Minolta Himatic 9 shutter and aperture problem

[Spyderman]

I got a broken Hi-matic 9 from a fellow member here for free (just the shipping costs).

I already have experience from cleaning the shutter on Canonet, and this was obviouly the same problem - the shutter leaves were sticky. I decided to clean it properly, so I separated lens from the body, removed all glass from lens and flushed the leaves with naphta and then brushed with cotton sticks.

Here is a picture taken just 5 minutes ago:

The shutter seems to work now, from 1s to 1/500s.

However there are some problems:
- B works more like a 1/4s and it doesn't stay open
- aperture diaphragm doesn't move at all when I move the aperture ring

I don't care much about the B, but the aperture bothers me...

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Pherdinand]

Unrecognizable!!🙂
Be sure that you have BOTH aperture and shutter speed selector on some manual value, NOT on A and not past A where the flash related settings are, otherwise the aperture might not do anything. Good luck.

 

[Spyderman]

Thanks, I have both rings on manual setting. Shutter usually around 1/2s and I try to turn aperture ring from 1.7 towards 16, but the diaphragm leaves just don't move...

 

[rick oleson]

The B setting is set by lightly spring-loaded levers, and the aperture in these auto-exposure rangefinders is a spring-loaded device similar to the aperture blades in an SLR lens... if they don't work, it means they're sticking.... ie, still not clean yet.

Naphtha is (IMO) the best cleaner if you can open the shutter up and let things dry, but it dries slowly, and in tight enclosed spaces it may not flush out all of the oil and dirt thoroughly if you just flood clean and let it dry (unless you flood clean repeatedly or for a long time). For cleaning inside a closed shutter, you might try something more volatile like CRC's "QD" Electronic Parts Cleaner. It comes in a spray can with a long nozzle, you may be able to flush dirt out from between the blades etc more successfully with it.

The other solution is to open up the shutter. I don't know how hard this is in the Minolta, in the Canonet it's almost impossible but in a lot of cameras it's pretty easy. If you can get inside, the best way to clean parts like this is to remove them and clean each piece and dry it before putting it back in.

 

[Spyderman]

Thanks Rick. I'd prefer not to open it up, so I'll try the spray first... I wonder if submerging the whole shutter in naphta would be agood idea. I think not, because it would wash away even the lubricants that were meant to be there...

 

[greyhoundman]

I personally hate Minolta shutters. Very finicky, and a PITA to disassemble.
But taking it apart is about the only way to be sure to get all the shutter pieces clean. I wouldn't take the ap blades out, but get everything else clean and pivots very lightly lubed.

 

[Spyderman]

If I decide to dive into it, which way should I go ? from the front, or from the rear ? I'd guess from the rear to get to the aperture blades... and pray that the whole shutter doesn't fly off in pieces 😀

 

[FallisPhoto]

I don't know how hard this is in the Minolta, in the Canonet it's almost impossible ...

I'd have said just the opposite. I don't know how hard this is in the Canonets (I've heard it is extremely difficult), but in the better Hi-Matics it's almost impossible. Tried this once with a jammed 7S and I don't ever want to do it again. Best advice I could give would be to repeatedly flush it rather than get into that, because the odds are that you'll never get it back together so it works right.

 

[Jon Goodman]

I would not try to disassemble this shutter. It is not easy to re-assemble at all. In fact, it is really tough, as others have pointed out. Rick is correct...if B isn't working, things are still sticking. This isn't an easy shutter to get clean, either. I'd say clean, rinse, repeat until it frees up. Don't submerge the whole thing. You'll have to separate and lube so you can focus it again. Good luck.
Jon

 

[Pherdinand]

It is SO nice when working.
Last time it worked i used a year ago in wintertime, 2 meters snow, the colours came out excellent, the lens is really very good and the camera ergonomics also great!
i really wish you can revive it.

 

[Spyderman]

Thanks for all advices.

I think I'll try the CRC electronics cleaner first. Perhaps a full can of it. It's under pressure, so maybe it can get where pure naphta can't...

The lens is in pristine condition, so i'd really love to get it working...

I'll keep you informed.

 

[Spyderman]

Hi all,

just finished putting it together after repair.

What I did was that I removed lens from body, removed shutter from focussing part, than removed as much as possible and washed the shutter in naphta a few times. It took about 3 washes (wash, work the naphta into the mechanisms, let dry...and again).
But I tell you - putting it together wasn't easy at all, but at least it's thoroughly cleaned now.

In case anyone else has a problem with their HiMatic 9, I might write a short (or long) how-to thread...

EDIT after 24 hours: :bang: it's still sticking... :bang: :bang: :bang:

 

[FallisPhoto]

Hi all,

just finished putting it together after repair.

What I did was that I removed lens from body, removed shutter from focussing part, than removed as much as possible and washed the shutter in naphta a few times. It took about 3 washes (wash, work the naphta into the mechanisms, let dry...and again).
But I tell you - putting it together wasn't easy at all, but at least it's thoroughly cleaned now.

In case anyone else has a problem with their HiMatic 9, I might write a short (or long) how-to thread...

EDIT after 24 hours: :bang: it's still sticking... :bang: :bang: :bang:

Three times? Try about 50.