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Canon EFS 17-85mm IS stuck/locked zoom repair/disassembly

It seems like this is a common problem with these lenses, the zoom gets stuck at 17mm with about 2mm of play (zoom movement). This problem is all due to a loose single screw on the inner lens assembly, sounds simple to fix, doesn’t it?

The challenge is trying to get to this single screw, which involves the separation of the lens into over 10 components, and the removal of about 20 small screws. Hopefully this guide will make the disassembly job a whole lot easier.

First, a reminder of what the lens looks like.

The stuck zoom lens

Turn the lens on its side with the connection contacts closest to you. There are 2 tiny Philips screws to remove.

Remove 2 screws holding the connection contacts

Balance the lens on its front with the metal lens screw lock ring visible. There are 4 small Philips screws to remove.

Metal lens screw lock

The metal ring can now be hinged apart. This next step is the most difficult. The inner black plastic ring is connected to the metal outer ring with 4 plastic clips in the inside. By pushing the clips towards the center, the black plastic ring can be removed from the top of the metal outer ring. Much care is needed due to the ribbon cable still being attached to the connection contacts allowing for a gap of roughly no more than 1cm.

Inner black ring and outer metal ring, clips visible

Once the inner black plastic ring is removed, the outer metal screw lock ring can be removed, exposing the PCB protected by a black plastic housing.

Both black and metal ring removed and PCB visible

Disconnect a single pressure ribbon cable attached to the inside of the black plastic housing which will then allow for its removal exposing the PCB.

Black plastic housing removed

Disconnect the 5 ribbon cables from the PCB. 2 are pressure connected, 2 with a hinged clip and 1 with a pressure clip. Unscrew a single Philips screw allowing the removal of the PCB.

Remove the 5 screws (circled in red) holding the outer black plastic ring allowing the remove of the black plastic ring. Then remove the 3 inner screws (circled in blue).

PCB removed

Turn the lens over and remove the rubber zoom grip. It can be removed by inserting a very thin screw driver under the rubber and working your way around.

Font of 17-85mm lens

Rubber zoom grip removed

With the rubber zoom grip removed, rotate the lens until you find a black rectangle sticker, peal this off to expose some contactors.

Black rectangle sticker removed exposing the contactors

With a Philip driver, unscrew the contactors. I actually performed this when reassembling the lens and slightly damaged them. It is better to remove them at the start to prevent this.

Contactors removed

There are 3 screws sitting on small metal tubes between a groove, finally remove these.

Screw in metal tubes within the groves

With these removed the inner lens portion can now be removed from the outer casing.

Outer casing removed from inner lens

You now have access to the problem screw(s) that need tightening. Once tightened, add some Loctite or nail-polish to stop the screws becoming loose again.

The final screws that need tightening

Some do’s and don’ts

  • don’t remove the front lens sticker or 3 screws behind it.
  • don’t remove the zoom sticker with m/ft increments.
  • don’t touch or disassemble any of the focusing ring!
  • do keep your UV filter on the lens, you can still remove the rubber grip with it on.
  • do make sure the focusing pin between the inner and outer len is in place.

References

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 8:12 am and is filed under Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Newer Comments →
  • http://www.x-ray-optics.com Arndt

    Hi,
    I thought it was the Californian dunes sand that blocked my zoom lens: no! I repaired it with your help.
    Thanks, Arndt

  • Mark Coates

    My lens has this problem and the repair guy asked more than the cost of a new one to repair it !
    I this works I’ll make a suitable donation to charity on your behalf

  • Mike Wilcox

    My lens jammed at 60mm, and was going to follow this helpful guide. First I took off the rubber zoom grip, I notice one of the screws protruding more then the other, it was easy to tighten with a screwdriver through the gap without a full dismantle described here. It would be nice to be able to apply some Loctite, but will check the screws tightness regularly now, and recommend every one does before it locks up at 17mm, a full dismantle will then be necessary, as the screw will not be accessible without a full strip down.

    thanks

    Mike

  • Canonnica

    Thanks for this how-to. I got mine fixed in an hour. Canon Canada quoted me with $189 CDN for executing the repair.

  • armin

    after fixing the problem, mine doesn’t go to f4 @ 17mm… any idea?

  • http://thydzik.com thydzik

    no, no real ideas unfortunately.

    just make sure everything is connected correctly when assembled. and those electrical contactors are straight and on the right tracks.

    when I did mine first time, it wouldnt focus as I didn’t line that focusing pin.

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  • Edgar

    Thanks a lot! This happened to me too and your clear guide helped me through it.

  • http://no Alexay

    Hi!
    Zoom stopped working (it was in the position of 17mm, autofocus worked). Did everything as you described. Everything is fine. I found a screw had fallen. Collected back. Zoom works and focus to work longer. All cables are connected properly. Focusing not. Sometimes just focusing occurs in macro mode. Motor hums, but the picture in the viewfinder does not change.

    If you have time and opportunity – write to my e-mail (alexay@rambler.ru), in what may be the cause. And how it can be corrected.
    Thank. Instruction is very useful.

  • http://thydzik.com thydzik

    Alexay,

    I had this happen to myself the first time. What has happened is there is a plastic pin about 5mm wide black plastic connected to the focusing ring. You need to make sure this pin is slotted into the correct position. If it is not slotted correctly, it motor and manual focus will work, but it will not focus. Hope this helps.

  • http://no Alexay

    I have not yet deciphered the lens for the second time. But focus does not work either autofocus or manual focus. Although, perhaps I could never saw this plastic pin. I’ll try to bust again. if I can not find a plastic pin – then will return again.

  • http://thydzik.com thydzik

    I have circled the ‘pin’ in this photo, make sure to align it when you put everything back
    http://thydzik.com/images/canon-17-85mm-repair-the-final-screws-that-need-tightening-th-pin.jpg

  • http://no Alexay

    Thank you
    Reassemble the lens again, now everything works.
    For the first time noticed the plastic pin during assembly.

  • Amrit

    Thanks for the detailed step by step with pictures. I took the lens apart and now thanks to you it is working fine. I was going to dish out a whole of cash thinking that it was not worth to send it to canon for fixing.

    Thank you, thank you and thank you.

  • Mike

    Gotta love the web – a million thanks! Your instructions worked great and the photos are key to taking it apart plus putting it back together.

  • Simon COngdon

    Hi there! Do you know if this fix will sort out an err01 problem (connection between the camera and the lens)? Mayme it is one of the connectors?
    Cheers,
    Simon

  • Paul

    Excellent information, thanks. One small problem – do you know what size screwdrivers I need to do this?

  • http://www.joncage.co.uk jon cage

    I’d just like to say a massive thankyou for this. I was quoted £100-150 to repair this. Took me two attempts in the end, but I now have a working lens again!

    Can I make a suggestion? Can you please modify the article to make that focussing pin issue clearer? If that circled image had been in the main article with a note saying something like “make sure the two silver prongs stradle the black plastic pin” I would have done it in one attempt.

    One more point; one of the three black screws on my lens was jammed with metal which meant I couldn’t remove it. If you’re careful though, you can slide that section off wven with one screw still in.

    Thanks again!

  • y D

    Thank you soo much. You saved me a lot of money. Everything was easy to follow, and thanks a million for that “black pin” trick.. or else i would’ve brought it into service when the zoom worked but the focusing wouldn’t.

    It just sucked when i closed everything up but forgot to put the focusing ring back on, but at least everything is ok now.

    Thanks again :D

  • tomas

    Thydzik

    your guide was very helpful used it to fix the zoom problem,however I’m getting stuck on putting it back together.I’m referring to the reverse step of “The inner black plastic ring is connected to the metal outer ring with 4 plastic clips in the inside. By pushing the clips towards the center, the black plastic ring can be removed from the top of the metal outer ring. “Once I put it together the black plastic ring with camera connectors does not want to fit the metal ring and as a result I keep getting communication error with lens message on my camera.This is most likely due to distance between camera connectors and lens connectors being off.

  • http://www.its-magic.net ITS Magic

    Really helpful post thanks! All three screws were loose for me and before it locked up. I thought the lens was just getting loose / knackered due to the rough environment I take photos in (on very wet boats and photos of very wet boats in rough water – the top side of the boats being wet as well as the bottom of course ;-) )

    I found a couple of useful things out on this journey too. On first read although mentioned above I was still stupid enough to not realise that I had not got the focusing pin line up correctly.

    A few extra tips for future readers… The focusing ring is the black stubby thing about 4mm wide at the bottom of the assembly as you get to the last part of disassembly and first part of reassembly.

    The black stubby pin goes in between the metal prong like thing that comes down to meet it. In between the prongs is the correct position referred to above You will recognise that when you eventually get in there. For a good while I thought it was to go into a hole roughly the right size for the pin in one of the plastic lugs. Not having done one before and not realising to make note as I disassembled I got that wrong on the first rebuild and it is really annoying although much easier to do second time.

    Micro screwdriver set is invaluable for this job of course. Also a pair of tweezers can help retrieve dropped screws or align the connector ribbons.

    The big (wide) ribbon has two little black push holders on it and these need to come out a little way to release it. the brown covers on the other two flip up to release and the ones with little paper tags just pull out and push in.

    Once you get down to the last stages too avoid moving the lens around to much or the bottom rings can come off and it is a bit of a pig to get back on.

    I managed it by lifting up the internal part of the lens to elongate it which also moved a lug thing up so the three extender slides could then find their home.

    Budget on about an hour to an hour and a half of time to do all of the job. Above all nothing needs forcing.

    The hardest part as mentioned above is to get the plastic ring out from the metal ones. I found fingers or thumb to gently push the clips in did the trick. I broke one off initially trying to fit a screw driver in. It still works fine with three I have found out too :-)

    Thanks again to thydzik and everyone else giving tips on the issue saved me a fortune!

    Paul

  • http://ambersteele.com Amber

    Hi,

    Thank you SO much for all the great information, as well as the photos! I’m having an issue with getting the 5 ribbons disconnected. I got 4 of them, but I’m not sure what to do with the biggest one (at 3 o’clock in your photo). I already broke one of the hinge clips trying to figure them out (for anyone else having problems, they’re the two closest to 4 and 5 o’clock on the photo, and the brown part flips up with a hinge on the long edge nearest the middle of the lens. The other 2 ribbons just pull out), so I don’t want to mess with it any further until I know what I’m doing. Thanks again!!

  • http://www.its-magic.net ITS Magic

    Hi Amber,

    If the job is still in progress – I had the same issues as when you don’t know it is hard to work out first time round – as per my post just above…

    “The big (wide) ribbon has two little black push holders on it and these need to come out a little way to release it. the brown covers on the other two flip up to release and the ones with little paper tags just pull out and push in.”

    They pull out in the direction of the ribbon itself for either side of it and they don’t come out all the way just about 1.5mm. Reverse it for putting them back in.

    Paul

  • Anthony

    I’d like to give it a go but am somewhat afraid that i’ll make a mess of it all. Not the handiest of people with small projects. Would anyone know of a place I can send it to other than Canon ? Maybe somewhere in London ? I wanted to thank the author of this article as it’s a fantastic step by step. I just don’t know if I have the guts to take my lens apart.

  • Glennok

    Hi. thanks so much for this tutorial. I’ve finished it at the zoom is working well.

    I made sure the plastic pin was in for the focus, however the auto focus is working fine, but the focus ring is not having an effect at all. Is there something I missed there?

    Thanks again!

  • Martin

    Hi, just to add to the many thanks already posted for your in-depth instructions on how to fix this problem. Saved alot of money and satisfying to fix the problem myself.

    One point i had difficulty with is the removal of the inner plastic ring at the start of the process. As you rightly say it is the most difficult part and i did break a couple of the clips using a small screwdriver to ease them off. Don’t use this method but instead gently push the plastic ring with your fingers to gently seperate it from the metal ring. Fortunately it does still work with the missing clips.

    Thanks again.

  • Chris Potter

    I would just like to record my thanks for this page which has just helped me to repair my lens. I was puzzled yesterday when the zoom action of the lens appeared to be locked, and had resigned myself to having to put it in with a Canon repair shop – no doubt at considerable cost.

    I was incredibly relieved to find this page, and having followed the instructions for an hour or so this morning the lens now works perfectly.

    Many thanks for such a useful page.

    Chris

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  • http://mrbeers.com Josh Beers

    Hey there, many thanks to your step by step instructions. The zoom works perfect now, I am having trouble with getting the camera to communicate with the lens now, do you know if it’s the ribbon connectors? It’s Err01.

    Also my manual focus is not working. I know it’s not your job and you provided such a great article and it looks like I just messed it up.

    Let me know if you can help at all. Thanks again.

  • http://www.blende2komma2.de Marco Herzog

    Dude youre so awesome. you saved my day. lens works as new ;)
    thanks a lot man!

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  • http://www.bocktherobber.com Bock the Robber

    I wouldn’t have the courage to attempt this repair, but I noticed that the lens locked up when it was fully retracted. Somehow, it occasionally released itself, so I put a rubber band onto it, preventing it from going fully home and seizing up. Since I did that, it’s been working fine, although it’s now an 18-85 instead. I can live with that.

  • CatDang

    I tool everything n i did it.everything work fine even auto focus. But it take forever. It just move back n ford quickly n never stop. Manual focus only work 1way from infinitie to macro.
    So i took all off again n c what s missing. Nothing then this time i broke the large cable (which s hard to take off). I put them back then try again. Dame prob.
    Any ideas???
    Thx mate. U r champ.

  • Martin

    Many thanks for your article. As with others managed to mis-align the focussing pin necessitating a third disassembly. Don’t ask about the second! Almost all is working fine now with the exception of manual focus which does not seem to be doing anything. Any ideas? Autofocus is fine and as quick as ever and I am not too keen to take the lens apart for a fourth time without a good idea of what to do to fix it! I notice this seems to be a common issue!
    Thanks agin
    M

  • aanya

    my 18-200 lens is also stuck at the 18mm wide angle setting – will your instructions work for this lens as well?

  • http://- Chemi Dorje

    Thanks a lot for helping me out, i was so angry first, after i saw this i tried, at first i gave up because i broke one of the clip like you did. After i read one of the comment i again started and now i have made it. Thanks a lot for you help, this is how the world will unite and no borders will limit human being and every one will be equal. I am very greatful to you.

  • Frits

    Hi. thanks so much for this tutorial. I’ve finished it and the zoom is working again well.
    Thanks again
    F

  • Jim

    For those with manual focus problems:

    The same thing happened to me. Reassembled the lens yesterday and everything worked except the manual focus.

    Took it apart again today (grrr!), and this time paid a lot of attention to getting that focus ring working before I put it all back together again. This is tricky. The whole lens moves about and can fall apart again before you put all the screws back. I think the ring grips the assembly with the focus pin on it – mine was quite stiff. Working it a bit made the focus move easier and somehow it now works. Phew! So don’t despair, you will be able to get it working with a bit of patience.

    Good luck!

    …and thanks Thydzik for the instructions.

  • Paul

    This article is fantastic but I even struggled to undo the first set of screws! I ended up sending my lens to Canon UK to get it fixed. I thought this would be expensive but they did it under a fixed price repair for £51 all in. For me this was a reasonable price to pay as I was worried that I would mess up the repair and end up with a completely useless pile of bits!

  • Mimi

    Thanks for this article love it! But still stuck on the first step for 30 mins, can’t get the black bit off the metal ring!! Can’t figure out how to unclip it without breaking it..somebody help me??! is the black bit supposed to come out sort of towards the lens or away from the lens? (if that makes any sense..)

  • Mimi

    No worries, woooohooooo I fixed it!!! It’s been broken for nearly 4 months I was too scared to do it myself and no money to get it fixed..but now yayy
    so happy, thanks for the article!!

  • Peter

    Hi Thydzik, I saw a 17-85 lens for sale titled “canon 17-85 broken stuck at 17mm” and after searching on google i found this instruction. so i bid on the lens and got it for €100. have just spent the last two hours repairing it and guess what, it works first time. you just gave me an early Christmas present. Thanks

  • Patrick

    Thanks a lot for this awesome tutorial….managed to get my lens back working again like new.

  • will

    Need help asap! I am trying to get the lens to a friend today!

    OK, everything is good, zoom works, BUT focus only seems to move if i grip the top part of the focus barell where it has the numbers on it, macro etc.
    If i put the focus ring on, that part just spins forever and does not CLICK with the top part, thus moving focus?

    Can someone help pleasE??

  • http://www.blende2komma2.de marco

    @ will
    i think the outer zoom ring you grab with hand and the inner ring which is driven by the motor are not connected with each other. i cant describe it properly. “do make sure the focusing pin between the inner and outer len is in place.” i think thats the important thing ;)

  • grovel

    Thanks a lot for this guide. I didn’t get an official Canon quote, but the German photostore gave me an estimate of 200-250€ for the repair.
    However, seeing that it is so simple to solve the issue, even the 80€ downpayment (to get a quote) would have been too much.

    Those final screws were loose indeed. After having so much trouble trying to open some of the others, the last ones were almost falling out…
    Seems a construction error on Canon’s part (or an intentional expiry date), to use plastic for this part of the lens.

    Btw. you’re right, getting the black plastic ring off is the most difficult part (one of the clips broke, but that’s no drama). It seems silly, that they make the actual opening of the lens so difficult (and not by simply relying on screws).
    Thanks a lot, also, for all the comments. I wouldn’t have been able to remove the ribbon cables without them, nor would I have understood how to align the focusing pin without the comments.

    Cheers, grovel

    P.S. Now the only downside is that I don’t have any urgent reason to get the 24-85mm f2.8L … ;-)

  • Simon

    I just repaired my camera and pulled most things apart including the autofocus assembly etc.

    Long story short, the repair was a success, but I do now have an autofocus problem – anything over 3m distance struggles to lock focus and usually fails. Everything close up appears pretty spot on though.

    Any thoughts – wondering if a service centre would touch it now i’ve DIY’d.

    Guessing it needs recalibrating … but thats beyond DIY.

    Thanks in advance.

  • robin

    I’m so grateful for these instructions.
    I too broke a black clip and forgot to engage the autofocus tab before reassembly.
    The second disassembly was quicker and now the lens works perfectly.
    Funny how nervous you become once you have a pile of screws and bits lying around.
    Reminds me of my youth when everything came apart easily but without any instructions would never go back together.
    I took a few pics at each stage of disassembly and these helped on the way back to working lense.
    Thanks again.

  • mike

    Nice instructions! Good dos and don’ts list.

    I followed some others the first two times I disassembled this lens and ended up taking off the front lens assembly. your way is more elegant, easier, and presents less of a chance of error.

    Like many others I also nearly wrecked the connectors during the first disassembly, so the “black rectangle sticker” step was absolutely key this time around.

    I applied some loctite and should be good as new….for good. Thanks!

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