Minolta Hi-Matic F - Shutter won't automatically CLOSE

[tr5642]

Hello all.

I picked up a lovely Hi-Matic F recently that appears to fully work EXCEPT for one little problem. The shutter only closes when I release the button. It's acting like a camera that has a 'bulb mode' (which I don't think it has 🙂 )

A few things to confirm:
- Battery is installed, and BC produces a red light
- Pressing the shutter button produces a click and an open shutter
- Releasing the shutter button causes the shutter to close. Waiting for any reasonable length of time does not
- BC light stays on while shutter is open (as I think it should)
- I've tried various ISO settings and even played with the flash comp settings.

So, right now, the only exposure settings possible are wide open and manual guess at the shutter timing.

Any suggestions?

 

[monopix]

Long time since I've worked on one but, as I remember, the general principle is there is a solenoid that holds the shutter open for the desired time. Sounds like the solenoid isn't releasing the shutter to allow it to close so it could be an electrical fault or it could be there's a spring that should close the shutter after the solenoid has released that isn't doing its job. You could try triggering the shutter then, with the shutter release held down, remove the battery. If it's an electrical fault the shutter should close when the battery is removed. If it's a mechanical problem it probably won't.

Picture attached of the insides. The escapement you can see is what slows the opening/closing of the blades (the blades are combined shutter and aperture) so that the longer the shutter is open, the wider the aperture. The green thing on the end of two red wires is the solenoid and the shiny, sort of, triangular shaped thing is the armature that gets pulled against the solenoid.

I remember it's not an easy camera to work on.

 

[njws]

Red Wire

Red Wire

Monopix, you don't happend to have a picture on from the other side? I would like to know were the red wire from the battery.should be attached?
I has lost connection from both ends so to speak.

 

[monopix]

Does this help?

 

[njws]

Were is it soldered? At what point?
Thanks

 

[monopix]

Sorry, I only have these pictures from one I repaired a long time ago. I don't remember any details.

 

[njws]

So this is were it is soldered (white ring)?

 

[njws]

Ok, thanks, still helpful.

 

[Andy O]

Long time since I've worked on one but, as I remember, the general principle is there is a solenoid that holds the shutter open for the desired time. Sounds like the solenoid isn't releasing the shutter to allow it to close so it could be an electrical fault or it could be there's a spring that should close the shutter after the solenoid has released that isn't doing its job. You could try triggering the shutter then, with the shutter release held down, remove the battery. If it's an electrical fault the shutter should close when the battery is removed. If it's a mechanical problem it probably won't.

Picture attached of the insides. The escapement you can see is what slows the opening/closing of the blades (the blades are combined shutter and aperture) so that the longer the shutter is open, the wider the aperture. The green thing on the end of two red wires is the solenoid and the shiny, sort of, triangular shaped thing is the armature that gets pulled against the solenoid.

I remember it's not an easy camera to work on.

Hi, I suspect that I have the same problem. Is it possible to buy a new solenoid and if so could you please point me in the right direction?

Thank you.

Andy.

 

[monopix]

Hi, I suspect that I have the same problem. Is it possible to buy a new solenoid and if so could you please point me in the right direction?

Thank you.

Andy.

Not that I'm aware of. Unlikely to be the solenoid itself unless it just needs cleaning. It's more likely an electrical fault.

 

[Andy O]

Not that I'm aware of. Unlikely to be the solenoid itself unless it just needs cleaning. It's more likely an electrical fault.

Thank you for your message. Any suggestions on what the fault might be?

Blessings.

 

[Andy O]

Not that I'm aware of. Unlikely to be the solenoid itself unless it just needs cleaning. It's more likely an electrical fault.

Thank you. I followed instructions to replace damaged wires and that seems to be resolved now, but shutter behaving as though in permanent bulb mode vent to point of staying open after I release shutter button. Any thoughts on where the fault might lie?

Thank you so much.

 

[monopix]

You'll need to do some fault finding. Start with the solenoid. Does it release after the exposure or does it stay closed? If the solenoid releases but the shutter stays open then probably a shutter fault. If the solenoid doesn't release them maybe it needs cleaning or maybe there's an electrical fault. Check the voltage across the solenoid to see if it stays energised or not. It's a long time since I worked on one so can't be any more specific.

 

[Andy O]

You'll need to do some fault finding. Start with the solenoid. Does it release after the exposure or does it stay closed? If the solenoid releases but the shutter stays open then probably a shutter fault. If the solenoid doesn't release them maybe it needs cleaning or maybe there's an electrical fault. Check the voltage across the solenoid to see if it stays energised or not. It's a long time since I worked on one so can't be any more specific.

That is really helpful. Thank you again for taking the time to reply.

 

[Andy O]

You'll need to do some fault finding. Start with the solenoid. Does it release after the exposure or does it stay closed? If the solenoid releases but the shutter stays open then probably a shutter fault. If the solenoid doesn't release them maybe it needs cleaning or maybe there's an electrical fault. Check the voltage across the solenoid to see if it stays energised or not. It's a long time since I worked on one so can't be any more specific.

Hi. Thanks again for your help. Camera now up and running. 🤓📸

 

[monopix]

Hi. Thanks again for your help. Camera now up and running. 🤓📸

So what was the issue? Might help someone else in the future if you report your findings here.