Sand in MX10 strobe

[DrSteve]

Hi!

I did a beach dive yesterday which was very sandy - sand everywhere. I got some sand caught between the camera and strobe of my MX10 and YB40. Managed to seperate the camera and strobe with some force, but now the locking mechanism on the strobe is jammed. There are 4 scres holding a plate in (tiny philips), any ideas if I take these off that I can get into the locking mechanism or is that in the sealed compartment?

 

[Dee]

The one person I know who can answer you for sure would be Greg at GB Undersea. You can email him at info@gbundersea.com.

 

[DrSteve]

Thank you Dee. I just emailed him.

 

[nusspli]

That happened to me before too.

Sand got in between the strobe and the camera and I couldn't get the two apart to remove my film. I soaked the setup in water, swished it around and let it sit under a running faucet. Luckily, it worked and I could get the two apart. Since then I've always removed the strobe from the camera alomst immediately after the dive.

If Greg gives you any good adivce, please pass it on.

 

[DrSteve]

If you take a look at the strobe you will see there are 4 screws on the grey plate which goes over the red disconnect "switch." Take these 4 screws out (careful they are small) and the locking mechanism is a U shaped piece of red plastic with 2 springs glued to it. Remove this and you can clean everything out.

I tried subtle at first and then brute force, before I took the plate off. The amount of sand in there was miniscule in the extreme. I could barely see it.