Cross threaded lens' filter threads

floyd

Senior Member
While I can still screw filters on my 16-200mm lens, they never go on smoothly. I usually have to try five to six times and turn it pretty hard before the filter seems to go on. So I'm pretty sure at some point I cross threaded the threads. The problem occurs when I try to screw on any of my five filters, so it's not the filter threads that are bad.

Is there a fix for this? Is there a way to remove that portion of the lens and have new threads installed? Or am I screwed and have to live with crossed threads?

Thanks for any insight or advice!
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
While I can still screw filters on my 16-200mm lens, they never go on smoothly. I usually have to try five to six times and turn it pretty hard before the filter seems to go on. So I'm pretty sure at some point I cross threaded the threads. The problem occurs when I try to screw on any of my five filters, so it's not the filter threads that are bad.

Is there a fix for this? Is there a way to remove that portion of the lens and have new threads installed? Or am I screwed and have to live with crossed threads?

Thanks for any insight or advice!
Oh it can be fixed, sure; but if you don't know what you're getting into disassembling a lens then it's a job for a professional.
 

floyd

Senior Member
Oh it can be fixed, sure; but if you don't know what you're getting into disassembling a lens then it's a job for a professional.
I have no experience with disassembling a lens. Should I take it to my local camera shop, send it to Nikon, or send it to another online camera/lens repair store? Any guesses on how much it might cost?

Thanks for the reply!
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Try turning the filter the wrong direction first. When you feel the filter drop, align or seat then try turning it forward. If it binds repeat the procedure. I would recommend this method be used on any fine threaded fastening.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Can you see damage? Use a light and magnifier to inspect the threads. If no bent threads, maybe there is just some crap in the threads. Try pinching a cleaning cloth into the threads. 'Chase' the threads, meaning keeping it in contact as you loop around and around. Work counter clockwise so that any gunk is pushed away from the glass and towards the outside as you follow the threads around. If you have any Eclipse cleaning fluid, I would put the tiniest drop on the cloth. Just a enough to give some moisture without any chance of some leaking into the lens. I've had success cleaning and even repairing fine threads like that with a modified dental pick but I wouldn't recommend that unless you were 100% confident that you could pull it off without damage.
Work on that fine touch that Needa described. If you have a junk filter, gently screw it on and off a few times and clean both male and female threads as above each time. You might be able to loosen things up.
 

floyd

Senior Member
Can you see damage? Use a light and magnifier to inspect the threads. If no bent threads, maybe there is just some crap in the threads. Try pinching a cleaning cloth into the threads. 'Chase' the threads, meaning keeping it in contact as you loop around and around. Work counter clockwise so that any gunk is pushed away from the glass and towards the outside as you follow the threads around. If you have any Eclipse cleaning fluid, I would put the tiniest drop on the cloth. Just a enough to give some moisture without any chance of some leaking into the lens. I've had success cleaning and even repairing fine threads like that with a modified dental pick but I wouldn't recommend that unless you were 100% confident that you could pull it off without damage.
Work on that fine touch that Needa described. If you have a junk filter, gently screw it on and off a few times and clean both male and female threads as above each time. You might be able to loosen things up.
Excellent suggestions. I'll give them a try in the next couple days and report back!
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
If the 16mm end will allow it with out cut off remove the glass from a filter put it on and leave it,then you have new threads,not a fix but a lot cheaper.
 
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