M3 trouble

[dadsm3]

My beater M3 is giving me a dark stripe on the RH side.....seems to be there at different speeds with varying degrees of severity. Comments appreciated...
Thanks,
Mike

 

[photogdave]

I'm no techie but maybe a sticking shutter curtain?

 

[JohnM]

Looks like a case of shutter capping - there is likely a CLA in your M3's immediate future.

 

[dadsm3]

Thanks Dave & John...unfamiliar with the term 'shutter capping'.....elaborate?

 

[JohnM]

Basically, the shutter curtains are not opening and closing at the right speed in relation to each other - most likely, the second curtain is closing too quickly which is underexposing the area where you're seeing the banding.

 

[Kim Coxon]

The camera needs a CLA. There are 2 possible faults. The first is that the curtains are moving at different speeds and the other is a problem caused by the shutter brake. This causes the first shutter to stop before full travel and then complete the travel once the second shutter catchs up.

Kim

 

[Uncle Bill]

Mike,

I know an ex leica tech in North York, PM me and I'll give you his phone#

 

[clintock]

Adjusting that is a non-invasive procedure and any proper camera repair tech should be able to fix it- sending it off to a Leica specialist if nothing else is wrong may be overkill. You may want to call around locally first before boxing it up with the peanuts.

 

[dadsm3]

Thanks fellas....I'll try locally first before sending it off.

 

[FrankS]

The technical term for that symptom is "dork bar". 🙂

 

[dadsm3]

Thanks for the technical help Frank. Does 'dork' refer to the camera or the operator?

 

[photogdave]

I know Ontario is a big place, but if you're relatively close to Kindermann Canada, take it there. They used to be a Canadian distributer/service centre for Leica and their service guy Jerry is factory trained.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I think Brian Sweeney used to know how to fix that problem yourself... It's a pity he's no longer posting here...

In any case, I'd do as others said: look for a qualified local repairman first, or send it to someone like Kindermann or DAG.

 

[back alley]

i would have the camera fully cla'd at the same time if it hasn't been done already in the last few years.

i think you would be surprised at how it 'feels' afterward.

joe

 

[Xmas]

Frank
I was eating...
Noel

 

[dcsang]

David Yao.. it's that simple 🙂

Dave

 

[clintock]

http://leicaclub.net/files/leica_m2_m3_m4_basic_repair.pdf

That will more likely scare you into taking it to a pro, than inspire you to try to adjust anything yourself.

 

[chendayuan]

E_mail me I wlll send you step how to fix it. It called bouncing, the second shutter curtain brake need to be adjust. But if you also have other problem, just send for CLA.

 

[dadsm3]

No way for the DIY....I have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time.....