

  7. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 1 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 2 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 3 of 3
    • Remove two 5.3 mm #00 screws by the eyepiece.

    • Remove one 6.8 mm #00 screw in the battery compartment.

    • Remove one 7.0 mm #00 screw near the take up spool.

  8. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Lift top cover: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the cover so it is just free of the body. It is still attached by several wires.

  9. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Discharge flash capacitors: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Use a 1kฮฉ-10kฮฉ resistor to discharge the capacitor. Place the resistor between the blue wire, exposed in the previous step, and ground.

    • The flash capacitors store energy at a very high voltage. Failing to discharge the capacitors properly could result in personal injury and/or damage to the camera.

  10. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Release top cover: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • De-solder the green, blue, brown and black wires from the flash PCB.

  11. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 1 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 2 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • Move the top cover to the side to access the battery connections. It is still connected by a flex cable.

    • De-solder the indicated joints. Use a solder sucker on the tabbed connections.

    • Pull the black wire from the battery flex to get more slack in the connection to the top cover.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

  12. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Desolder flex cable: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Desolder the flex cable connecting the top plate to the camera body.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

    • The top cover can be completely removed at this point.

  13. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder flex posts: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Use a solder sucker to de-solder the four posts from the flex circuit.

    • This is the most difficult part of the repair. Patience and persistence are required.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

  14. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder flex connections: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • De-solder the marked connections.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

  15. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew flex circuit: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Remove one 4.3 mm #00 screw.

  16. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Lift the flex circuit: step 16, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Lift the flex circuit: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Gently pry up the plastic carrier under the flex circuit. It may catch slightly on the battery contact tab.

    • Pay close attention to the connections around the four through-hole posts as you lift the flex. Make sure that no solder is left over and that it pulls away freely.

    • This metal tab is lightly held in place with lacquer and can easily come loose. Keep an eye on it.

  17. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew flash PCB: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove one 3.3mm #00 screw.

    • Remove one 3.9 #00 screw.

    • De-solder the red wire.

    • Peel off the black tape. Leave it attached to the wires.

  18. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove flash PCB and capacitors: step 18, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove flash PCB and capacitors: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Gently peel the flex circuit from the surface of the capacitor.

    • There may be additional adhesive underneath the larger capacitor.

    • Lift the two capacitors and the flash PCB out as a single unit.

    • The double sided tape used to secure the capacitors can be softened with isopropyl alcohol if necessary.

  19. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Prepare bottom plate: step 19, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Prepare bottom plate: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Remove two 3.4 mm #00 screws. Remove the plate holding the contacts in place.

    • Peel tape from the plate. Leave the tape attached to the flex circuit.

    • Remove the flex circuits from their retaining studs.

  20. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove bottom plate: step 20, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove bottom plate: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Remove one 3.3 mm #0 countersunk screw.

    • Remove one 3.9 mm #0 shoulder screw.

    • Remove four 3.3 mm #00 screws.

    • Pull a little slack through the housing on this flex cable.

    • Pop the plate off its posts, rotate slightly clockwise and pull gently through the loosened flex cable.

    • To the camera tech that left me a happy little note...I see you.

  21. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove loose parts: step 21, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove loose parts: step 21, image 2 of 2
    • It's best to remove these parts now so they don't fall out later on in the repair.

  22. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Detach DOF preview switch: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Remove one 3.8 mm #00 screw.

  23. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder shutter control flex: step 23, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, De-solder shutter control flex: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • De-solder the connections.

    • Lift the flex off the retaining studs.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

  24. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove eye piece assembly: step 24, image 1 of 1
    • Remove two 5.3 mm #0 screws.

  25. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew front housing block: step 25, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Unscrew front housing block: step 25, image 2 of 2
    • Remove two 7.4 mm #0 screws.

    • Remove one 8.3 mm #0 screw.

    • Remove one 3.3 mm #00 screw. The metal bracket will be loose and should be removed as well.

  26. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Lift front housing block: step 26, image 1 of 1
    • Push the front housing block slightly up then lift the left side up and away from the housing.

    • Proceed slowly and watch for any components that are catching. The right side is still attached by a large flex cable.

  27. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Check for shims: step 27, image 1 of 1
    • There may be shims at the mounting points of the front housing block.

    • Note the positions and remove if loose.

  28. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Detach mirror motor assembly: step 28, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Detach mirror motor assembly: step 28, image 2 of 2
    • De-solder the black wire.

    • Remove four 3.7 mm #00 screws.

    • Detach the buzzer from its mounting posts. Use isopropyl alcohol to soften the lacquer if necessary.

  29. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove mirror motor assembly: step 29, image 1 of 1
    • Grab the motor and gently wiggle the plate loose.

    • If it feels stuck, move the sliding plate down, towards the bottom of the camera

  30. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove mirror motor: step 30, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Remove mirror motor: step 30, image 2 of 2
    • De-solder the red and black wires.

    • Remove two #00 screws.

    • Use the lettering on the motor to note its orientation. If installed or wired backwards, the motor will spin in the wrong direction.

  31. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Install new motor gear: step 31, image 1 of 1
    • Pull off the old gear.

    • Press the new gear on until about 1 mm of the shaft extends past the end.

    • If it is too difficult to press on, use a soldering iron to heat the brass gear. A small amount of thermal expansion should make it easier.

  32. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Check green and yellow drive gears: step 32, image 1 of 1
    • The green and yellow gears can sometimes slip off their posts while working with the motor.

    • Check that the alignment holes are properly synced before installing the mirror motor assembly.

    • Aperture set lever spring. Note this part for installation of the mirror motor assembly.

  33. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Prepare mirror motor assembly for install: step 33, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Prepare mirror motor assembly for install: step 33, image 2 of 2
    • Disengage latch so the slide bar can move freely.

    • Move the slide bar about half way down its total travel.

    • Let the latch snap back into place so the slide bar is held in the new position.

    • This ensures that the aperture set lever spring couples properly with the slide bar during reassembly.

  34. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Install mirror motor assembly: step 34, image 1 of 1
    • Install the mirror motor.

    • Place the left side first. Then swing the right side in, coming up and under the spring loaded lens release.

  35. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Charge mirror: step 35, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the grey gear downward until the mirror is in the charged/down position.

  36. Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Charge shutter: step 36, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Mirror Motor Gear Replacement, Charge shutter: step 36, image 2 of 2
    • Push the shutter charge lever upward. You should see the shutter blades move as you do this.

    • The second picture shows the shutter in the charged position. It may already be in this position and not need charging.

    • Gently place the front assembly block. Work it into place until the back of the block is flush to the back of camera.

    • Proceed with the rest of the re-assembly, following the guide in reverse.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

5 other people completed this guide.

Sam Gustafson

Member since: 09/01/22

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Grazie รจ semplicemente perfetto

pietro mariani - Reply

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