Does anyone still service CLEs?

Dave Easterwood has repaired and adjusted my CLE several times. It would be worth asking him about yours. Lack of parts can be a challenge for sure, but, the CLE shares some parts with other Minoltas and Dave has 3 storage units of parts. Sometimes fixing a camera amounts to cleaning a dirty contact or adjusting something rather than putting in a new part. I love my CLE.

Dave Easterwood in Chelsea Michigan. dave@davescamera.net (734) 433-2640‬

Hope this helps.

Steve Rosenblum
 
Looks like all the Leica experts "just" assume parts need replaced. Even the CLE is still 95% or more mechanical. It's been awhile but I had two repaired by an outfit that claimed they worked on all cameras. Fixed them both. It's been awhile and I no longer remember who they were (wish I did). I'd suggest you pick one of the big outfits and just mail it to them. At worse you're out of the postage.
 
Try this:

"Open the back of your CLE (make sure no film in camera ofcourse) and also remove the lens. Turn the camera ON and GENTLY try to move the shutter curtain with thumb and pointing finger in one way or the other. Perhaps this can release the shutter mechanism."


This was originally posted here 8 years ago. It worked for me, and I have had no problems with my CLE since.
 
Hi,

I think the problem or dilemma is that it takes time to strip it down and then replace everything including a broken part and no one is going to pay for nothing more than the knowledge that it needs an unavailable part.

From the repairers' point of view it's just not worth doing because, with a few exceptions, you can't do a repair any other way but a complete strip own.

Of course, you could pay for so many hours work in advance and offer to let them keep it for parts if not possible to repair...

Regards, David
 
Thanks for all of the responses guys, before I get into all of the responses, i actually was able to get it to fire. Once.

Last night i had the base plate off, just to take a look at the wires and connections to see if anything was visibly off, played around with it a little bit, and ended up winding the shutter a little farther by releasing the film wind mechanism, and using the film advance lever. Nothing really happened and I put everything back together. This morning, when I picked it up, the battery check light was working (its always hit or miss), i hit the shutter button and ‘click’. It actually fired. Wound the film again and nothing. It’s right back to where it was. So at least for a brief second it worked. I may take some more time and dig into it a little more, but at least I know that it is somehow able to fire, and the boards inside aren’t completely dead.

farlymac said:
Read this thread https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136220&highlight=CLE

PF
Click to expand...

Read through that thread, thanks for the link. May have a couple things to try there

stevierose said:
Dave Easterwood has repaired and adjusted my CLE several times. It would be worth asking him about yours. Lack of parts can be a challenge for sure, but, the CLE shares some parts with other Minoltas and Dave has 3 storage units of parts. Sometimes fixing a camera amounts to cleaning a dirty contact or adjusting something rather than putting in a new part. I love my CLE.

Dave Easterwood in Chelsea Michigan. dave@davescamera.net (734) 433-2640‬

Hope this helps.

Steve Rosenblum
Click to expand...

I actually have an email out to Dave, he was recommended by someone in a facebook group, one of the ones that I am waiting to hear back from

Mark Schretlen said:
Try this:

"Open the back of your CLE (make sure no film in camera ofcourse) and also remove the lens. Turn the camera ON and GENTLY try to move the shutter curtain with thumb and pointing finger in one way or the other. Perhaps this can release the shutter mechanism."


This was originally posted here 8 years ago. It worked for me, and I have had no problems with my CLE since.
Click to expand...

I gave that a try, one of the first things actually, unfortunately it didnt help

David Hughes said:
Hi,

I think the problem or dilemma is that it takes time to strip it down and then replace everything including a broken part and no one is going to pay for nothing more than the knowledge that it needs an unavailable part.

From the repairers' point of view it's just not worth doing because, with a few exceptions, you can't do a repair any other way but a complete strip own.

Of course, you could pay for so many hours work in advance and offer to let them keep it for parts if not possible to repair...

Regards, David
Click to expand...

Above all, I totally get this. When I have reached out to people, its not like I was asking for a free estimate or something like that, I had offered and asked for prices on what it would cost me to have them just take a look at it, fully knowing that there is a chance that it was money wasted. I know time is really money to repair techs, and i’m not looking to waste anyone’s time.
 
stevierose said:
Dave Easterwood has repaired and adjusted my CLE several times. It would be worth asking him about yours. Lack of parts can be a challenge for sure, but, the CLE shares some parts with other Minoltas and Dave has 3 storage units of parts. Sometimes fixing a camera amounts to cleaning a dirty contact or adjusting something rather than putting in a new part. I love my CLE.

Dave Easterwood in Chelsea Michigan. dave@davescamera.net (734) 433-2640‬

Hope this helps.

Steve Rosenblum
Click to expand...

I got an update from Dave today, super helpful and up front, said parts are hard to come by for them, but he has some, and admitted that many times they aren’t required.

I am actually impressed and thankful to get an email with complete sentences and some time put into it, so far DAG has been the only other place to do so. Looks like my camera will be sent out there by the end of the week
 
stevierose said:
Dave Easterwood has repaired and adjusted my CLE several times. It would be worth asking him about yours. Lack of parts can be a challenge for sure, but, the CLE shares some parts with other Minoltas and Dave has 3 storage units of parts. Sometimes fixing a camera amounts to cleaning a dirty contact or adjusting something rather than putting in a new part. I love my CLE.

Dave Easterwood in Chelsea Michigan. dave@davescamera.net (734) 433-2640‬

Hope this helps.

Steve Rosenblum
Click to expand...

Thank you for that info, I also will be reaching out to him for my CLE.
 
Okay, this thread triggered a memory-I bought a used Nikon FG very cheaply. It too wouldn't fire. I knew it had a electronic shutter....I left it on for about an hour and it fired. I thought, "okay..." I left it on another hour...then it'd fire 3-4 times. I figured out that the capacators(sp) needed to be reformed like the caps in a flash that hasn't been used in a long time. I left it on overnight and then tried it the next morning. BINGO !

Your CLE might just have the same problem...buy some cheap MS76A batteries and see if this works.
 
"What this website needs" is a CLE database. First and foremost a complete set of schematics for the device. Certainly there's a repair manual that includes this info. Anyone have an old CLE repair manual? How about schematics? Even if they're hand drawn. Someone somewhere has the schematics for this device. Or did they pass away without telling anyone where they've hidden them? Lost forever! Arrrrg! lol
Anyway, it would be nice if the info was available here (RFF) for reference.
Along with CLE owner's tales of woe and the effective repair solutions undertaken.
Back in the day I would send my CLE to Steve's in Culver City. Don't bother, they no long service them either.
 
MrFujicaman said:
Okay, this thread triggered a memory-I bought a used Nikon FG very cheaply. It too wouldn't fire. I knew it had a electronic shutter....I left it on for about an hour and it fired. I thought, "okay..." I left it on another hour...then it'd fire 3-4 times. I figured out that the capacators(sp) needed to be reformed like the caps in a flash that hasn't been used in a long time. I left it on overnight and then tried it the next morning. BINGO !

Your CLE might just have the same problem...buy some cheap MS76A batteries and see if this works.
Click to expand...

I have left my CLE on. Thing is, it turns off after a few seconds if there is no contact on the shutter button, so not sure if this would work. (hasn't with mine)
 
Huss said:
I have left my CLE on. Thing is, it turns off after a few seconds if there is no contact on the shutter button, so not sure if this would work. (hasn't with mine)
Click to expand...

One approach might be to sit and watch some March Madness and keep your finger on the shutter button through a couple of days/games. Not perfect, but easier than getting a vasectomy that they advertise for men here in the states......

Perhaps doctors should use the world cup watching should be used in similar manner....

Could you fool the circuit with some wire and a battery or resistor of some type? Remember it's a pretty old approach to activation (it's no smart phone).

B2 (;->
 
I will certainly keep this updated. KEH also got back to me (I’m guessing places either get a lot of emails on thursdays, when I sent the majority of mine, or fridays and dont get back until Monday) saying they would take a look, with the cost of $342 to cover labor, cleaning and minor parts. Anything requiring more major work would have a new estimate, and if they cant repair it, they return it at no charge.

They also stated that any parts they have would be “good used parts, but they can be hit or miss”. Maybe parts from broken or bargain grade cameras they get in. So also an option, i already have it packed up and ready to go out to Dave, so that should be on its way tomorrow or Wednesday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Voigtländer Perkeo II: Correct the Problem When the Film Counter Shows #1 but the Shutter Button is Locked
Replies
0
Views
437
Duofold RF
D
C
HELP - Broken Ricoh FF-1s
Replies
3
Views
503
p.giannakis
p.giannakis
A
Help reassembling Visoflex III: springs, ball bearings, shims, and short screw
Replies
1
Views
349
alex7075
A
O
Rewinding MP without engaging the 'R' lever
Replies
5
Views
601
onehappybunny
O
Jeph
Leica IIIf — Shutter and Reverse Lever Issue
Replies
14
Views
668
rfaspen
rfaspen
Back
Top Bottom