Repairing Broken 600EX-RT Red Autofocus Panel

[CDD28]

I cracked the red autofocus panel on the front of my 600EX-RT and got the replacement part from Canon, but how do I go about getting the old panel off the light? I've tried everything but can't seem to get it to detach.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I'd have a local serviceman replace it for you. Disassembling a flash can be dangerous due to the very high voltage capacitor inside. They make them tricky to take apart to keep unqualified people from hurting themselves.

 

[CDD28]

I'd have a local serviceman replace it for you. Disassembling a flash can be dangerous due to the very high voltage capacitor inside. They make them tricky to take apart to keep unqualified people from hurting themselves.

Problem is that I don't have any repair center near where I am. It seems like it would just snap off but I don't want to crack the whole plastic housing.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

You might ask Canon to send you a exploded view of the parts identification page. You could probably figure it out from that.

 

[lintoni]

I cracked the red autofocus panel on the front of my 600EX-RT and got the replacement part from Canon, but how do I go about getting the old panel off the light? I've tried everything but can't seem to get it to detach.

Cracked? Can you carefully work something (knife blade, screwdriver tip) into the crack and then slowly expand the crack until the panel breaks in two?

 

[wsheldon]

I cracked the red autofocus panel on the front of my 600EX-RT and got the replacement part from Canon, but how do I go about getting the old panel off the light? I've tried everything but can't seem to get it to detach.

Cracked? Can you carefully work something (knife blade, screwdriver tip) into the crack and then slowly expand the crack until the panel breaks in two?

That, and can you infer how it attaches from the replacement piece? I assume there's a flange around all or part of the red lens that holds it to the body, but if it's just tabs on 2 sides you might be able to squeeze it along that axis and insert it.

And ditto about taking apart a flash. Those high voltage capacitors can really be dangerous.

 

[Marsu42]

You might ask Canon to send you a exploded view of the parts identification page. You could probably figure it out from that.

Even with schematics, I imagine it to be very difficult to disassemble a flash (even ignoring the high voltage) and don't break anything in addition. With these plastic parts, you have to know exactly where to pull/push with what force as many things aren't screwed but only "clipped" together.

Good luck in any case to the op, I feel with you having a dent in such an expensive flash :-o ... a horse ran over my first 600rt, it's got a crack at the battery cover since then as two of the said little plastic hooks broke.

 

[TheAshleyJones]

One of my 600EX-RTs fell on the floor a few weeks ago and the red cover popped off. It snapped right back on with no ill effects.

So I reckon it will come off without tools.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

One of my 600EX-RTs fell on the floor a few weeks ago and the red cover popped off. It snapped right back on with no ill effects.

So I reckon it will come off without tools.

Yup, just drop it on the floor

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Yup, just drop it on the floor

Probably not a factory approved proceedure. ;D

Of course, we never know what they do in the factory.