Canon AE‑1 / A‑1: Replace battery cover (3D-printed spare part guide)
The battery doors of the old Canon A series are unfortunately notorious for eventually giving out and breaking off. But hey, no worries! We have tackled the problem and developed a perfectly fitting replacement battery door for Canon AE-1 / A-1, which we offer directly in our shop. It fits perfectly on your Canon AE-1, AE-1 Program, or Canon A-1.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to easily remove the broken door, save the important original parts, and install our 3D-printed replacement. And stick around until the end – I have a little bonus tip for the often missing winder cover.
What you need
- The 3D-printed replacement battery door (available in our shop)
- A slim, pointed lever or pin (to unlock the hinge)
- A small Phillips screwdriver (for the lock)
- Tweezers or fine needle-nose pliers
- WD-40 (or something similar for cleaning/lubricating) and a paper towel
- A flat tray to keep the tiny parts from getting lost
Quick note — what you reuse from the old door
Important to know: Our 3D door comes without the inner locking metal piece. So you absolutely must save the long metal pin and the small screw (along with the plastic plate) from your old, broken door. Without these original parts, the new door won’t hold.
Step-by-step instructions
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Power off & open. First, remove the battery (4LR44) and open the door as far as it goes.
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Release hinges. Grab your pointed tool and press the hinge in the direction until you feel a “click” or it gives way. With some gentle force, you can push out the metal pin – then you can simply wiggle out the old door. Take good care of the small metal and plastic parts and set everything aside safely.
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Remove locking mechanism. Since our replacement part has no built-in lock, you need to “transplant” the lock from your old door. For this, you need the Phillips screwdriver. There is only one screw – but be careful, the parts are tiny!
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Clean hinges (if needed). Often the hinges have gotten dirty and sticky over the decades. If you already have the pin out, give it a wipe with some WD-40 on a paper towel. This way the new part will move smoothly later.
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Insert locking piece into the new door. Now the puzzle piece goes into the new battery door. Using fine pliers or tweezers, carefully place the small part inside. Orientation tip: the short part points toward the camera, the long part toward the door.
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Insert door into the body. Slide the hinge head into the slot on the camera. Press the pin fully into the groove with a tool until the door sits securely.
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Fine adjustment & test. Is it still loose? Then push the hinge pin a little further in. The door should sit firmly but not stick. Aligning the small locking piece can be a bit fiddly – patience is your best friend here.
- Insert battery & close. Put the 4LR44 battery back in and close the door. It should click in cleanly and open like before.
Tips & common problems
- Parts management: Use a magnetic tray. Nothing is more annoying than searching for the tiny original screw in the carpet.
- Door wobbles? Usually the pin just needs to be pushed a millimetre deeper into the lock.
- Hinge sticks: A touch of WD-40 works wonders, but please don’t drown the camera in oil.
- Original parts are a must: The long plastic piece from the original lock must be intact, otherwise our replacement door won’t catch.
A little Easter egg: replacing the winder cover
Is your camera also missing that small round cover for the motor drive at the bottom? We know that all too well. That’s why we also have a solution for that: a winder cover for Canon AE-1 / A-1 that matches the body colour perfectly. By the way, you can use a coin to screw it in nicely if you don’t have a suitable screwdriver at hand. 
Conclusion
A broken battery door is by no means a death sentence for your beautiful Canon. With the right replacement part, a bit of patience, and standard tools, the problem is quickly solved. Take good care of the small original parts, and your AE-1 or A-1 will be ready for the next roll of film in no time.
With that said: good light!
Your Vladi