Battery replacement problems

[bml]

So I picked up a GSN at the flea market for $20 yesterday. I went out and got a 4LR44 battery, wrapped it in some paper... popped it in, jammed a ball of tin foil on top, closed the battery cover. No go. No response.

I tore open an old flashlight, got the spring... used that in place of the tin foil. Still, no indication of the battery working. (Although, I think the conical spring might be too wide at the base.)

What could be wrong? Is it possible that the original spring at the bottom of the compartment is too dirty, preventing correct contact with the 4LR44?

Any ideas? I'm really anxious to give this sucker a go.

Thanks!

 

[ErnestoJL]

Unfortunately too many of the Electro 35 in the flea market suffer from the "inside forgotten battery" sindrome, or POD problems.
It is, the battery leaked inside the camera body.
Depending on how it was left, the upper spring, the battery cover or both are usually corroded. Then, no choices, you must clean both.

Other problem of false contact is that the battery cover isn´t connected to the camera body, so the battery positive isn´t connected to the camera in any way.
The battery cover has a thin metal ring which connects to a ring inside the battery chamber. If the cover is corroded, or separated, no contact, hence the camera won´t work. Here in RFF you´ll find lots of threads dealing with YE35XXX .

Check this before doing anything else.
Also and FYH see the "Yashica Guy" website that´s plenty of info about how to revive those beauties.
If it doesn´t work, ask Greyhoundman (I wish I know as much as he does about these cameras!).

Cheers

Ernesto

 

[bml]

Here are some pictures of the battery cap and compartment... The cap seems okay, but I think the spring does in fact need some cleaning.

Check it out:


EDIT: I just removed the base plate to get a better look... I then unscrewed the battery compartment, took it out, and noticed the piece of spring jutting out from the bottom was very green and corroded. I cleaned it up, but... when I put it back in place, does that metal tip need to be making contact with... what?

Any ideas?

No luck thus far... I still need to get into the compartment and clean out the internal spring.

 

[ErnestoJL]

The battery metal tip (+) should be in contact with the center part of the battery cap. The neg (-) goes to the spring.

To clean the spring, you must disassembly the camera so to get the spring freed from the plastic holder. Once its free, then you must inmerse it in white vinegar (not wine or apple vinegar). This will remove almost all the rust.
After the vinegar bath, another extended bath with clean fresh wawer will remove the acid. Some filng over the soldering areas will assure a rustless surface for a good contact.
Another thing to check is the wire coming out from the spring contact...

The wiring from both of the battery contacts would also be corroded if the battery leaked inside. The tin used for soldering the wires is first corroded, before the nickel plated parts.

Hope it helps.

Ernesto

 

[b1bmsgt]

Hi.

Just saw this post.

If you were able to remove the battery compartment itself, then that is your problem! The little point of the spring that sticks out of the top is supposed to be soldered to the negative wire going to the PC board of the metering head. If that is detached, then you are going nowhere until it is reconnected. To do that, you will have to remove the top of the camera and see just how bad things are. I have had quite a few where the wire (a white one, by the way) is so corroded that I had to run a new one from the PC board. It just could not be cleaned up enough to solder it. As ErnestoJL said, check out the Yashica Guy's site for details on removing the top, etc. Another good site is Matt's Classic Cameras

Hope you can get it working!!

Russ

 

[wakarimasen]

Hello Folks,
My Electro 35 just arrived in the post and I have found that it has an old battery fitted. This will come out so far but is then being retained by the upper spring contact! Is the only resolution to disassemble the camera or is there a trick to this?

.............

I got it out by dripping a little white wine vinegar into the chamber! Much fizzing later, out came the battery.

I now noticed another problem. Something sounds loose when the camera is tipped and the viewfinder screen markings seem to move about! Is this an easy problem to fix?
Best regards,
RoyM

 

[Pompiere]

Sometimes the glue that holds the viewfinder glass in place will let go after 30 years. On my Petri 7s, just about every piece needed reglued. You will need to remove the top to see what is loose. Matt's Classic Cameras is a good place to start. http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/electro_inside/index.html
Good luck, it is really a super camera.

 

[wakarimasen]

Now another problem! I noticed that a F/1.7 the shutter does not open completely. This has the effect of forming a 'star' shape in the open aperture. Will this require the lens being dismantled to fix - if it is fixable?

 

[Pompiere]

The star won't show on your pictures, but the shutter will likely need some cleaning. If the shutter is moving mostly open and back closed, then it may free up from use. Sometimes you get lucky.