Leica M4, shutter stuck open

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Today i picked p a minty-looking M4 for a song, the reason being that the shutter is stuck wide open. The wind lever is also stuck. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, and I have the necessary tools to work on the camera, but I just wanted to know if there is a common cause for this type of problem.

Thanks,
 
The common problem with Leica M4 is that the shutter ribbon rip off the shutter-drums, especially when they were not correctly lubricated and/or dirty. This is what my repair-man had told me. In this case you need to replace the shutter curtain w/ ribbons, adjust and lubricate everything properly and are done. :)
 
I took the camera apart this morning and identified the problem. It turned out that the "labrynth" (metal edge of the shutter curtain) on one of the curtains hadn't been crimped properly, allowing the cloth curtain to pull out and wind itself up on the roller.

I have replaced shutter curtains on Barnack Leicas before, but I think I'll send the M4 to get the curtains replaced. Hopefully I'll have the camera up and running in a couple weeks.
 
I took the camera apart this morning and identified the problem. It turned out that the "labrynth" (metal edge of the shutter curtain) on one of the curtains hadn't been crimped properly, allowing the cloth curtain to pull out and wind itself up on the roller.

I have replaced shutter curtains on Barnack Leicas before, but I think I'll send the M4 to get the curtains replaced. Hopefully I'll have the camera up and running in a couple weeks.

I had exactly the same thing happen on an M4-2. I'm going to see if I can do a DIY.

Cheers,
Dez
 
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