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This was a Nikkor AF-S 70-200 2.8 ED VR1 that developed a sticky aperture at Bonneville Speedweek.
Suspecting an actual aperture issue, I pulled the VR unit, that's the part on the left, and sure enough it was still sticking, so I pulled the aperture and figured out that the screws on the top plate of the aperture assembly were all loose and it was letting the aperture open past the limit of 2.8.
Once I rotated the plate back to the factory stop and tightened everything and applied 24200 Threadlocker, it is as good as new, at least mechanically. I also fixed the common sticky focus at 5m that all of these develop, was a simple loose screw. Some dust was beginning to get into the VR unit so I pulled all the elements and cleaned them.
Overall, a successful repair and it is back in front line service, just in time for Moab.
