Help: Leica M3 2nd shutter curtain spring broken

[tyranoquake]

Hi all.. im new in the forum.. 🙂

I have a major problem that makes my leica M3 SN:101xxxx Single Stroke break down..

When I cock, all things is ok.. but when I press the shutter release button, 1st shutter curtain released at normal speed (maybe) and the bad thing is, 2nd shutter curtain is stuck, it's moving but very slow and sometimes the curtain is stopped in the middle, probably shutter spring is too long tensioned at cocked position or whatsoever over a year..

Can anyone help me? my position in Indonesia... I already ask to Scmidt Singapore, they rejected and say, go get a new digital leicas.. 😀

My local grey service spot said that even Leica Germany won't serve you, it's the old model.. he also said that Shutter curtain spring is hard to found.... it is?

Thanks before 🙂

 

[axiom]

Tighten up the tension and try again.

Remove the bottom plate, it is 1 of the 2 screws on the side

 

[johannielscom]

Tighten up the tension and try again.

Remove the bottom plate, it is 1 of the 2 screws on the side

That's described a bit too easy.

First of all, welcome to the forum. Your first post is a troubled one, I dare say!

The two screws turn with their bushings, so you need a wider screw driver to push the bushings down before you can rotate screws and bushings at the same time. Mark where you started!

The two screws set the tension, but also tension relative to each other, and turning only one might upset the timing of your shutter speeds because it will alter the width of the shutter opening. Turning them both the same amount is a safer way to start with.

Should you need to set spring tension by changing only one of the screws-in-bushings, you will almost certainly have to collimate the camera afterwards to make sure your times are accurate. Apparently you can use a TV screen to time speeds, but I never understood how that works. Somebody here can explain though, I'm sure.

All this can be done at home but it's not easy and you need to have some skills to start with. If this is your first foray into RF repair, I'd back off and send the camera to a repair person in the UK or USA. There is a 'sticky' thread in the Leica M forum with contact data for lots of repairmen. Prices often are far more reasonable than Leica charges. Make sure your mail address is as complete as possible for return sending, and include a cell phone number should you have one.

 

[tyranoquake]

thanks..

thanks..

Well... Thanks BUZZ...

I already try that methods, but maybe Im out of luck..
the 2nd curtain still stopped in the middle, it's moving very slow, and stop in the middle of shutter opening...

Local service disassembled it, he rangefinder specialist (leica also) 🙂
he said that 2nd curtain spring / sprocket is rusted and broke up, the tension setting has been adjusted before.. btw im the 2nd owner from the original owner.. I don't know how suppose to do.. It is a very mint M3.. single stroke sn:101xxxx even the vulcanite it's still intact.. scratchless..

Thanks all for the suggestion and advise.. maybe I must buy a new one.. 🙁