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Subject: Re: Paint Speck on my 416
From: Dick.Green@valley.net
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Mon Sep 18 00:42:16 1995

>5 or 6 pixels in size) paint speck on the chip ... confirmed but direct visual
>examination when the shutter opened.
>
>What should I do? Can I open it up and give it a couple of quick puffs
>from the
>compressed air can (I am quite technically minded being an engineer) or should
>I just contact Meade?
>

I had the same problem, but with 3 paint specks. One was about 20x20. It is possible to open the camera and blow the specks away, but I would check with Meade first. It might void your warranty.

If you decide to do it, you will have to be careful about several things: 1) use the correct size allen wrench and make sure you seat it firmly before turning each screw (if you strip one or more screw heads, you might not be able to get a good seal when reassembling the cover, and that will be very bad -- see #2 -->); 2) the dessicant inside that is used to prevent frost on the chip cannot be recharged, and it will be ruined if the camera is left open for more than 30 minutes -- so don't dally (ruined dessicant means a trip back to the factory); 3) be careful with the little wires surrounding the chip -- they can break easily; 4) be careful with the canned air -- if you tip it or the can is nearly empty the propellant can come streaming out and might ruin the chip -- you might try a manual air bulb like those that come with earwax remover kits); 5) make sure the o-ring is properly seated when you replace the cover -- it has a tendancy to shrink just enough to make it real hard to keep it seated long enough to get the cover back on -- you might have to *gently* stretch it to fit back in the groove.

I did not encounter all of these problems myself. Other members of the list alerted me to some of them. If Meade says it's OK to open it, ask them for any other warnings. Good luck.

Dick Green