Sign of pending shutter failure?

md2008

md2008

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Feb 23, 2008
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Today while out shooting with my M6, I had a shutter mishap. 1/15, the first curtain opened but second curtain didn't close - film advance wouldn't wind but I got the second curtain to close by changing the shutter speed on the dial. After that, things were back to normal. The camera is newish from mid 1990s.

Does anyone know what may have caused this problem, and is this a sign of pending shutter failure? Do I need to worry or is this something that sometimes happens to M's?

Thanks.
 
It could be some gunk (even a film chip) has lodged in the shutter timing mechanism. While I doubt the shutter is failing it definitely needs a CLA.

Jim B.
 
The slow speed gear escapement is probably dirty since the camera works at higher shutter speeds.

I would have the camera CLA'd..
 
I would continue to use your camera until the problem becomes repeatable so a CLA can adequately address the problem. If you use the camera for Professional work, then its still a toss up but if another failure then a CLA.
Can you repeat the problem?-Dick
 
RichardB said:
I would continue to use your camera until the problem becomes repeatable so a CLA can adequately address the problem. If you use the camera for Professional work, then its still a toss up but if another failure then a CLA.
Can you repeat the problem?-Dick
Click to expand...
Dear Dick,

Exactly.

Cheers,

R.
 
Thanks for all the responses. So far, it has just been the one time. Since then, I've shot an entire roll with no problems from slow to fast speeds. I'll just keep using it until it becomes a repeatable problem as suggested. Hopefully, it'll just be a one-off and I'll never have another shutter problem for the next 20 years of use.

Thanks.
 
I would also spend an evening cycling through all the speeds with an empty camera, particularly the slow ones. It will give them some exercise and also let you know if the problem occurs again. You could even use a roll of film and "waste" it, just to check if the problem only occurs with film in the camera.
The problem can occur with M's - I have had it happen occasionally, both with M2's and M6'MP's. Usually it is a temporary hick-up and sorts itself out - though it can also be a warning about filmchip in the track, gummed up slow speed escarpment or the "bar" at the edge of the shutter curtain catching on the felt light trap in the track.
 
I've run through several rolls' worth of cycling through the shutter speeds - no problems, so not sure what caused that glitch.

FrankS - Yeah, it would eat away at me if I didn't also have an M4-P waiting in the wings to take over. I almost put it up for sale when I got the much newer "pretty boy" M6 in mint condition. Glad I didn't though. I don't think anything would make the M4-P stop working.
 
You might want to run a roll of slide film through it just to check, or get the shutter speeds tested at your flcs, just in case.
 
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