Problem with Canon G9 housing

[ChristyV]

I bought an AF35 Ikelite strobe to go with my canon G9 housing. The set up seemed simple enough..with directions specifically for Canon but..... there is a little metal plate at the bottom of the housing attached by 4 little screws. There is a hole in the middle that the foot of the strobe screws into and a screw and a washer to put it together. I can't get the screw to stay in. The screw looks okay and I am worried that I somehow stripped the threads inside the plate. I called cannon but they don't sell that little plate on the housing. Obviously since it is screwed on with 4 little screws you could take it off and on. Does anyone have a broken or damaged housing for the G9 where that plate might still be good? I would love to have it or buy it. Otherwise I don't have any idea where to get one. I hate to buy a new housing just for that little plate. Any suggestions? Canon didn't have any except for a $275. new housing...they didn't seem to know anything about those $79. housing specials recently posted on Scuba board. Thanks, Christy

 

[goldfish05]

christy this is a real simple fix. if you did strip out the hole. go to an automotive store. or hardware store ask for a tap and die set. and ask them if they can show you real fast how to use it. this is a tool set that will repair the threads. and if that works then my advice would be buy a new screw or fix the old one because if you damaged one 90% sure you did the other as well. A tap set normally runs anywhere from 15-200 dollors depending on the brand.

 

[ChristyV]

Thanks, Goldfish, I'll go to a hardware store today and give this a try. I really appreciate the advice.

 

[Jrock1062]

Christy

also before you tap the plate see if another screw with the same threads will fit in the plate that will give you an idea if that is stripped or not

 

[cwkline]

Christy,
If the plate is stripped, you will have to tap the hole to a larger diameter, then replace the screw in the tray to fit what you just tapped. You need to determine the size of the screw and thread count to really get an idea of how to fix it (proper tap size). You might want to try and find an old housing and take the plate off the bottom and just change that. Or find a diver that works in a machine shop to make a new plate for you.

 

[under water]

Christy,
Are you really sure that you have the right screw to mount the camera. There are several different sizes. Did it ever fit correctly?
If not, then have the person at the HW store try some threaded bolts until you get the right thread.

 

[ChristyV]

I sure do appreciate all the advice. That's what I love about scuba board! I'm going to go to the camera store where I bought the housing first then try different screws then the tap thing, then look for someone who might be able to machine a new plate. If none of this works, I will keep hoping someone will come up with a now defunct housing where that plate is still good and maybe they will give or sell it to me.

 

[cwkline]

Christy,
Unfortunately, my friend has bought a new camera for the same housing. So I can't steal the plate from her. I'll check at work tonight and see what I can come up with.

 

[ChristyV]

I logged back on to see if my latest message was posted and didn't see it. I really appreciate your offer but one of the other writers suggested I had the wrong screw. It did come with more than one screw but I could only find the one I was trying to use. I went to the hardware store with the housing and the screw. It turns out there is nothing wrong with the plate, I just needed a larger screw. Thanks so much for offering to help. You are a very kind person!
Christy