Fixing the Yashica Electro 35 self timer

[Seevo]

I am new to this and hope I am posting in the correct place.
I have a Yashica electro 35 GTN. the self timer is firmly stuck at half way through travel. This I believe is causing the shutter not to fire. No nudging, heating, or anything will move it.
I have found a service manual online and can see how to delve down to expose the self timer escapement mechanism. I will attempt to see what is causing the jamb and maybe clean with a drop of lighter fluid. However if the mechanism is damaged by for example forced movement stripping teeth or bending my question is: If I remove the escapement mechanism ( and therefore the problem) - would the camera still work? Or is this mechanism required for operation other than self timer?
Thanks.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Welcome to the forum- I moved this question to the "Do It Yourself" repair forum.

I've never tried removing the self-timer mechanism. My experience- cleaning with lighter fluid always worked. If it does not, I would try to find the activate position and leave it there, allowing the shutter to fire. After that- would probably tape over the slot so it does not get knocked out of position.

 

[p.giannakis]

my question is: If I remove the escapement mechanism ( and therefore the problem) - would the camera still work?

Difficult to answer - this is not the typical Copal MVX shutter found in other Yashica. Based on the drawing found below, You might be lucky- unfortunately I don't know which Copal exactly Yashica used for the Electro 35 series.

 

[Seevo]

Following the service manual I managed to get access to the shutter mechanism. The manual says that the front lens assembly can be lifted off by 'pulling wires through hole in shutter'. These where on the stiff side but I was able to get just enough access to remove the self timer. I then re assembled the lens which involved re - engaging the aperture setting tab through a fork in the control ring which was tricky. The shutter now appears to fire OK with the metering behaving as expected. I will only know if it does work now by putting a test film through it.
I had a go at soaking the self timer mechanism in isopropyl alcohol and putting some spots of thin silicone lubricant on the movement - however to no avail. The mechanism is physically jammed somehow. The camera does seem to work without it though. If I do manage to fix the timer I may have a go at re-installation.