Argh 28/1.4D

[Erik Lund]

That is good news - Please don't tape it - The spare part will never break as it is of the later material.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

If the glacially  slow and noisy AF is not to be used, I see no harm in taping the selector ring? On the contrary, it is a pre-emptive measure.

Should the lens be sold on later, removing the tape is no big deal.

[Erik Lund]

Well,,, it is an AF lens and on the later Pro DSLRs it has quite fast AF especially compared to the other AFS 1.4 G 'gear box' lenses.

[Jakov Minić]

I am using my favorite 85/1.4 AF-D most extensively for about 12 years.
There is nothing wrong with the AF speed and I don't see a crack developing.
That does mean that I will not tape the ring in support to Erik's words

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Each and every one of the AF Nikkors with the A/M ring switch in my possession has developed the crack in that ring. That includes the 85 mm f/1.4, 105/2.8 Micro, 60/2.8 Micro, 105/2 DC, 200/4 ED Micro, and possibly more but I haven't scrutinised the entire lens arsenal. The 28/1.4 I borrowed for testing also had the crack in an early stage, but that was not my own lens.

Three of these lenses have fallen apart and either required expensive repair or could not be repaired, thus having to be replaced by a new item.

One can of course ignore this information as there is no obligation to take proactive measures against the consequences of the A/M switch flaw. However, taping down the A/M ring is a cheap prevention of future repairs.

[Roland Vink]

My AF-D 105 micro shows no signs of cracking after 20 years of moderate use. I wonder if temperature differentials in Norway and the resulting thermal expansion and contraction might put extra stress on the AM ring that is not experienced elsewhere?