Nikon MD-15 Died

[farlymac]

Well, not totally. I can still find battery power in different locations.

I was prepping my FA with the thought of testing out a recently acquired Micro-Nikkor-P.C (AI'd), running through all the functions, and after about five activation's, the drive just up and quit. No Battery Check light, so I pulled the tray, replaced the AA's, and cleaned the contacts in the drive. Still no go. No meter activation on the camera either. Pulled the drive off, loaded some 357's in the FA, and it works fine.

So I opened it up this afternoon, probing around with the meter to see if I could find the fault. Of course, it would be better if I had more electronics training, and a diagram of the circuits. Can't find the 13.2VDC from the tray, but there are various voltages on the gold camera contacts (which bleed down, so must be a capacitor in the line), a couple of obvious power feeds, and across some capacitors.

So I'm getting power from the pack tray, it's just not going everywhere it's supposed to. Common fault? Am I looking at replacing the PC board?

PF

 

[sevo]

I've had several Nikon motors of that period (MD-11,12 and 4) that did not come back to life after prolonged periods of storage. Which sounds like dead capacitors.

 

[rbsinto]

Well, not totally. I can still find battery power in different locations.

I was prepping my FA with the thought of testing out a recently acquired Micro-Nikkor-P.C (AI'd), running through all the functions, and after about five activation's, the drive just up and quit. No Battery Check light, so I pulled the tray, replaced the AA's, and cleaned the contacts in the drive. Still no go. No meter activation on the camera either. Pulled the drive off, loaded some 357's in the FA, and it works fine.

So I opened it up this afternoon, probing around with the meter to see if I could find the fault. Of course, it would be better if I had more electronics training, and a diagram of the circuits. Can't find the 13.2VDC from the tray, but there are various voltages on the gold camera contacts (which bleed down, so must be a capacitor in the line), a couple of obvious power feeds, and across some capacitors.

So I'm getting power from the pack tray, it's just not going everywhere it's supposed to. Common fault? Am I looking at replacing the PC board?

PF

Good luck finding replacement parts for an MD-15. I think in the end one way or the other, you'll have to get a junked drive for parts or just buy a replacement from KEH or ebay or where ever.
However, if you're willing to wait a couple of weeks (because I'm currently swamped at work) I'd be willing to mail you a junked MD-15 which I recently replaced when my FA finally literally fell apart (the film rewind crank/back opening mechanism disintegrated) and I got another body with drive from KEH.
The drive was still working when the body bit the dust, and although it appears to be in lousy shape you could strip out what you needed if you like Do-It-Yourself projects.
All I'd ask is that you pay the postage, and do someone else a good deed as well.
Lemme know.

 

[farlymac]

Good luck finding replacement parts for an MD-15. I think in the end one way or the other, you'll have to get a junked drive for parts or just buy a replacement from KEH or ebay or where ever.
However, if you're willing to wait a couple of weeks (because I'm currently swamped at work) I'd be willing to mail you a junked MD-15 which I recently replaced when my FA finally literally fell apart (the film rewind crank/back opening mechanism disintegrated) and I got another body with drive from KEH.
The drive was still working when the body bit the dust, and although it appears to be in lousy shape you could strip out what you needed if you like Do-It-Yourself projects.
All I'd ask is that you pay the postage, and do someone else a good deed as well.
Lemme know.

That would be great. Postage would be to Zip Code 24019. PM me with details.

PF

 

[rbsinto]

That would be great. Postage would be to Zip Code 24019. PM me with details.

PF

As I said, this will have to wait until I'm done with an Audit here at work, so I wont be able to deal with this at least until the end of the month. I'll get back to you then.
Robert

 

[farlymac]

As I said, this will have to wait until I'm done with an Audit here at work, so I wont be able to deal with this at least until the end of the month. I'll get back to you then.
Robert

That's fine, I've got plenty to keep me busy, and there's no rush getting it fixed.

PF

 

[mikemc_photo]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Motor-Drive-MD-15-Service-Repair-Manual-/370758655194

I suspect a bad motor, worn brushes