Just got an Electro GS..some tests and a repair question

bhop73

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I'm pretty excited about using this thing. I got this camera for 35 bucks..not too bad I guess. I bought it because my Canonet's meter died, so after learning that the Electro's aperture priority, I decided to get one instead of replacing the Canonet. I'll probably attempt to fix it.. but anyway...

After shooting this test roll (Arista Color 200) It seems to work, but it does have a slight quirk. Basically when I press the shutter button, it seems like there's a short somewhere. The yellow and red lights flicker. I have to hold the shutter button at a certain position to get it to work right.. so i'm just wondering if there's a way to open it up and clean the contacts for it? Also, I have been reading up about the POD, and I hear the 'thunk' sound, so that's a good sign right?

Here are a couple examples and a link to the shots that came out.







and more
http://flickr.com/photos/bhop73/sets/72157607776432060/

so any help on cleaning the meter contacts would be awesome!
 
Aperture priority is good thing.
As for flickering, work camera some 100 times and see if things get better. Contact oxydize after 40 years of not being used. If it doesn't help, collective brain will make next move ;)
 
Thanks, i've tried working the shutter release a lot, but it doesn't seem to make a difference...

So, I read somewhere that I can take the bottom cover off and spray the electric shutter contacts with some electric contact cleaner. I took it off last night to have a look, but i'm not exactly sure what i'm looking for, any help?
 
I am using a PX28 with spring to make up the difference. (as recommended here. The battery check light is constant and bright and the shutter seems to work right in all speeds if I press the shutter button slowly, it's just that the red/yellow arrows seem a little "twitchy" and I can hear the buzzing that (from what i've read) means it could be dirty contacts. My test roll of film came out ok except a couple frames where I think I pressed the shutter button too fast, so that's why I wan to just try to clean it.

If all else fails, i'm not against sending it out for a CLA. I might end up doing it anyway, but in the meantime, I want to try to do as much as I can on my own so I can put it to use.

Here she is :D
 
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Try the yashica guy website- http://www.yashica-guy.com
He shows how to open one of these babes. But be carefull, I opened one and ended up screwing everything. Thankfully it had only cost me $10. It now sits on my shelf for decoration only. The key thing is to do only what you feel confortable with.
 
Well, i sprayed some contact cleaner inside in the shutter contact area last night. It didn't change anything. It still works the same, which is to say, it works, but just takes a slow shutter finger. So, I figure i'll just use it as is and hope that the electric contacts clean themselves with use.
 
They could clean up themselves...or not. I used to clean aperture readout contacts on GSN while tracing down buzzing sound while pressing shutter release. I'm not 100% sure it helped though I got a lot of positive emotions from seeing internals of lens barrel and feeling I can rely on contacts. It won't harm, hopefully.

That buzzing comes from contacts...electronics is about contacts, so said some my friend with knowledge in this field. We tinkerers, just need to find right contacts to clean or restore - and wrong sounds go away, meters spring back to life and electrical shutters shut and open as intended. Contacts, contacts.
 
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