Yashica Electro GX help needed

[Griffin]

Hi guys,

I found this Yashica on the Queensday market for 10 euros. I'm absolutely over the moon with it, but I can't seem to get it to work. I bought some batteries for it, but to no avail. I'm no electronics expert but it seems that there are some connectors missing in the battery compartment. When I put in the batteries they can jiggle around freely without touching the top connectors. Also, the bottom seems to be devoid of anything metal. Now for a battery to work, doesn't it need to be connected on both sides? Can anyone confirm that my battery compartment is missing something? And if so can you point me to a place on the internet where I can find some info on fixing my Yashica?

Thanks in advance,

Griffin

 

[bawang]

Yep, that's one option. I took the DIY route. I bought small flexible tube wide enough to hold the two batteries (Energizer 357/303) and stuff some aluminum foil to make sure there's contact. On the other side of the compartment, I use some tiny nut/bolt combination long enough and put them in the flex tube to create contact between the terminals. Stuff aluminum foil where needed. Crude but works on mine.

 

[Frontman]

The contacts are there, they are just very flat.

You need to make sure the battery contacts in the camera are clean. You can use a small screwdriver to scrape corrosion off of them, or use a small bit of scotch bright. When using shimmed batteries, the connections must also be rather tight. If you are using batteries with shims, they must fit firmly between the battery and the contacts. I've used some battery adapters which aren't quite wide enough to provide adequate pressure to the contacts. Small washers inside the adapters under the batteries will fix this problem.

The wiring on the GX is pretty good, I have yet to find one which was corroded so badly that I couldn't get it to work (and I have had a dozen or so of these cameras).

 

[Griffin]

Thanks for the swift replies!
My main concern is the battery compartment. As you can see in the middle image, the bottom side is just plastic with no metal connections anywhere. My guess is that they broke off or went on a holiday or something. Can anyone confirm this? Perhaps you could post some pics of your Yashica's battery compartment?

 

[john neal]

ISTR there should be a shorting bar in there to connect the two batteries in series - does it look like there is a lip in the moulding that could have held one in the past?

 

[Griffin]

Yes it looks possible. If you look closely in the middle photo there is a kind of a ridge at the bottom. It's possible that there was a metal strip here to connect the to batteries together. I'm hoping some of the other GX users can take a look at their battery compartment.

 

[Mablo]

I'm using the Yashica Guy battery adaptor. Put your GX upside down so that the lens is pointing at you and open up the battery compartment. The right side of the Yashica Guy adapter is simply a piece of round plastic rod with a appr. 0,5mm copper wire through it. The copper wire is installed in such a way that it contacts + and - sides of the chamber. The left side of the adapter is another piece of plastic tube, this time hollow, which is a placeholder for two SR44 cells.

There is indeed some kind of metal bar in the middle of the battery chamber. I don't know what it's supposed to do (if anything).

 

[bundok]

Perhaps you could post some pics of your Yashica's battery compartment?

Hey Griffin,
you guessed right - one side of the contacts in the battery compartment seems to be missing. But I guess you could easily make a replacement out of a thin metal sheet (maybe out of a pop can?).
Good luck,
Michael

P.S.: Just in case anyone wonders: No, my GX hasn't been CLA'd so far. Normally my Yashicas aren't such a mess like this GX.

 

[Griffin]

Okay. A pop can might work.

 

[Griffin]

Closest thing at hand is a beer can though

 

[Bill58]

We have a member who repairs Yashicas. You might try the Yashica forum here and find him. Seemed like a good guy (or as they say across the pond, a likeable chap).

 

[wiedo]

Closest thing at hand is a beer can though

Hope you don't have the POD when you fixed the battery compartment.. I got a GX for free in Japan with (what i think is) a POD..

In July i'll try to replace all the pads in my Yashicas..

 

[b1bmsgt]

We have a member who repairs Yashicas. You might try the Yashica forum here and find him. Seemed like a good guy (or as they say across the pond, a likeable chap).

Sorry to say, I don't do GX's...

Russ

 

[Griffin]

Thanks Bundok, I've fashioned something out of a beer can and all lights, bells and whistles seem to be functioning. I'll be shooting the cat/garden/floor and see what comes out. Thanks for the swift replies all!