HELP! CL Meter (not typical question)

[Monochrom]

Hi, I need some advise from you.

I´ve acquired a leica CL it was advertised as a dead lightmeter but it was also in a mint condition...my exerience says that mint cmaeras can´t be that bad.

So i bought it on the bay and received it after a couple weeks.

As being said it was mint and after some magic i ended with the meter working. (i must adjust needle readings and RF alignment thou)

Well, although everything is almost back to life i´ve noticed that when the camera remains idle for a day or more the lightmeter just wont restart at once i have to press countless times the battery check and after that the meter starts working again.

What could be the reason for this it´s like it has to warm up a bit? (odd) Lose dirty contacts?

Although i can fix many things in terms of electric affairs i´m ignorant.

Please let me know your thoughts or ideas!

Cheers

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Not familiar with the CL at all. But from what you've said, if it is not some sort of continuity fault, my first thought was that the meter movement (maybe the needle itself) is sticking. Old damping foam etc. perhaps? Can you get any free movement from the needle by tapping the camera body? If not, this might indicate it's sticking at the end of its scale. If you have to take the top cover off to service the RF I would pay special attention to the meter unit, ensuring it is clean and dust free and that it can move freely.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[splitimageview]

What's the battery compartment look like? Corroded wire from battery is fairly common and could result in intermittent continuity

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Sounds like dirt or tarnish somewhere.

The meter sensor swings down and so has to remake a contact, or rather I've read that somewhere. My basic feeling based on experience elsewhere is that many problems seen as electronic failures are usually mechanical faults or dirt. Like car headlamps where the contacts or earthing is dirty.

Regards, David

 

[sanmich]

the meter placement is mechanical, so I guess it is in place, just not measuring.
I would go for something sticky close to the needle/interfering with the needle.
I've also seen case where the needle was slightly bent which caused it to get caught in something else.

 

[Monochrom]

And so

And so

Hi, thanks for your imput.

Anxiety always takes over...i decided to go for a try.

There is a switch that comanded by the advance lever, got is and cleaned it, then re calibrated the red speed selector inside the VF, now shows perfectly the selected speed, calibrated the lightmeter and adjusted RF accuracy.

Now it´s back to life.

Although i´ve dsimantled all sort of leica M I never had the chance till now to do a CL....what a wonderful astonishing camera!!!
Ithought it woould be like the M5 but this precious is just a jewel, the coil is between the RF and the advance lever, the board is like the M5 back in the lugs place...beautiful enginering!


Switch by Enzo Betinyani, on Flickr

Red speed indicator by Enzo Betinyani, on Flickr

Cleaning contacts by Enzo Betinyani, on Flickr

Calibrating lightmeter. by Enzo Betinyani, on Flickr