Gs Electro 35 - Just Dead - No Go????

[ARCHIVIST]

I came accross an Electro 35 GS in excellent cosmetic condition.

Rangefinder working and the shutter fires at the default speed OK.

When I put a battery in - nothing! No lights, either test or arrows, and no shutter speed variance.

I opened her up, top and bottom plates off, and it was squeaky clean inside with no corrosion or dry solder joints.

Any thoughts please?

I fear the worst that the shutter itself has packed it in.

Regards
Peter

 

[btgc]

It sounds like a bad contact, well, rather no contact. I'd first go over spring in battery chamber and contact on battery cap with smoothest grade sandpaper, if you haven't, occasionally.
I guess if it would be shutter at least lights would come up. Plus I have impression that shutter on Electro stucks very rarely, isn't ?

 

[ARCHIVIST]

I have done all the basic tests for conductivity and all checks out.

I fear a near complete strip down is on the horizon.

Peter

 

[sos]

There is a white wire that connects to a little pin on the outside of the plastic battery compartment. There is a way to slide that compartment out and see if the wire is connected at the bottom. This is a pretty common ailment (and easy soldering repair) to these little bad boys.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

SOS thank you for that.
I will have a look this weekend.

Peter

 

[Whisper]

If you are using a PX28 battery, remove the "+" sticker from the battery cap.
If you have the top off. You can see the white wire where it connects to the battery compartment. If broke. You can remove the RF unit and resolder. I would replace the whole wire.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks Whisper.
I know about the '+' sticker.
This weekend I will examine all wire more closely.

Peter

 

[Harlee]

Gday Mate! Over the years I had two Yashicas (GSN) with similar problem. Both had to do with the white wire soldered to the spring in the battery chamber. Best thing to do is to remove the bottom, take out the two screws holding the battery chamber in place, remove the battery chamber and examine the solder connection. Better still, if you have a test meter or a test light, see if you have continuity between the spring and the connection, or stick a pin someplace in the white wire and see if you have continuity between the spring and the pin. Resoldering the wire resurrected both of my Yashicas for me, so good luck.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Harleee, thank you.
The white wire seems to be the popular choice for the cause of my problem.
Will post the results of my findings as soon as I can find the time to look at the camera.

Regards
Peter