Pin hole leak in shutter

[mhoskin]

Hi everyone,

My relatively new-to-me S3 2000 has developed a pin hole leak in the shutter. I noticed when I got it there was a patch in the shutter, and I haven't figured out yet whether the leak is from the patch coming lose or if it is a new spot. So three questions:

-- Can I fix this myself? I'm relatively handy. How would I go about doing so? Everything else on the camera is fine, it doesn't need a CLA in my opinion.

-- Who should I send this to for a fix? I'm based in Seattle.

-- Should I pick up a headless F1 and have someone swap the entire shutter mechanism for titanium shutters? I don't care about the sound levels or anything like that, I just want it to work. And if it's going to be the same cost as fixing the existing shutter, and if I can get a basement F1 for $100, then maybe it's worth the trouble.

The pin hole leak is small enough that for a lot of uses I can leave the lens cap on and be just fine (I think). But I tend not to store/shoot that way.

Your input is appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Tom A]

The S3 2000 seems to be particularly sensitive to pinholes. My black one developed one suddenly early this summer. Not due to exposure to strong light or sun either. I can track it on the roll, frame 34 - no pinhole and frame 35, shot maybe 30 seconds later - pinhole!!!!! It was small enough that it can be patched and as it seems more like a tear in the curtain - I will patch it with a piece of shutter material and check to see if the tear will continue.
In Marls case - I would check if the current patch is stuck on and not flapping - and also check the location of the pinhole - is it in the same place as it would be if the patch was removed - if so, just use adhesive and glue it back again. If not - I think you better change the curtain.
Switching to titanium shutter is another way to "cure" it - not as easy as it sounds though - you need a fair bit of expertise to put in a new set of curtains and re-calibrate the camera.

 

[mhoskin]

Never mind

Never mind

Never mind everyone. I should have searched first. There are tons of threads on pinholes in Nikon shutters. Ill be trying the DIY route with liquid electrical tape. Will post how it goes....

Hi everyone,

My relatively new-to-me S3 2000 has developed a pin hole leak in the shutter. I noticed when I got it there was a patch in the shutter, and I haven't figured out yet whether the leak is from the patch coming lose or if it is a new spot. So three questions:

-- Can I fix this myself? I'm relatively handy. How would I go about doing so? Everything else on the camera is fine, it doesn't need a CLA in my opinion.

-- Who should I send this to for a fix? I'm based in Seattle.

-- Should I pick up a headless F1 and have someone swap the entire shutter mechanism for titanium shutters? I don't care about the sound levels or anything like that, I just want it to work. And if it's going to be the same cost as fixing the existing shutter, and if I can get a basement F1 for $100, then maybe it's worth the trouble.

The pin hole leak is small enough that for a lot of uses I can leave the lens cap on and be just fine (I think). But I tend not to store/shoot that way.

Your input is appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

 

[mhoskin]

Liquid electrical tape seems to have done the trick -- for now. On close inspection the shutter had a 2mm long rip in one spot, and another pin hole nearby the previously applied patch. Looks like something I'll be inspecting often...

My limited searching suggests a new cloth curtain would be $200 or so and a titanium one $400. If this curtains goes to shreds I think I will go with titanium and make my modern S3 a Frankenstein camera... (Mine is a well loved shooter, not a shelf queen).

Any further pointers on folks that will do the shutter work are appreciated.

 

[thompsonks]

There's a long thread on this here –
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125799
– begun when I had exactly the same problem with a 'new-old-stock' S3. Tom is right, it's a major weakness.

I fixed it temporarily with black acrylic paint.

I hoped that Nikon USA would have a new F shutter, but they never answered my inquiry. I was given an old Nikon F titanium shutter but have not yet found anyone to put in in. I heard DAG works on Nikon RFs & was going to have him do it when he finished some work on my S2 – but he's taken three months, so I wouldn't send Nikon RFs to him again.

Kirk

 

[jonmanjiro]

There's a long thread on this here –
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125799
– begun when I had exactly the same problem with a 'new-old-stock' S3. Tom is right, it's a major weakness.

I've heard and read many stories of Leicas and vintage Nikon RFs with holes in shutter curtains, but despite having owned maybe 50 or 60 reissue Nikon RFs over the last five years, and handling many more, I've heard of only three with shutter curtain problems - Tom's, yours, and the OP's. It's a bit of an exaggeration to say its a major weakness. 🙄