my Minolta Hi-Matic 9 can only shoot the sky

[pinkarmy]

got my Minolta Hi-Matic 9 today.
the body and the lens looks good, no battery inside. however when i press the shutter button, it did not fire everytime, had to press a few more time to trigger it.
when i point the camera upwards (lens towards the sky) , it fires with no problem.

any tips for me? thanks in advance.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The HM9 does not require a battery to operate, all mechanical. The battery is required for program mode, setting to shutter speed and aperture both to "A". It is also required for auto-flash operation.

Chances are it could benefit from a CLA, or at least cleaning the shutter blades with Ronsonol (lighter fluid). before doing that, I would sit down and dry-fire the shutter for a while. Sometimes that just gets things working again.

 

[pinkarmy]

thanks, eager to try that.
one more silly question, without battery, the exposure meter needle point to the highest in the viewfinder, is it "normal"? thanks again.

 

[pinkarmy]

tried Brian's "dry-fire" method, seems to be improving a lot (the shutter "on strike" again when i put down for a while.) so i guess the "Ronsonol" is unavoidable, do i have screw open all 4 screw (2 on the focus ring, 2 on the GN/Check ring) to go to the blade? thanks.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You need to take the front optics group out.

Construction is very similar to the Canonet in terms of removing retaining rings and getting the front group out.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90468

 

[pinkarmy]

WOW!! What a great thread! thanks Brian.

...but i feel chicken after seeing the operation because i am a mechanic-idiot...
i am fearing that i will ruin the "seem-to-be-quite-nice" Hi-matic 9.

after your dry-fire suggestion the shutter is now around 70% sure fire...need more dry-fire...i might look like a Ｍr. Monk of camera these days.

but now that i saw your suggested link, i might bid some parts/repair cameras to do some practice...seems like big fun!

once again, Big Big Thanks.