MPP Monorail users/dismantlers, can you tell me what this picture is >

Its of the base of the rear standard of an MPP monorail. I've

labelled it up.

 

I've just got this camera from ebay, cheap, but its locked solid in a

few places. The rear tilt being one such place and the subject of

this post. I'm slowly trying to strip the thing to clean and

lubricate it. On this point I've come to a dead halt so far. The tilt

is so so stiff I can force it with both hands to turn about 5

degrees. I've hit a dead stop working up from the bottom as the

focusing rack (you can see it just above the word 'Rear') seems to be

securely fixed in place directly over a nut that potentially could

have held the key to freeing the thing. So I spotted this obvious

screw on the top that could have been used to vary the

pressure/resistance for the tilt movement. Anyway a few turns

throught some dry sounding nosises and jerky freeing-grabbing-freeing-

grabbing, and now the screw smoothy rotates in its hole. It neither

backs out or in and does not affect the tremendous stiffness of the

tilt one bit.

 

Does anyone know wht this screw actually does?

 

And whilst I'm on the subject has anybody else had an old MPP in a

similar condition and mnaged to get it all A OK again? I've got one

heck of a problem with the rise/fall on the left hand side of both

standards. Both are rock solid on the upright bar. I was thinking

perhaps the standards, which look to be alloy, may have fused with

the upright steel spar? Has any one had experience of this at all?

I've applied penetrating oil, a lot of selective force, and even a

gentle heat till the metal was hot...and no movement at all.

 

Here's a link to the picture, hope my html tags are right for this

site

 

src=http://www.bwt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mppscrew.jpg

I don't know anything about that particular camera. But if the screw behaves as you say, it is possible you stripped the thread. In that case, you may need to drill is out and retap the thread for another screw.

Was thinking this could be a possibility but it doesn't have the stripped or sheared feeling.

 

BTW I've had a good root in http://www.mppusers.freeuk.com/index.htm and cannot find much info at all about the gubbins of the MPP monorails so any other lins appreciated. I'm based in the UK.

Brian,

 

I can't help you with your particular problem but to quote another 'I know a man who can....'. If you get no luck with replies here email me and I can put you on to Neil Wright who will be able to tell you pretty much anything about MPP products.