Minolta XG-M shutter/advance lever problem PLEASE HELP

[wechols]

Hello everyone,

I'm going to try to see if I can get some expertise here as I am at a loss. I've been trying to fix up my old Minolta XG-M for about a week. As with many other minolta cameras, the advance lever was stuck and the shutter would not release.

Multiple posts said to replace the shutter release capacitor at the bottom cover. I did this and I think that it fixed part of the problem. I can engage the mirror by pulling back a tab at the bottom of the camera and using my finger to pull down the mirror (it does not engage all the way down, only about 3/4 of the way). Then I depress the shutter release button, and the mirror releases and I hear a click. I don't think it would do this before I replaced the capacitor. So it seems that the only sound that isn't there is the shutter releasing because it hasn't been wound back, hence it is already released.

So, I feel like the problem may be mechanical and I just need to reset some things under the bottom cover (I have no idea how to do this). If it is electrical, then somehow the winder doesn't "think" that the shutter has been triggered so it is still stuck in that 30 degree position.

Here is a link with a video demonstration of what I described above:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-SKbqqSgdaMkXqx4-6rJyOLV2t85tBYJ/view?usp=sharing

Another thing to note that you can see in the video is that you have to turn the camera off and then on for the shutter button to click for the second time in a row. This is because when the shutter button is fully depressed it cuts power to the camera or something (LED's in the viewfinder turn off).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If I don't get any responses I will have to give up 🙁

 

[JeffS7444]

I think you still have faulty capacitors that need to be replaced. In my X700, I replaced one on the bottom of the camera, and 2 more on the underside of the main circuit board as per Minolta's service procedure for a camera with excessive current drain (which it definitely was). Access to the parts is a little bit tricky, requiring desoldering of a number of wires.

 

[wechols]

Thanks for the reply!
I have located those capacitors, just wasn't sure if they would be the problem as I have no idea what their purpose is. Any advice on where to buy capacitors? I bought a few for the one under the bottom cover and had to pay $7 shipping. Amazon only offers large kits for $15. I don't have much need for a kit, kind of wish I could just buy exactly what I need for cheap. Just trying not to make this a costly project if replacing those doesn't work.

 

[CMur12]

Welcome to RFF, wechols.

I've heard or read that the early X-700s and X-570s didn't have capacitor problems, that the problem was with later versions and capacitors from a different supplier. If this is true, I would expect your problem to be mechanical.

I have an X-570 that I bought new in 1984 and the capacitor has not failed. I once advanced the film a bit aggressively and over-torqued the wind lever, jamming the wind lever in place and the shutter part way through its travel.

A local professional photographer suggested that I tug gently on the exposed shutter curtain, which I did, and it released both the shutter and the wind lever. I've been more careful with it since then and I have had no further problems.

We do have some members who are very skilled at camera repair, so hopefully they will chime in from a more qualified position than I can.

- Murray

 

[JeffS7444]

Some of the bigger international parts distributers include Mouser, Digikey and Farnell/Element14/Newark. You can buy as little as a single capacitor or resistor, but there's no way around minimum shipping charges that I'm aware of.

 

[wechols]

Welcome to RFF, wechols.

I've heard or read that the early X-700s and X-570s didn't have capacitor problems, that the problem was with later versions and capacitors from a different supplier. If this is true, I would expect your problem to be mechanical.

Thanks for the reply. I have heard that too about x700's however mine is the XG-M. I'm not sure how its parts compare to the early x-700's but many people online have mentioned the capacitor problem in the XG-M so my thought is that they don't have the highest quality of parts.

I have an X-570 that I bought new in 1984 and the capacitor has not failed. I once advanced the film a bit aggressively and over-torqued the wind lever, jamming the wind lever in place and the shutter part way through its travel.

A local professional photographer suggested that I tug gently on the exposed shutter curtain, which I did, and it released both the shutter and the wind lever. I've been more careful with it since then and I have had no further problems.

We do have some members who are very skilled at camera repair, so hopefully they will chime in from a more qualified position than I can.

- Murray

It's funny you mention this because I've actually done the same thing. I fixed the problem by using a coin at the bottom of the camera and just forcing it back into play. However I have also been able to release the shutter by gently tugging on the curtain, but it did not reset the wind lever :/

I'm thinking I might order a capacitor kit from amazon, and if that doesn't fix the problem perhaps I can just put the new capacitors back in the box and return it 😀

 

[wechols]

Well just as an update, I replaced the three capacitors under the top cover and nothing has changed. Looks like I’m done with this project unless anyone else has some bright ideas 🙂

 

[monopix]

I'm confused. You don't seem to be fully cocking the camera so anything could happen. What happens when you use the film advance lever to cock the camera properly?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This might help. Its the original factory service manual.


https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=73&category=2&secondary=7

 

[wechols]

I'm confused. You don't seem to be fully cocking the camera so anything could happen. What happens when you use the film advance lever to cock the camera properly?

That's the problem. The film advance lever is stuck there because the camera doesn't think the shutter has released

 

[wechols]

This might help. Its the original factory service manual.


https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=73&category=2&secondary=7

Thanks for the link. I have tried looking at the service manual before, but if I'm being honest it's very confusing to me haha

 

[monopix]

So the issue is the wind lock is set but the shutter isn't cocked. The only answer to that is to find the whereabouts of the wind lock and to reset it manually.

Here's a page from the manual. The arrowed part is the wind lock lever (I think). This the underside of the camera at the bottom of the wind shaft.



Click the image for a larger version.

Pull it away from whatever it is locked up against. That should allow you to recock the camera using the film advance lever.

 

[wechols]

So the issue is the wind lock is set but the shutter isn't cocked. The only answer to that is to find the whereabouts of the wind lock and to reset it manually.

Here's a page from the manual. The arrowed part is the wind lock lever (I think). This the underside of the camera at the bottom of the wind shaft.
Pull it away from whatever it is locked up against. That should allow you to recock the camera using the film advance lever.

I should've mentioned this in the original post, but I actually was able to see what was physically stopping the lever, and it is the exact part you point to in the image. When I move it out of the way, the advance lever is able to move about another 30 degrees (to the point that the lever is perpendicular to the camera), but is stopped by something else. I'm unable to identify what is stopping it

 

[monopix]

Well, at least I can still read a manual. But I can't see what else might stop it so I think it's a case of starting to dismantle and find what's blocking it.