Leica M4 shutter issue

[johnnyalucard]

I have an M4 I just picked up at an auction with a shutter problem. When cocked the first curtain moves across but the second curtain does not appear at all, leaving the film plane exposed.

When I press the shutter button nothing happens until I release it and then the first curtain moves back across to cover the film plane. This happens exactly the same on all set speeds.

I’m pretty handy repairing old cameras generally but this is my first M so before I start getting stuck in any suggestions as to what might be going on gratefully received!

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I have an M4 I just picked up at an auction with a shutter problem. When cocked the first curtain moves across but the second curtain does not appear at all, leaving the film plane exposed. ...

I'm not familiar with this exact issue, but it might simply be time for a CLA. I don't recall ever purchasing a camera on eBay that didn't, upon arrival, need a CLA - regardless of what the seller represented. I always take this into account on such a purchase.

That being said, depending on what you paid for it - and the seller's [mis]representation, you should seriously consider returning it.

 

[xayraa33]

I have an M4 I just picked up at an auction with a shutter problem. When cocked the first curtain moves across but the second curtain does not appear at all, leaving the film plane exposed.

When I press the shutter button nothing happens until I release it and then the first curtain moves back across to cover the film plane. This happens exactly the same on all set speeds.

I’m pretty handy repairing old cameras generally but this is my first M so before I start getting stuck in any suggestions as to what might be going on gratefully received!

Camera is due for a proper professional quality CLA.

You can try tensioning the first shutter curtain a bit more to see if it will activate the 2nd curtain. Just keep track of the number of turns you crank up the 1st shutter curtain, so if all fails to activate the 2nd shutter curtain and you want to set it back to the original tension...don't over do the tensioning.

You can also check if the 2nd shutter curtain is lacking spring tension too.

Proper cleaning and lubrication and adjustment to factory specs is the normal way to go about fixing these issues in a serious manner on such a fine and expensive camera.

 

[johnnyalucard]

Thank you both. The auction I bought it from was a bricks and mortar auction and not ebay - and it was listed as having a shutter issue so I don’t feel hard done by!

A CLA is probably in order but I would like to get to know the insides of it a bit. I have a fondness for fixing things but this one is nearly mint and from the first production run so perhaps not the one to experiment on.