YN565EX won't fire straight

I've recently purchased the flash unit and it worked fine a few times. Then it stopped working whenever it's aimed forward and only fires when aimed at an angle. Please help me resolve this issue. I've attached a video showing exactly what I mean: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Q6TsWscz_GQ

udig wrote in post #17743429
I've recently purchased the flash unit and it worked fine a few times. Then it stopped working whenever it's aimed forward and only fires when aimed at an angle. Please help me resolve this issue. I've attached a video showing exactly what I mean: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Q6TsWscz_GQ

video is private.

Hold the presses - man produces curving light!

Oh, the flash head - it has several components that can wear/break, including contacts. Find a friendly techie to patch it up. They are too cheap to be worth paying for repair.

udig wrote in post #17743429
I've recently purchased the flash unit and it worked fine a few times. Then it stopped working whenever it's aimed forward and only fires when aimed at an angle. Please help me resolve this issue. I've attached a video showing exactly what I mean: https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Q6TsWscz_GQ

Sounds to me like there's a break some where in the head, or a wire that is bending just too far. Needs to be opened up. Cheap enough to replace, versus repair though.

Very best,

There are a number of wires which run through the pivot to the HV board and head assembly. While they are pretty flexible they're not excessively long and if a wire gets caught and pinched it could easily pull a solder joint or connection enough to make it intermittent. When repairing mine, I had to dress the wires carefully during reassembly to make sure they didn't snag on anything. Likely it's a simple fix.

I always feel the need to add the friendly reminder to pay attention and be careful if you're opening one up to threads like this. The capacitors aren't critically hazardous in units that small, but they carry more than enough of a jolt to do rather unpleasant things to you if you short them out in the wrong way when they're fully charged.

The shock itself from flashes that small probably aren't going to kill you on their own, even if there is the potential for it to mess with your heart rate, but they can easily throw you off balance and stun you a bit.