Auto S3 - meter stuck, please help!

[Cortexturizer]

I promise this is the last thread I am starting in a while...

So by following instructions from this forum I managed to adjust the vertical focus on this baby which was badly misaligned. BUT, unfortunately and I don't know how, I've managed to make the meter non-functioning :/

I think I did this by tinkering with the little screw pictured here - https://prnt.sc/pszn4s

by following the instructions, the person said to adjust the screw between the resistors, but that screw is absolutely NOT the one to adjust the vertical focus... so after fiddling with that thing my meter does not work any more.

It is stuck at F4 and the needle dances as I half-press the shutter but it doesn't react to light.

Pretty heartbroken at the moment... what to do/try?!

 

[shawn]

That screw adjusts the tension on the meter movement. You tightened it and locked the meter in place. You will need to adjust it to the point where the meter moves freely again. The meter response is adjusted by changing the resistors, not by that screw. It is not a potentiometer.

Shawn

 

[Cortexturizer]

Yes, I did tighten it considerably when trying to adjust vertical focus, but have since tried to unscrew it in the other direction with no huge changes.

Actually, the tightening or loosening of the screw gets me to a different F stop but when it goes to a certain stop it stays there, even though I can cause the needle to dance a tiny bit by half-pressing the shutter release.

Changing the shutter speeds on the lens makes no impact on the F stop shown. Nor ISO speed.

So I can confirm that the tension screw will lock and unlock the needle for me so it doesn't dance at all with half-pressing the shutter, it should not be overly tightened.

But I still get a hard-set F stop and it's just stuck at that F stop all the time :/

Also, does anyone know what the resistor values are? Of the two resistors I mean.

 

[shawn]

Half pressing the shutter should lock the meter position. There is a bar that moves over to hold it in place when this happens. The meter should move freely and react to light when the shutter is not pressed.

Check to make sure the meter needle isn't physically hanging up anywhere as that will also prevent it from moving. Likely it is just the tension is still wrong and stopping the meter at certain points.

I messed with that screw thinking it was a potentiometer and it was a pain to get it back to a functional state. Maybe another screw on the other side too. It was years ago that I did this so hazy memory.

You can tell the value of the resistors by checking the color codes:

http://www.resistorguide.com/resistor-values/

Or just remove them and use a multimeter to check directly.

Shawn

 

[Cortexturizer]

Thanks a lot Shawn, this thing is clearer by every response you give. Much appreciated.

Same. Thought it was a potentiometer and screwed it up...

So I loosened it up and tried in half-turns all over the spectrum and while the needle is free, not jammed up by the AE lock "curtain" looking thing, it doesn't move freely nor does it react to shutter speed changes on the lens barrel :/ It just stays in one position.

My next step is to reflow the solder joints but it's hard to say what should be connected to what as the circuit board is so old school style there's solder everywhere.

Also, do you think I might be seeing this behavior of the needle if one of the resistors has died? I don't see why that could've occurred but then again they are 40 years old and slight bending could've broken them, I was reasonably gentle when opening the top of the camera but not like surgically gentle.

And my last one, do you think having the top off, subjecting the whole top off to light (at this poing the RF part too as I removed the cardboard to clean it) could influence the meter somehow? I did put the top back on at one point which didn't make much change in things but still worth asking.

 

[Cortexturizer]

As for the resistor colour codes, super hard for me as I have trouble with colors, not really color-blind but can't name them when the surfaces are really small and close to each other. Ugh... don't ask.

 

[splitimageview]

Good luck...I doubt the resistors are bad, tho. They don’t really deteriorate with age...

 

[Cortexturizer]

I gave up and just took the camera to a repair guy I use. Had superb experiences so far with him hopefully he'll be able to fix this.
The cost is worth it as it is a gem of a camera.

I'll ask him what was the trouble with it once he's done and post here.

 

[Cortexturizer]

well, I heard back from the repair guy, and he claims it's hard to impossible to fix the meter :/
apparently I've, by turning that screw, done something to some spring and now it's super hard or impossible to repair. he says that this screw is lacquered by the factory for a reason, to not turn it EVER.

so a lesson to anyone reading this - do not touch this screw (pointed at by 2 red arrows):

http://prntscr.com/pvwvr5

obviously, if someone reading this knows of any means of fixing this I am all ears.

shame, cause I paid 170 EUR for this baby, and was very very satisfied with the 2 rolls of film I've done with it. incredible color rendition, superb sharpness, it's really really nice.

 

[splitimageview]

Hmm, can't get that link to work. Might have to obtain a parts camera...

 

[Cortexturizer]

not sure what happened to the link, here I posted a different one