AlexBG
Well-known
I won a minoltina s from the big auction site in 'working condition' I have a hi-matic 7 which I love but the size is quite big and the s2 expensive so went for the minoltina. Everything works on it except the shutter, it just doesn't move the blades at all, I get a click and nothing. I'm quite handy at fixing things so wanted to have a go at it (I got a refund from the seller so no lose involved) Does anyone know what I need to do, I want to take my time and get this right.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12100934165/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12100934165/
farlymac
PF McFarland
Most likely some lube has gotten on the blades, sticking them together. Best way to get to the problem is through the front.
There are two narrow slots in the name ring (between Minolta and Rokkor, and between 1.8 and f) where you fit a spanner to remove the ring, turning counter-clockwise. If you don't have a spanner, you can make one from a double ended utility knife blade. Make sure to grind off the edge before doing anything else. Then break off the ends until it fits across the name ring.
After you get off the name ring, you'll be able to see how the rest of the lens/shutter assembly is put together. Could be screws, could be more spanner rings. You may have to order some tools for further dis-assembly, unless you already have a set. Here is a good source http://www.micro-tools.com/store/home.aspx
I've never worked on a Minoltina, but it should be a fairly straight forward camera to work on, if you've done others like it. The main thing is getting the shutter out so you can clean the blades. Although some will say you can just put some drops of lighter fluid in the shutter in situ, I prefer to get it off the body, and at least do a good flush. Sometimes, it's bad enough that you have to remove and clean each individual blade. Hopefully not in your case. Others have had success working strips of paper in between the blades, and then a drop or two of lighter fluid. The paper wicks the oil away, but has to be repeated more than once. Good chance of damaging a blade or two if you slip-up.
When removing the shutter body from the camera, two things you'll have to watch out for are the wire from the flash sync, and how the cocking mechanism is arranged. There should be a retaining ring on the inside of the camera that holds the lens/shutter assembly to it. Once off the camera, remove all the lens elements from the shutter body, then you can flush it with the lighter fluid, making sure to blow it out to speed up the drying, and operate the shutter and aperture multiple times to make sure the fluid is getting all the oil, and is evaporated.
On some cameras, the lens/shutter assembly is on a plate held on by four screws hidden under the covering. This may be an easier way to remove the lens/shutter assembly.
You could do a search for this particular camera to see if anyone has photos of a tear down to see what all is entailed.
Good luck.
PF
There are two narrow slots in the name ring (between Minolta and Rokkor, and between 1.8 and f) where you fit a spanner to remove the ring, turning counter-clockwise. If you don't have a spanner, you can make one from a double ended utility knife blade. Make sure to grind off the edge before doing anything else. Then break off the ends until it fits across the name ring.
After you get off the name ring, you'll be able to see how the rest of the lens/shutter assembly is put together. Could be screws, could be more spanner rings. You may have to order some tools for further dis-assembly, unless you already have a set. Here is a good source http://www.micro-tools.com/store/home.aspx
I've never worked on a Minoltina, but it should be a fairly straight forward camera to work on, if you've done others like it. The main thing is getting the shutter out so you can clean the blades. Although some will say you can just put some drops of lighter fluid in the shutter in situ, I prefer to get it off the body, and at least do a good flush. Sometimes, it's bad enough that you have to remove and clean each individual blade. Hopefully not in your case. Others have had success working strips of paper in between the blades, and then a drop or two of lighter fluid. The paper wicks the oil away, but has to be repeated more than once. Good chance of damaging a blade or two if you slip-up.
When removing the shutter body from the camera, two things you'll have to watch out for are the wire from the flash sync, and how the cocking mechanism is arranged. There should be a retaining ring on the inside of the camera that holds the lens/shutter assembly to it. Once off the camera, remove all the lens elements from the shutter body, then you can flush it with the lighter fluid, making sure to blow it out to speed up the drying, and operate the shutter and aperture multiple times to make sure the fluid is getting all the oil, and is evaporated.
On some cameras, the lens/shutter assembly is on a plate held on by four screws hidden under the covering. This may be an easier way to remove the lens/shutter assembly.
You could do a search for this particular camera to see if anyone has photos of a tear down to see what all is entailed.
Good luck.
PF
AlexBG
Well-known
Thanks for the reply, I've searched for tear downs but no joy, I have a hi-matic 7 that I've taken the lens off before but not taken the lens section apart so may practise on that and hope that they are similar. There seems to be a bit of information on the various hi-matics so I will only find out when I start taking stuff apart.
Ranchu
Veteran
http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00UNhd Looks like they just got the name ring off. I would use a rubber stopper for that rather than a caliper/wrench, if you can. If you just wanted to clean the blades, it looks like you would just remove the front lens group after this point. I have one of these I need to do this to also, I'd appreciate your updates!
68degrees
Well-known
you get a refund and dont have to return the camera? huh?
farlymac
PF McFarland
Happens. Some sellers don't want the hassle, and it keeps the negative feedback to a minimum.
PF
AlexBG
Well-known
I got a 60% refund so the camera cost me £10. I don't mind paying that whether I can fix it or not, now that I've seen and held one I know that I wouldn't mind spending a lot more on a fully working one. I did the same with a fujica compact deluxe, spent £8 on one that the seller didn't know if it worked or not because I wanted to see if I liked the focusing wheel, turns out I hated the focusing wheel so didn't pay for a fully working one only to find out that I wouldn't use it. Just started to take mine apart, the name ring came off easily, looks like it has been off before, now for some screws.
What's the best fluid to use to clean the blades?
What's the best fluid to use to clean the blades?
btgc
Veteran
Lighter fluid or anything else to dissolve grease yet not water based and not leaving its own residue.
AlexBG
Well-known
Ok, stuck now, taken everything off of the front that I can and now I am here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12140057086/
I can't seem to find a page dedicated to rokkor lens repair that I found the other day that has pictures that looked like this on it and how to get to the next stage.
Shall I take off the leatherette and remove the lens and go from the back?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12140057086/
I can't seem to find a page dedicated to rokkor lens repair that I found the other day that has pictures that looked like this on it and how to get to the next stage.
Shall I take off the leatherette and remove the lens and go from the back?
AlexBG
Well-known
OK, not stuck. Lens then simply unscrews by hand and comes off, then there are two metal rings that I have noted the positions as they are held down by the lens. Is there a good way to test to see if the blades move or should move or shall I drip lighter fluid on them? There seems to be some grease on every part that I have removed so far but at least I am at the blades, was quite simple now that i know what to do.
Ranchu
Veteran
Don't drip lighter fluid, I would put the two rings back on temporarily, and clean the blades. How I do it is first close the aperture as much as possible to protect the rear element from drips (not getting it dirty is really the best option). Then saturate a qtip with lighter fluid and 'transfer' the fluid to the stuck blades. Wipe very gently. These steps work better if you loosen the tightly wound cotton a bit. While it's still wet mop up the fluid very gently with the other end of the qtip and discard it. Repeat until you no longer see smears of grease on the blades, and it's dry, then try the shutter on 1/30th or so. Do the whole process again to make sure, even if it works. If not, repeat the process and if it still doesn't work, you probably have a different problem, or it's too stuck for this process. If you remove things further than you have now, you'll need help I can't give you as I've never taken the speed setting thing off.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I hope you marked the lens when it came out of the threads so that you put it back in the same landing. Otherwise your focus is going to be off, and may take some time to get it right.
Ranchu is right about too much lighter fluid getting all over the place, though it is possible to get the inner surface of the rear elements cleaned from the front. Which you should do anyway while you have the camera opened up. Haze and dirt tends to settle there. For the cleaning you'll need to open the aperture wide, and trip the shutter on B, holding it open with a locking cable release. Use lens fluid to clean it.
If swabbing the shutter blades doesn't loosen things up, you may have to take the escapement and delay timer out to clean them. It also makes it easier to open and close the shutter manually to ensure you have the blades all cleaned.
But before tearing it down further, use something like a dental pick to manipulate the levers, and maybe get things moving again. Be patient, don't use unnecessary force, and document each event with a photo so you can put things back the way they were.
You can study some of the shutter repairs I've done at http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/
PF
Ranchu is right about too much lighter fluid getting all over the place, though it is possible to get the inner surface of the rear elements cleaned from the front. Which you should do anyway while you have the camera opened up. Haze and dirt tends to settle there. For the cleaning you'll need to open the aperture wide, and trip the shutter on B, holding it open with a locking cable release. Use lens fluid to clean it.
If swabbing the shutter blades doesn't loosen things up, you may have to take the escapement and delay timer out to clean them. It also makes it easier to open and close the shutter manually to ensure you have the blades all cleaned.
But before tearing it down further, use something like a dental pick to manipulate the levers, and maybe get things moving again. Be patient, don't use unnecessary force, and document each event with a photo so you can put things back the way they were.
You can study some of the shutter repairs I've done at http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/
PF
AlexBG
Well-known
I only cleaned the blades a bit and they open OK now, just used a cotton bud and wiped away what I could. I will do this all again when I get some lighter fluid. Managed to hold the blades open and clean everything. Had one small part of the shutter mechanism ping off but had a photo of which way it went. Shutter seems to work fine now. Going to run a film through it to see if everything is OK.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12144350255/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12145005466/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12144350255/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87492120@N04/12145005466/
AlexBG
Well-known
Test roll went OK, amazingly the meter seems to do an OK job but this was with C41 Kodak BW400.
Now that everything is OK I'm going to clean the shutter some more (I only gave it a quick wipe with a cotton bud to get it open) and try some portra.
Time to sell the yashica GS.
Ranchu have you tried to clean yours? Any luck?
Now that everything is OK I'm going to clean the shutter some more (I only gave it a quick wipe with a cotton bud to get it open) and try some portra.
Time to sell the yashica GS.
Ranchu have you tried to clean yours? Any luck?
Attachments
Ranchu
Veteran
Not yet, just haven't gotten to it. I'll let you know here when I do. My meter works too!
Ranchu
Veteran
Gave it a slather, unfortunately something else is wrong, it's just jammed. Poked around under the bottom cover with no results. Might try it again, I forgot to poke the shutter wind lever, oops. Only realized after it was closed what it was.
Ranchu
Veteran
OK, it lives! I poked around the bottom, no way to move the shutter cocking lever without dismantling levers. So I moved on to the top, there's a stack of gears around the wind lever, I think old grease stuck one of the ratchet levers or something. Poked around and got it to work! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eRDXhIK1hA