5D door question

Just purchased a used 5D and - already attached is the large double battery base.

It held two canon batteries.

Great to have IF and when I need it. In the meanwhile I want to use the 5D without the large accessory battery pack attached.

I have the door, so I unscrewed the accessory battery base and went to pop in the original door.

My bad luck the battery door is a smidgeon too wide to fit between the metal attachment point. It is so close but does not fit. I am tempted to force it.

I talked myself out of what is always a bad idea (get a bigger hammer theory has rarely worked for me), and decided to reach out to the zillion 5D faithful.

I see my 7D does not have the metal kind of a "U" shaped reenforcing frame.

Is it (the silver metal support frame) part of the accesory battery drive?

The "U" shaped metal frame is held on by two small Philips head screws.

Should I try and remove it?

5D folk . . .kindly offer any advice, as I am stuck as to what to do next.

I don't have a 5D, but when you mentioned the metal frame, it reminded me of my 20D. On the 20D door, one side of the pins is spring loaded. You have to slide it back to retract one of the pins and slide it in from the other side.

Also, when you're using the battery grip, there is a slot in the grip for storage of the battery door. That way, it stays with the camera at all times and is less likely to get lost.

I have to ask, did you manipulate the tab on the door that retracts the metal pin so you can install the door?

The little metal "knob" that is attached to the "rod" with the pins that go into the door frame slides back to pull in one of the pins and allow you to then insert the door. You can just use a thumbnail (or whatever) to pull it back. Otherwise, yeah, the pins stick out too much!

yes . . I have zero trouble depressing the pin(s) completely, as needed but my trouble is the door at the contact points with the base is a hair too wide WITH the pin depressed completely in!

I've swapped out the door on my 450D (which was sold awhile back) so I understand the performance step involving the pin . . .

. . .and the worn edges of the battery drive suggest it has always been attached to this 5D body . . .I am wondering if I have the correct . . door.

It was loose in a box and the aux battery was attached.

Well, I didn't ask before, but is this a 5D2 or a 5D "Classic"? I don't have a 5D2...but my 5D Classic and my 30D both use the same battery and connectors are identical. There must be a spec for them. Oddly, though, I found that the doors themselves are not interchangable -- I guess there are not specs for how well a door on one camera will fit on another! But it seems like the connector part, inluding the U-shape bracket, and the plastic parts that fit into the bracket and has to allow the door to swing freely, is supposed to fit properly with the "give" required.

If you see wear marks on the black platic pieces then that would indicate an out-of-spec part that the original owner never had fixed. Strange.

I guess with a used unit and it was mine I'd probably do a bit of filing to the black plastic to get things behaving, not just in putting the door in but in being able to freely swing open and shut!

Is there a chance it could be a door for a different camera and the correct door is in the secret hidey hole located at the base of the upright of the grip?
Why not just leave the grip on it anyway?

I've never used a grip -- I like using the prosumer bodies as "compact"...

not sure where you're headed with the screws & u-shaped frame - parts catalog Here might show you what you're after.

If it's any help, I had 2 20D's at one stage and the grip (with the door in hidey-hole) got swapped between them when I sold one of the bodies. Found later that the door I ended up with didn't quite fit the body so I have to "persuade" the door shut every time it needs closing...