Anyone pulled a 430EX apart ?

[riyazi]

No seriously - has anyone done it ?

If you clicked on this thread hoping to see the insides of a 430EX then I am sorry to disappoint you - though I might do a thread of that soon

I have a 430EX which I dropped a couple of times and now it seems the zoom is not working properly ! The first time I dropped it the pull out plastic thingy (wide angle something ?) broke. I checked to see if the flash was working and it was so forgot all about it. Then after a couple of weeks dropped the flash again (yes yes I am a clumsy oaf) and was relieved to see the flash was still working

Last week I was using it and realised that the zoom is not working now - its stuck at 14mm (or something like that). I can even zoom manually. Maybe its because the plastic thing is broken that the flash thinks the wide setting is on and doesn't allow further zooming ?

Just wanting to see if anyone has any advice for me (other than take it to a repair centre). I tried opening it up but removing the 2 screws doesnt seem to be doing the trick.

[tim]

It will be the wide angle panel being out, or the flash thinking it's out. If you can get it open you might be able to force the switch closed so the zoom starts working again, but unfortunately a trip to the service center might be the only way to fix it properly.

If you get the flash open be careful, i've given myself a couple of really good zaps working inside flashes. They have really high voltages inside.

[riyazi]

Thanks Tim - do you have any tips on how to open it ? It seems to be difficult to remove and I cant figure out how to do it !

[tim]

I wrote a nice post but lost it. Short version is google it, I did and found this thread, see Rene's post on P2.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=252108

[riyazi]

Actually I did google it :) I did find that thread and DID click on Rene's link - unfortunately that link does not work any more

My google search didn't give me any specifics about how to pull the 430EX apart - except to say not to do it !

[tim]

A hammer will get it apart, but it won't work so well afterwards...

[riyazi]

Awww - I had taken a hammer to my hand ....

oh well - will try to fix it without taking it apart.

[mmahoney]

A few months ago my Sigma 500 was acting up .. that particular flashs' menu was written by a torture expert so it's not a pleasure to work with at the best of times, but when it stopped working in slave mode, I'd had enough. I tried to choke the little bugger.

I grabbed the top & bottom and twisted it's head off.

It took a good deal more effort than I thought it would .. but finally the head came free from the body, attached by just a handful of very thin wires. A quick jerk upwards and the wires came apart with a little "pop" and a puff of smoke. Very satisfying.

[riyazi]

/* note to one self - never make mmahoney angry .... ever */

I would have done that if the flash played up on its own - but since I dropped it, I am to blame and breaking it in to won't help me :)

[Pmolan]

I know everything about taking apart the lower half. Must have done it 15 times. The trick is that when you twist the flash 90 degrees, it has 4 screws. Only remove 2 diagonally, doesnt matter which. If you remove all 4, the screw holes are actually on a free floating bar that will fall inside. There is also a little clip by the flash bracket screw about a hald inch up inside, mine broke when I took it apart but goes back together with no problem. Also beware of the black tripwire (a wire that travels from the flash head and through the lower half of the body and attaches loosly in a hole.) Look for it, youll see it. You can pull it out, but it needs to go back.

[yuriyo923]

Someone here took 580ex apart, seach for that tread, your flash is not much different (built)