Getting the top off a Canonet?

[Bobfrance]

Hi Guys,

I have just freed-up the shutter and apeture blades on my QL25 and re-assembled it.
To say I am pleased with myself is an understatement. 😎

For my next trick I want to clean the viewfinder as it is pretty hazy.
I have undone the scews on the top metal cover but the film advance lever appears to be preventing it coming off.

Can anybody give me some tips on how to get get into it?

My next mission after that is to get the meter working, so further tips on this would be helpful too.

You may have gathered that absoluteley NOTHING was working on this camera - and yes I bought it off ebay! 🙄

Still, I cost me next-to-nothing and I'm really enjoying fiddling with it. 🙂

Bob.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Bob,
Cock the shutter and then use a soft rubber bung pressed down on the chrome ring shutter the button and unscrew it anticlockwise. You should then be able to take the cocking lever off.

If you fancy a working one keep an eye on the ads.

Kim

 

[Bobfrance]

Cheers Kim! that worked a treat. 🙂

Errr, now how do you get the film rewind lever off??

 

[Kim Coxon]

Open the back, use a screwdriver or similar the "lock" the shaft and unscrew the top. 😉

Kim

 

[Bobfrance]

Jeez it's that simple!

I tried that but didn't want to force it.

The viewfinder is now nice and clean. I doubt I can do much with the meter though. It all looks fine (wires joints etc.) and I don't really want to tamper with all the delicate stuff around it.

What's the normal cause of meter malfunction?

Would I be okay connecting the battery directly to the terminals on the top of the thing itself just to check if it deflects at all? It's my guess that this part is the most likely to fail. Although I don't really know much about the light sensor itself (is it a solar cell or a light sensitive resistor?).