Nikon D300 USB door replacement fix………..kinda.

[mel_cox]

<p>I use the USB cable to transfer photos from my camera to my PC and the USB cover no longer fits correctly. Some people never experience the problem but others, like me who prefer to use the USB cable instead of removing the CF card, get tired of fiddling with trying to close, and keep closed, the rubber cover which, after a time, never fits quite right. Apparently after use and age the cover becomes stretched and no longer fits properly, potentially exposing the VIDEO OUT, HDMI, DC IN and USB connection sockets to the elements.<br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover1a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover1a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover2a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>I ordered two covers (part# 1K660-330) from Nikon parts.<br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover5a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover5a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover6a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover6a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>My plan was to snip off the tab and use the cover as an unattached cover. I wanted to make sure I had a spare. They were cheap. I believe I paid under $25 for both of them. They come with no instructions so you’re on your own. I called Nikon to see if someone would tell me how to replace it but, as usual, if it requires any kind of dismantling of the camera, they won’t tell you how to do it. After I got the parts I though I’d try a couple of other things first, so I cut a slit in the old cover to see if that would make it fit better but it didn’t. Then I snipped out some of the inner rubber cross bars but that didn’t help either so I just decided that I would go with my initial plan and snip off the old cover, close to the camera body, then snip the tab off the new cover and just pop it on.<br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover8a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover8a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover7a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover7a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>It worked great!! It’s not the prettiest solution but the cover stays put and closed.<br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover10a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover10a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover11a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover11a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>In order to replace the cover properly, you need to pry up or remove the left front grip to access the two screws that secure the cover tab inside the camera. I was reluctant to do that because I didn’t know what was holding the screws in and I didn’t what to loosen the screws and have two nuts floating around inside the camera body. Subsequently, looking at the repair manual there appears to be a small metal plate that fits inside the recessed area on the back of the cover tab. That plate has two holes in it which I suspect are threaded and I think that the screws screw into that small plate securing the cover tab inside the camera. You’d have to lift up the edge of the left front cover, unscrew the two small screws, lift out the old cover, remove the metal insert from the old tab, put it in the new tab, put the new cover tab back in the slot and secure the two screws. <br>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/?action=view&current=D300USBcover12.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/melcox/D300%20USB%20cover/D300USBcover12.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>So far, my solution of just snipping off the tab and replacing the cover is working fine for me.</p>

<p>Mel</p>

[tpernal]

<p>In my opinion, most people never experience this problem because the use card readers. It is common knowledge for years, that its not worth exposing your camera's electronics to any anomalies that could possibly be caused by whatever computer you are connected to. I've used nothing by flash card readers for years now. They're cheap and easy.</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>Untold thousands of CF card removals/re-inserts later, I've never had a problem and can think of many problems I might have avoided. The only time I use the camera's USB port is when I want to quickly dump some images to an iPad, or if I'm shooting tethered. Otherwise, I much, <em>much</em> prefer a card reader for speed, safety, and less wear and tear on camera batteries.</p>

[errol young]

<p>I never remove my CF cards because the pins can bend (I know this from experience) so the cover misfit is annoying. I did trim the door a bit and it helps.</p>

[CvhKaar]

<p>I also like to keep CF cards in camera as much as possible. I have had trouble with my D300 , where the pins in the camera went loose, after the camera was just over 1 tyear old, so no warranty anymore... ( there seem to have been a batch of inferior card connectors in D300, and i seem to have had 1 of them...) .</p>

[alex_dc]

<p>I've owned or own the D70, D200, D300, D700 and D7000, and shoot professionally, often times I shoot 3000 photos a day or tens of thousands on assignment. I never shoot on cards larger than 8GB. I've never once had a bent pin. Using the USB port puts the camera out of commission during the download. How many bent pins have you had? Are you using top quality CF cards or the cheapies?</p>

[BernardMiller]

<p>Or, you could simply use my method of securing the door. Yes, that is good old gaffer tape!</p>

<p>I never use that bleedin' door, but over time it has swollen up and won't fit properly anymore. All the rubber on my D300 has done that--the covering on the left and right sides has already been replaced once, and it really needs it again now.</p>

<p>I rather like my solution--it complements the battered appearance of my old warhorse.</p><div></div>