Paralyzed G-III

[BrianShaw]

It is often possible to free up the shutter by opening the back of the camera and dropping a little lighter fluid onto the rear lens. After a while it should soak through onto the shutter. Working the shutter a few times will free it up. The worse that can happen is that you will have to take the camera apart and you were going to do that anyway.

It might be better to try a drop or two of lighter fluid through the ASA dial window. Too much and you risk getting goop on the inside of the lens, just a few drops and the ASA dial will clean up as well as the shutter blades. It won't do much for really cleaning the timing/delay mechanism, but that might be okay. When the blades are wet, don't be shocked that the shutter stops working... when they dry you'll be able to know if you made a significant improvlement or not.

 

[colyn]

Isn't using isopropyl alcohol for cleaning shutters frowned upon? I thought it was supposed to attract moisture after it evaporated and could result in the blades rusting. Just curious.

Isopropyl alcohol will cause rusting of the shutter blades and other parts since it contains water. NEVER use it to clean a shutter.
I use MEK for cleaning. Lighter fluid is also a good cleaner but you have to completely flush out the mechanism after soaking.