Electro GS problem

[valdas]

I was "fishing" on the flea market the other day and found a nice Yashica Electro GS. Cosmetic condition was excellent but it was without battery so I could not test it. Paid 20 EUR (the guy was asking 25), came home, bought new 6V battery, quickly made lousy adapter which should have been OK for testing purposes and... nothing - no lights no power... Maybe issue is my adapter (which I doubt), but most likely it's the electrical part. I have ordered 9$ battery adapter (just in case) to have another test, but I doubt this will fix the problem. Therefore I'm ready to "do the repair" myself (what a hell - only 20 EUR to lose), don't want to spend anything for professional repair, not for this value camera.
I googled yashica-guy com and other sites, downloaded repair manual, read some tips etc and even removed the top cover (unfortunately - no loose wires which I expected 🙂), but before I deep dive into this exercise just wanted to ask on this forum - any useful tips? experience? where is the best to look for the problem?
thanks
valdas

 

[Jack Conrad]

Have you turned the dial to B (bulb), opened the back and fired it to check the aperture blades?

Sometimes, even if the battery test light doesn't light up, there's still enough power from the battery to run the electronic shutter at all speeds.

I think that if the shutter opens up wide in Bulb, the battery is working, otherwise the shutter will only shoot at 1/500.

Allso, often the battery compartment contacts need to be cleaned with a pencil eraser.

 

[valdas]

Have you turned the dial to B (bulb), opened the back and fired it to check the aperture blades?

Sometimes, even if the battery test light doesn't light up, there's still enough power from the battery to run the electronic shutter at all speeds.

I think that if the shutter opens up wide in Bulb, the battery is working, otherwise the shutter will only shoot at 1/500.

Allso, often the battery compartment contacts need to be cleaned with a pencil eraser.

yes, this was the first thing I tested - on B also fires 1/500. contacts are very clean, but just in case - cleaned it again, did not help...

 

[Jack Conrad]

Well, I'd check under the bottom plate for corrosion, a broken or damaged wire or circuit board, the little white one next to the battery compartment?

 

[valdas]

Well, I'd check under the bottom plate for corrosion, a broken or damaged wire or circuit board, the little white one next to the battery compartment?

I had the bottom plate removed as well - very clean, no corrosion, but I would need to inspect better for other damages (I did not notice anything bad during my first inspection). thanks for tips, hopefully i will find something. i would be waste to throw away such a nice camera - looks almost like new and glass is very clean... ah...

 

[Jack Conrad]

I hear ya.

I recently found a GS at a barn sale myself. It was mildly corroded and the test light refused to light at first, but I
was fortunate and with a bit of CPR it's now fully functioning again.

 

[b1bmsgt]

Did you remove the paper "+" sticker from the battery compartment door? This sticker will prevent electrical continuity with the new smaller 6v batteries. If it's still there, scrape it off as best you can and clean the area with alcohol or lighter fluid to remove any glue residue. At the same time clean the rest of the door as well. Then clean the corresponding metal contact ring in the camera.

Lastly, are you putting the battery in correctly? The "+" end should be the end in contact with the door.


Hope this helps... 😀

Russ

 

[valdas]

Did you remove the paper "+" sticker from the battery compartment door? This sticker will prevent electrical continuity with the new smaller 6v batteries. If it's still there, scrape it off as best you can and clean the area with alcohol or lighter fluid to remove any glue residue. At the same time clean the rest of the door as well. Then clean the corresponding metal contact ring in the camera.

Lastly, are you putting the battery in correctly? The "+" end should be the end in contact with the door.


Hope this helps... 😀

Russ

Yes, sticker is removed and I surely put the battery in correctly...
And it looks I found the issue - removed top once again, checked better and here you go - one white wire is loose, I need to solder it, but where???

 

[b1bmsgt]

More than likely that's the wire from the top of the battery compartment. You'll see it under the viewfinder assembly.

Russ