What the Heck Happened!?!?!? Help!

[w3rk5]

Hi Steve. If it's going to cost more than what you paid for the camera, I'd try to fix it myself. The worst thing that can happen is it'll be in pieces. But I'm sure you'll learn a lot and gain a lot in confidence doing it. You'll also have some nice spare parts.

You mentioned that, "when I actuate the shutter by pulling down on the mechanism at the bottom of the shutter assembly INSTEAD of using the shutter button, the thing works right every time". Do all the shutter speeds fire properly when you do this? Is there any resistance when you press down on the shutter button? Does the shutter button return to the original height? What is the condition of the "mechanism" at the bottom of the shutter (could it be bent)? Are the 2 screws holding the "mechanism" tight? These may sound like silly questions but it'll help me paint a better mental picture of what's going on.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Hi Steve. If it's going to cost more than what you paid for the camera, I'd try to fix it myself. The worst thing that can happen is it'll be in pieces. But I'm sure you'll learn a lot and gain a lot in confidence doing it. You'll also have some nice spare parts.

You mentioned that, "when I actuate the shutter by pulling down on the mechanism at the bottom of the shutter assembly INSTEAD of using the shutter button, the thing works right every time". Do all the shutter speeds fire properly when you do this? Is there any resistance when you press down on the shutter button? Does the shutter button return to the original height? What is the condition of the "mechanism" at the bottom of the shutter (could it be bent)? Are the 2 screws holding the "mechanism" tight? These may sound like silly questions but it'll help me paint a better mental picture of what's going on.

If I work on it, "the worst thing" is almost certain to happen. I have a long record of killing lenses/cameras.
That said, I'll jump in with the famous last words "what have I got to lose?"
The mechanism to which I refer is that piece of metal secured by two screws on one end that flexes whenever you push the shutter button. If I pull down on the shutter end of it, the thing fires right every time at every speed.
To me, this indicates that there is something wrong in the linkage between the button and whatever actually fires the thing. This is borne out, I believe, by the fact that sometimes, if I push the button just right, everything works great.
The shutter feels different from my working Fed, but I can't really say how. It doesn't feel like it sticks really, just different.
I've blown, cleaned and lightly lubed everything in that line that I can get to without dissasembly.
If I had the confidence for the job, I'd whip the parts out of the other Fed-2 I have and use them to repair this one. I'm very much afraid if I did that, I'd simply have 2 dead feds.

 

[w3rk5]

If I work on it, "the worst thing" is almost certain to happen. I have a long record of killing lenses/cameras.
That said, I'll jump in with the famous last words "what have I got to lose?"
T

lol. Didn't mean to laugh but I know where you're coming from with that.

Give this a try........find a small screw (example: the type that secures your hard drive to the bracket in your computer) and screw it on to your shutter button. The screw will act like a "soft shutter release button". I'm thinking maybe your shutter button isn't going down as far as it need to. Let me know how that turns out. If that takes care of it I have a better idea on what's wrong.

 

[dazedgonebye]

lol. Didn't mean to laugh but I know where you're coming from with that.

Give this a try........find a small screw (example: the type that secures your hard drive to the bracket in your computer) and screw it on to your shutter button. The screw will act like a "soft shutter release button". I'm thinking maybe you shutter button isn't going down as far as it need to. Let me know how that turns out. If that takes care of it I have a better idea on what's wrong.

Laugh all you want. I try to make my little tragedies funny. They're easier to take that way.
I've impressed myself! I actually thought of a soft shutter button as something that might help. I'll see if I have a screw of the right size laying about.
Thanks for all the help. It's the sort of thing that makes this board a great place. 😀

 

[w3rk5]

If the soft shutter idea works than I think the "collar" around the shutter may not be screwed down far enough before they secured it with the screw on the side. Good luck and keep me updated on this please.

"It's the sort of thing that makes this board a great place". I couldn't agree with you more. 🙂

 

[dazedgonebye]

Hey, Hey! What do you know?! With a soft shutter (aka #4 screw) on the button, all is well.
Can you guide me through fixing the underlying problem?

Nice to be hopeful....

 

[w3rk5]

I'm glad it worked out Steve. Check out post #5 in this link. It should be able to "get it" with this link on how to fix it. If not, just let me know.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=895

 

[dazedgonebye]

I'm glad it worked out Steve. Check out post #5 in this link. It should be able to "get it" with this link on how to fix it. If not, just let me know.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=895

Well, that came off easy enough. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it screw down any further than it already was and it still has the same problem.
Perhaps something is wrong further in and the button has become marginal...now only working with the help of the "soft release."