film advance lever jammed in Konica S2 Auto

[cameratinkerer]

Just acquired a Konica S2 Auto for less than 10 bucks 🙂

My first rangefinder camera to work on.

Its film advance lever is jammed. Rather, the shutter doesn't release.

I have popped up the rewind button at the bottom. No luck.

The timer lever is engaged. I have opened up the lens front and I can see the shutter and various gears. What should I try at this point to make the shutter go?

The meter responds to battery check operation. It doesn't respond to varying light though, at least not yet. I have measured the resistance of the CdS cell, it changes as light on it changes. So the photo cell appears to be working.

Any suggestions what to try to make the shutter go?

Thanks.

 

[capitalK]

I also acquired one recently with the same problem, apparently it is common. I found this take-apart link but I'm not brave enough to try it.

http://feuerbacher.net/photo/frame.html?repair/KonicaAutoS2/KonicaAutoS2.html~Main

 

[cameratinkerer]

It wasn't difficult to take apart. The only problem I faced was the retaining ring after the hood comes off. This thin silver colored retaining ring keeps the cover with the photo cell in place. Has to put tiny drops of lubricating oil around it (very tiny, just touching it with a needle dipped in oil). Left for a few hours and used a screw driver to push the retaining ring and unscrew it.

The little thing to keep in mind are the two strips that become free when the disc with various grooves is removed.

Here is a page from the same website which shows the disassembly:
http://feuerbacher.net/photo/repair/KonicaAutoS2/KonicaAutoS2.html

 

[cameratinkerer]

Well, the problem is solved.

Recall that the advance lever would not advance as if it was already engaged and that the self timer was engaged.

Well, I had hardly put a few drops of naphtha on the shutter blades that the self timer started whirring and came to end of its time cycle. I tried the advance lever and discovered it was working properly now.

I suppose the few tiny drops of naphtha that I put on the self timer lever earlier in the day helped to free it. The really effect was done by naphtha drops on the shutter.

Apparently the shutter blades were stuck shut by dried lubricants or oil from eons ago.

 

[capitalK]

I don't have the time to do mine. Is it worthwhile to get a CLA done? Who does them on these cameras?

 

[capitalK]

Morning bump?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Stuck advance levers (caused by stuck shutters) really aren't that hard to fix on the KAS2:

*Remove the retaining rings for the hood and the nameplate+sensor and then unscrew the front lens.
*Soft prodding of the shutter blades should get them moving again.
Just be mindful of the wires running to the cds-sensor

Not sure what the going rate is for a KAS2 at the moment. Mine wasn't too expensive so I guess it wouldn't be worth it to have it undergo an expensive CLA

 

[btgc]

Just be sure your KAS2 works week, two and month after naphtha treatment. If it is not cleaned thoroughly, shutter blades will stick again. Annoying, especially if you already have loaded fresh, expensive film 🙂

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Yes, regular exercise is the key