Cant unscrew my mount on A7r

Hi

I was trying to unscrew the mount of my Sony A7r to install the tough mount from fotodiox. but somehow i could only lose one screw and the others are so stiff that i am now scared that i might break them...

What can i do? In the fotodiox video it looked so easy but the screws on my A7r are not moving a bit..

This might sound scary, but I'm going to say you need heat to soften perhaps more thread locking compound on your particular camera.

Heat a small soldering iron to temp, wipe all excess solder from the tip (we don't want any drips or resin splatters from previous soldering), and touch it to the center of one of the screws for a brief moment or two, then quickly try the screwdriver, and see if that does it. Not a lot of heat, and not too long. The screws are into metal threads, but the screw is through at least one layer of plastic in the mount you are trying to replace, so you don't want enough heat to risk damaging that in the event that this doesn't loosen the screws, but it should soften thread locking compound on the threads well before heat becomes an issue away from the screw itself.

Does that really work? Im kind of scared now that i might strip them so much that i cant even put it back together...

Also, can i buy the same screws somewhere or are they special screws made by sony?

The biggest danger doing these things is to have the absolutely correct screwdriver for the job. Tiny jeweler screwdrivers don't have enough weight or grip, but a gunsmith screwdriver kit will have not only the right sized phillips tip but a ratcheting handle that you can put weight onto.

advaitin wrote in post #17437564
The biggest danger doing these things is to have the absolutely correct screwdriver for the job. Tiny jeweler screwdrivers don't have enough weight or grip, but a gunsmith screwdriver kit will have not only the right sized phillips tip but a ratcheting handle that you can put weight onto.

Thats what i thought too. What screwdriver should i use then?

The heat thing works. As mentioned you have to be careful that you do not damage the plastic around the mount, but depending on the type of thread lock used, heat is needed to soften the compound.

davidfarina wrote in post #17437619
Thats what i thought too. What screwdriver should i use then?

Do not use philips head screwdrivers! The screws are JIS and you need to use a JIS screwdriver or you'll probably strip them. You can find nice sets of JIS screwdrivers on Amazon for a reasonable price. Specifically, you need a #00 JIS screwdriver.

raptor3x wrote in post #17437676
Do not use philips head screwdrivers! The screws are JIS and you need to use a JIS screwdriver or you'll probably strip them. You can find nice sets of JIS screwdrivers on Amazon for a reasonable price. Specifically, you need a #00 JIS screwdriver.

I second that. Use the appropriate screw driver and the screws actually come out pretty easily.

mystik610 wrote in post #17437941
I second that. Use the appropriate screw driver and the screws actually come out pretty easily.

I have now tried 3 different #00 screwdrivers and am still unable to remove 2 screws out of 4. i tried to heat the screws but that doesnt help. Now that i have **** up my screws and the mount itself i am so upset i dont want to leave it like this! Any help out there??

davidfarina wrote in post #17447678
I have now tried 3 different #00 screwdrivers and am still unable to remove 2 screws out of 4. i tried to heat the screws but that doesnt help. Now that i have **** up my screws and the mount itself i am so upset i dont want to leave it like this! Any help out there??

How badly are the screws messed up? If they are really messed up there is not a lot you can do but drill them out and re-tap the threads. Not for the fainthearted. Not sure they even have screw extractors that small. If there is any of the screw head left, maybe what advaitin recommended, a bigger handled screwdriver allowing you to put more downward force thus griping whats left of the head better.

davidfarina wrote in post #17447678
I have now tried 3 different #00 screwdrivers and am still unable to remove 2 screws out of 4. i tried to heat the screws but that doesnt help. Now that i have **** up my screws and the mount itself i am so upset i dont want to leave it like this! Any help out there??

Try putting a rubber band over the top of the screw then putting the screwdriver over the rubber band and loosening it that way (applying a good bit of downward force on the screw). This usually works for me when I have stuck screws.

davidfarina wrote in post #17447678
I have now tried 3 different #00 screwdrivers and am still unable to remove 2 screws out of 4. i tried to heat the screws but that doesnt help. Now that i have **** up my screws and the mount itself i am so upset i dont want to leave it like this! Any help out there??

If the screws are truly warped, you can use a precision screw extractor:

http://www.amazon.com …-Reversible/dp/B000JCT3​W0

Never used one on a camera, but I had to pick a set up when I warped a screw on my macbook pro. I also used this set to remove the screws on the a7r!

mystik610 wrote in post #17456813
If the screws are truly warped, you can use a precision screw extractor:

http://www.amazon.com …-Reversible/dp/B000JCT3​W0

Never used one on a camera, but I had to pick a set up when I warped a screw on my macbook pro. I also used this set to remove the screws on the a7r!

I tried it also with a moody tools #00. will i be able to use the same screws or do i have to replace them? Because i dont find those screws in local shops..

davidfarina wrote in post #17456856
I tried it also with a moody tools #00. will i be able to use the same screws or do i have to replace them? Because i dont find those screws in local shops..

Using a screw extractor usually destroys the screw to get it out...you'll need to find replacement screws.

Might want to see if you can buy the replacement screws directly from Sony:

https://servicesales.s​el.sony.com …accessories_NEX​5:esupport

mystik610 wrote in post #17456882
Using a screw extractor usually destroys the screw to get it out...you'll need to find replacement screws.

Might want to see if you can buy the replacement screws directly from Sony:

https://servicesales.s​el.sony.com …accessories_NEX​5:esupport

Ill try to contact them. But im seriously tired of that. Have tried so much things but i cant get 2 of them out and it pisses me off because i cant use the camera for now...