Zoom lever stuck at depth

[Maurillo]

Didn't get any answer in the Panasonic forum,
perhaps more readers here?

The zoom lever of my Panasonic TZ10 case gets stuck at depth (never really checked the depth threshold that triggers it, but it's systematic: essentially, the spring inside has no effect in moving the lever back to neutral position when finger pressure is removed). Works perfectly fine out of water, so it must really be a pressure issue.

Not critical, but surely annoying when fine tuning. Any idea if something could be done?

Thanks!

Maurizio

 

[fmerkel]

Some shaft is going through some O-ring. Shaft+O-ring are likely sticky.
Put a couple drops of vinegar in the well outside the control, work it a few times, let it sit a couple minutes, work a bit more > then rinse the hell out of it.
Put a couple drops PURE SILICONE liquid into the well. Work it a BUNCH. (No petroleum grease > bad!)

Now, look at the inside. If you can see or access the control coming through the wall on the inside try to apply a very small amount of SILICONE grease with a toothpick point of similar. Work it a bunch.

Now try diving it.

If it's still sticky you can (probably....carefully) take it apart, clean, lube, and assemble. I've done this with both Nikon and Canon cases. It's more fiddly than hard. Very easy to lose tiny tiny pieces.