Nikon FA dead - can anyone help?

[Koolzakukumba]

I've got an FA that won't fire in any of the auto modes or in the mechanical B or 1/250th. There are no LEDs lighting up in the viewfinder and the mirror is locked up. It's not stuck with mirror damper foam and it won't come down with some gentle persuasion. I think that even if the electronics are dead the camera should still fire with one of the two mechanical speeds. Any ideas anyone?

 

[BLKRCAT]

In my experience these old Nikons lock up when the battery dies. Have you checked the battery? Replaced it with a new one. Usually even when the battery dead the mirror will unlock when you put it in M90 or M250 in this case.

 

[Koolzakukumba]

In my experience these old Nikons lock up when the battery dies. Have you checked the battery? Replaced it with a new one. Usually even when the battery dead the mirror will unlock when you put it in M90 or M250 in this case.

Hi thanks for your reply. I haven't tried it with brand new batteries but with a pair that came from my EM and another couple from an OM2n. The FA won't fire when the MD15 drive is fitted either and that has fresh batteries and, I understand, should power the camera.

My thinking is that it's probably not a power issue as the camera won't fire the mechanical speeds either - or are you saying that, once locked up through lack of power, the mechanical speeds won't work either?

 

[BLKRCAT]

No the mechanical speeds should fire when the camera is set in M250. This is my experience on an FG. Once the camera was set to a speed other than M90 (on the FG) or B the mirror locked up and the camera refused to advance.

A fresh battery solved the problem.

 

[sparrow6224]

I think the OP is correct that a fresh batter will NOT solve the problem. Did you attempt to use a non-Ai lens on it, or do anything else that would lock up the auto indexing mechanism? That's the only thing I can think of to play with -- and the stop down depth of field button if the FA has one, I can't remember -- to see if the mirror drops. I think perhaps -- this is pure speculation -- that some sort of short or failure of capacitor or such like in the electronics could lock the mirror up and once it's locked, truly locked, then it won't come down and therefore even the mechanical settings won't fire. This happens with Minoltas of that era, frequently, and notoriously.

Also check the self timer, it flips up the mirror and if it's then stuck you're in limbo until you push it back into position.

 

[Koolzakukumba]

I think the OP is correct that a fresh batter will NOT solve the problem. Did you attempt to use a non-Ai lens on it, or do anything else that would lock up the auto indexing mechanism? That's the only thing I can think of to play with -- and the stop down depth of field button if the FA has one, I can't remember -- to see if the mirror drops. I think perhaps -- this is pure speculation -- that some sort of short or failure of capacitor or such like in the electronics could lock the mirror up and once it's locked, truly locked, then it won't come down and therefore even the mechanical settings won't fire. This happens with Minoltas of that era, frequently, and notoriously.

Also check the self timer, it flips up the mirror and if it's then stuck you're in limbo until you push it back into position.

Thanks Vince. This is a camera I bought from a guy as non-working. I hoped that I'd be able to take the base off and unjam it as I've done on quite a few. The seller sad the camera had been working with the MD15 attached. When he took the drive off and wound the camera on manually it jammed. I'll try it with a couple of new batteries and if that doesn't work then I'll sell it for spares.

 

[mikemc_photo]

Many times a finger mashed the shutter blades or they failed to cycle all the way. first turn the dial to M250, if the battery is the issue, that will clear the jam and you can shoot at B and M250. If that does not clear the jam, open the back and look at the shutter blades. They should be flat, and smooth, with no greasy marks...if you can see the "blade arm" you can lightly flick that by lifting and letting go...that sometimes will reset a jam, if the mirror will not cycle down if the second shutter blade has not cleared. I replaced many blade sets and shutter blocks back when new. You can see the arm in this picture...next t the eyecup. If the blades were mashed, incorrectly reset then cycled, the shutter might be junk. 😱

 

[Landshark]

mechanical speeds locked up, should not be electrical failure. There is a good possibility it is a formerly loose screw now stuck in the mechanism.
Removing the top cover and taking a look around the advance gear train could be rewarding.
The mirror actually releases the shutter at the top of it's travel when it strikes the curtain release lever so also checking the right side of the mirror box if nothing's found in the advance section.

 

[mikemc_photo]

mechanical speeds locked up, should not be electrical failure. There is a good possibility it is a formerly loose screw now stuck in the mechanism.
Removing the top cover and taking a look around the advance gear train could be rewarding.
The mirror actually releases the shutter at the top of it's travel when it strikes the curtain release lever so also checking the right side of the mirror box if nothing's found in the advance section.

From a loose hot shoe.??.give it a shake with the lower cover removed