| Author |
Message |
    
Wildestseas
Tinkerer
Username: Wildestseas
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 09:26 am: | 
|
Hello all,
I recently picked up an old Olympus OM-1 md and found that the light meter works only intermittently. I am using a 1.4 volt zinc/air battery and modified the battery compartment to accommodate the smaller cell (I'm confident it maintains constant contacts). The actual light meter appears to be properly calibrated and functions correctly in relation to the aperture and shutter speed dials, however, if I just lightly tap the camera the circuit seems to break and the meter flickers off and on. Most obviously, it seems like there just might be a wire loose, but assuming that the camera body has never been disassembled before, I don't see this as a probable point for failure when examining the mechanical complexity of the entire metering system.
Taking a glance at the schematics in the technical repair manual for this machine has convinced me that I don't want to disassemble anything that isn't absolutely necessary. Suspecting that things that come off the same assembly line often meet similar fates, I'm curious if anyone on this forum has run into a comparable issue with an OM-1. I would be grateful for any thoughts/advice before I attempt brain surgery. I have a second OM-1 md body to cannibalize for parts.
Thanks! |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 67
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 02:06 pm: |
|
Sounds more like a dirty switch contact to me. Working the on/off about 50 times might get it working again or cleaning it with contact cleaner like 5-56 CrC electronics cleaner or lighter fluid. |
Wildestseas
Tinkerer
Username: Wildestseas
Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 04:30 pm: |
|
You're right Tom. A little acetone took care of the problem quite well - no triple bypass required. Thanks for your help! |
Bossman
Tinkerer
Username: Bossman
Post Number: 91
Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 09:43 pm: |
|
One other thing (hope you still have the top off)! I have had many OM-1s that acted like yours and I solved it buy solering a tiny flexible wire from the meter main structure to the body of the camera somewhere close by. This re-establishes the ground for the meter and almost ALWAYS solves the jumpy meter problem I would be careful using acetone because it WILL melt plastic sometimes. |
