Shutter only firing at 1/500 problem

[mcgrattan]

Hi, I picked up an Electro 35 GT via ebay and the shutter seems to only fire at one speed. I've replaced the battery and the battery check light lights up fine when you depress the button. However, nothing happens with the metering lights, neither light up even if I cover the sensor or point it directly at bright light.

The shutter stays on the same speed no matter what. Even B. It's always a very short exposure [looking through the back the shutter does open, so it's not stuck, the exposure is just in the order of 1/500].

Any suggestions? I'll probably end up returning it, but if it's a tiny fix I can do myself, or some stupid mistake I'm making, I'm all ears.

thanks

Matt

 

[martin-f5]

I think most of the old electros have problems with the lever mechanism,
first of all when you wind the film there must be a clunck after about 20°,
if not you have to clean the mechanic and replace the pad.
Second part,
if you close the metering window with your finger the yellow lamp must light up after pressing the shutterrelease buttom down.
There are 3 steps when pressing this knob but you can't feel it,
the first step is for the red lamp, overexposing,
second step for yellow lamp
and finaly shot.
I've never heard of damaged shutterblades,
they are in the lense and have very good built quality.
The release mechanism and electronic is more open for humidity and therefor more sensitively.

I've bought 4 of them,
all have to be cleaned inside,
one hadn't a pad,
two were good,
and the forth has to be opened for cleaning and new greaseing.

 

[jody36]

i had this problem once and it was the screw on battery cover, dont know why but when i used another cover from another electro it worked fine. cant explain but it worked.

 

[mcgrattan]

first of all when you wind the film there must be a clunck after about 20°,

Yes, it does this. There's a solid dull clunk. I don't think it's a 'pad of death' problem.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[mcgrattan]

Problem solved! I replaced the PX28A + spring just now with a PX32A replacement that arrived in the post this morning and it works fine. It must be something to do with the contact between the battery cover and the battery, odd that the battery check circuit would work when the meter did not.

Thanks for the information anyway.

 

[jody36]

yep its odd but it happens