Repairing Gossen Lunalite

[hoot]

My Gossen Lunalite meter fell down and doesn't work anymore. When I meter something, the LED always displays overexposure. Even in extremely dark situations, with the ASA dial set to a low number, the LED tells me that I am overexposing at all f/stop and shutter speed settings.

I have tried to dismantle the meter with only limited success. The aluminium back cover comes off easily, but the circuit board below it will not come off. I have removed the four screws holding it in place, but there appears to be a central axis holding it place where the little screw for the aluminium panel goes in. This brass socket seems impossible to remove.

If anyone has successfully dismantled and/or repaired a Lunalite meter, I would be quite grateful for detailed instructions on how to do this! This is my only meter and I desperately need it for indoor photography... :bang: :bang: :bang:

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to respond!

 

[back alley]

sorry ronnie, i'm all thumbs.

if needed, quality light metric did a great job on my metrastar.

joe

 

[RJBender]

Ronnie,

If there's an exposure correction dial on your meter, make sure it's set at zero. It could have rotated when you dropped it. Several years ago, I started taking the back off my Luna Pro SBC until I noticed the dial had rotated and that's why I was getting false readings. 😉

R.J.

 

[hoot]

Thanks; that was the first thing I checked...

 

[Toby]

If I were you I would buy a new sekonic -I believe they're going for about £120 in the UK for the basic model -and the UK is the most expensive place to buy anything.

 

[RJBender]

Ronnie,

Did anything crack or break off when you dropped your meter?

R.J.

 

[hoot]

Did anything crack or break off when you dropped your meter?

Nope. And nothing clatters around when I shake it.

Toby, I ended up buying a new Gossen Digisix for 100 Euros. However, I am still interested in repairing the Lunalite because it cost 80 Euros used and I'd like to resell it.

 

[RJBender]

Do you want to remove the circuit board and touch all the soldered connections with a soldering iron?

R.J.

 

[hoot]

The circuit board will not come off. I have removed the four screws holding it in place, but there appears to be a central axis holding it place where the little screw for the aluminium panel goes in. This brass socket seems impossible to remove.

 

[RJBender]

The circuit board will not come off. I have removed the four screws holding it in place, but there appears to be a central axis holding it place where the little screw for the aluminium panel goes in. This brass socket seems impossible to remove.

Ronnie,

Does the center of the "central axis" match up with the center of the dial? If so, use the tip of an exacto knife to remove the aluminum SBC disc in the center of the dial. Or, you might want to warm it up a little with a hairdryer to loosen the glue and try removing the disc with a piece of duct tape. There is probably a bolt underneath that connects the dial to the circuit board. If you mess up the disc, ask Gossen to send you a new one.

R.J.

 

[hoot]

RJ-- Brilliant! Will give that a try and let you know what happens. Thanks!!