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Ohm
Tinkerer
Username: Ohm
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 11:51 pm: | 
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Hello I am new to the forum, I just picked up a Canon FTb that is in great condition except that the meter does not work properly. To start, the camera did not have a battery so I tried the battery out of my Canon TLb, which was a PX-625a and I still did not get a good reading, the meter goes up but the reading is low compared to my TLb. I went and bought some radio shack 675 zinc air cells and tried that with a rubber o-ring as a spacer and it still would not give a good reading, and when you go to check the battery voltage with the meter it does not move so I figured it was a broken connection on the inside so I carefully removed the top and the orange wire going to the hot shoe was broken off and the red wire to the upper terminal on the inside of the battery compartment was frayed a bit so I redid both of those connections and it still is not working properly after re-assembling the camera. Is it possible that one of the three potentiometers on the light meter is out of adjustment, I am not sure where to go from here, as I said I am new at this besides tearing down an old Kodak Duaflex and cleaning it, I haven't done much.
Thanks much
Nathan |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 418
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 01:44 pm: |
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I had similar problems years ago, with a mint FTb just out of long term store. I cleaned the meter switch contacts, and renewed the wiring from the battery to the switch. \this solved my problems.
However your statement about the broken hotshoe wire, indicates that somebody has had the top off previously - they obviously did not take care. This could mean that the meter needle is fouling the aperture in the pentaprism. It is very easy to mess up the galvo and its needle on the FTb, especially if you are a bit ham-fisted when working on or around the pentaprism/screen assembly.
You should check, 1/ that the needle is free, 2/ meter wiring and switch are good. Only then should you think about adjusting the pots. |
Ohm
Tinkerer
Username: Ohm
Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 06:14 pm: |
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That's the interesting thing, the needle moves and as well as the circle. Comparing it to my TLb without a battery, the readings are comparable so I think it is more of an issue of it not getting power to the meter. I well take it apart again and see if I can't touch things up a bit more.
Thanks
Nathan |
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