Leica Meter MC - suddenly died

[yossarian123]

I recently sold my (working) Leica MC online and to my chagrin the buyer contacted me to say that the meter was DOA. I had used it the same day I shipped it out, so I know that the meter was good. Actually, the meter was OK - it wasn't super accurate particularly in low light but the meter was moving in response to light.

I just received it back in the mail today, and sure enough it is DOA. The meter is basically stuck pointing up, not completely frozen in place because if you move the meter the needle wiggles back and forth. But it's obviously not doing anything in response to light.

So --- any guesses on what might be the culprit? I'm sort of thinking that it took a hard bump while in the mail and something was knocked loose internally. I am really doubting that the selenium cell suddenly died between Monday and Wednesday, but I guess I could be wrong. Does it make sense to repair an MC or should I just sell it for parts - I also have a gossen digisix that I use and love.

 

[zauhar]

I have an MR meter, which was refurbished by Quality Light Metrics, and is very accurate. My sense is that no one expects the MCs to be very accurate, and I see them sold at pretty low price. I don't know if you can compensate for the Se cell when it starts to go bad. In your case, is the problem actuallly the locking mechanism?

If you are really interested in getting it working, contact George Milton at QLM and see what he thinks.

Randy

 

[yossarian123]

Is QLM pretty reasonable on prices? Any ballpark figure on what they'd charge? I wouldn't mind keeping it but I've already invested $90 on it which was probably too much to begin with.

 

[Landshark]

Meters in general don't like hard knocks. Any of them with needles rely on a hair spring to balance the needle and allow it to return to position when power is removed.

Think in terms of a weak mainspring in an old watch. Two or three turns & that's it. With a knock one coil of the spring can jump over another and give results similar to what you're getting.

 

[yossarian123]

Meters in general don't like hard knocks. Any of them with needles rely on a hair spring to balance the needle and allow it to return to position when power is removed.

Think in terms of a weak mainspring in an old watch. Two or three turns & that's it. With a knock one coil of the spring can jump over another and give results similar to what you're getting.

Thanks for that. If it's just a spring I imagine the cost to repair wouldn't be too bad? Or is it something I could do myself?