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A11 and A16 flash repair?

Hello all--stumbled on this site looking for something else so I dug out my flashes and found they don't work! The A11 was dead and I got a few flashes out of the A16 before it started popping and now it doesn't fire. Anyone had these apart and successfully replaced the capacitors in them? Anyone know what the values of the caps are and where to get them?

I bought my XA and these two flashes used around 1982 or so and they have worked fine until I went mostly SLR then digital. I think they died from lack of use!

Re: A11 and A16 flash repair?

Hi Rudi, I don't know about the A11 but the A16 comes apart without too much difficulty. You need to remove the rubber gasket from the side of the unit that attaches to the camera, and then remove the four tiny screws. You can prize the two halves of the cover apart to expose the inner workings. When my A16 died, it was caused by a wire coming loose. I don't know what the value of the caps is but it will say on the side of them, you should be able to get these from Radio Shack or any electonics outlet. I am assuming you have of course checked the batteries??!

Re: A11 and A16 flash repair?

Thanks Stu
I have an A11 that stopped, after being left with a battery in it for 11 years!!
For the A11 remove the ruber gasket then remove the 3 screws on the the side farthest away from the bulb. That side will then lift and there are 2 catches on the other side.
On mine the corroded battery in the unit has corroded the solder attachment at the bottom end of the battery holder and the negative cable has come adrift. Looks like an easy solder job once I've cleaned the corrosion off.

Re: A11 and A16 flash repair?

Fix Olympus A11 flash unit.

Thanks for the hints on the A11 Peter.

My Olympus A11 stopped working too. Here's what I did to fix it.

1. Remove rubber gasket on the side that attaches to the camera. The gasket runs from the top to the bottom of the A11.
2. Then remove the 3 screws on the the side farthest away from the bulb. That side will then lift and there are 2 catches on the other side.
3. On mine the blue wire from the negative terminal of the batter came loose from the circuit board.
4. Since that broken wire seemed too short, I soldered a new longer wire from the negative terminal to the circuit board.
5. Now it works like a champ.