Canon Canonet (Canon Canonet 19) - Self timer sticks shutter.

[cklammer]

Hello everybody,

I have got the Canon Canonet (a..k.a. known as Canon Canonet 19) - it is the first Canonet model from 1961. It has the selenium exposure meter. For clariification: It is NOT the Canonet QL19.

The self-timer is non-fuctioning and appears to block the shutter itself in about 75% of all shutter button presses (depending on camera tilt - WTF !?!).

When the shutter releasesthen it appears to working correctly for all times.

So it appears to me that I simply have a problem with a stuck self-timer - unless I am confusing cause and error .....

I have researched a little bit on the internet and here in the forum and it appears that Canonets appear to be prone to this kind of behaviour after reaching a certain age. The solutions I found were all based on removal of lens elements (either front or rear or both) and then cleaning and relubricating the shutter leaves.

Unfortunately, as I don't have the tools nor am "good with my hands" I feel that this kind of approach is beyond me ... :bang:

I was thinking of a simpler "solution": squirting about 1 ml of WD-40 into the slot of the self-timer using a hypodermic needle (it is a copal shutter with the self timer on the lens itself) and then working the self timer until it (hopefully) shows some improvement whilst "dry-firing" the shutter alternately in order to "work" the WD-40 into the shutter mechanism until the situation changes either for better or worser . 😱

What is the collective wisdom of the forum on this approach ?

Pls think about it and let meknow.

Thanks in advance,
cklammer

 

[btgc]

Removing front of lens and cleaning ST mechanism would be better. If you decide to squirt anything into shutter, you and camera will be better with lighter fluid instead of WD-40. Maybe put a single drop on ST lever and let it go into, try to slightly work lever and see if it's willing to free.

Too much fluid, too short intervals - and excess of fluid will go deeper, causing grease migrating where you don't want it to be.

 

[cklammer]

Thank you for your reply!

Lighter Fluid ? Would Zippo Lighter Fluid work ? (I can get that stuff here locally).

As for the volume of fluid to applied - for that I intend to use a hypodermic needle (like the ones that are being used for tetanus shots and such). That will provide me an extremely fine level of control concerning the volume of fluid applied.

As to be clear in my mind concerning the procedure: you essentially state I should apply (several) smallish doses of lighter fluid in between longish intervals of continuously working the mechanisms (self-timer and shutter) ? In other words: Almost all of the lubrication applied will be elbow grease ?

Thanks,
cklammer