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Message |
    
Ismaelg
Tinkerer
Username: Ismaelg
Post Number: 72
Registered: 11-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2011 - 10:05 am: | 
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Hi,
Just because I tinker with old cameras and lenses, people think I know what I'm doing HA!
A friend just brought an old Canon AE-1 Program with a problem: When you cock the film advance lever, the shutter trips. Changing the speed setting has no effect on the problem, so it seems it is related to the curtains. Looks like when the curtain is cocked it is released back.
Any idea where to start? The camera is well beaten up so I'm not sure it is worth sending for service.
Thanks,
Ismael |
Brcamera
Tinkerer
Username: Brcamera
Post Number: 116
Registered: 08-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2011 - 03:17 pm: |
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This problem is very common with A series Canon cameras. Problem is caused by contamination on the MG-2 combination magnet. Remove the bottom cover and on the rewind side you will see a magnet with a plastic cover. This magnet should hold when the shutter is cocked. Usually I find small metal particles attached to the magnet faces and this prevents the magnet from holding. I very carefully cut a flap in the plastic covering to access the manget and clean the surfaces. Then I reseal the flap the epoxy and this will cure the problem in most cases. Early in the A series run there were defective magnets but that is not usually the case any longer. |
Ismaelg
Tinkerer
Username: Ismaelg
Post Number: 74
Registered: 11-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2011 - 12:38 pm: |
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THANK YOU!
I removed the bottom cover and saw the magnet. It was not holding. I cleaned it and it held just a bit. It seems to be weak. I cleaned some more and it now holds. But I need to get a proper battery to test it since the camera will not work without battery. I placed 4 LR44 in series with a metal spacer and I got it to fire once and cock properly. It is looking good so far.
Thanks!
Ismael |
Pierssy
Tinkerer
Username: Pierssy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 04:32 am: |
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Hi I wonder if someone would comment on a recent situation that I have had with my lovely A-1. I had the same problem as stated above the shutter was opening but not shutting agian until the power was switched off. The camera had been unused for over a year. I spoke to the guy I brought it off and he said yes he thought it was the magnets and if I posted it to him he would have a look at it for me, which I thought was great. He has now returned my camera saying that it has a plown cable that runs to the magnets that look like a short. I have tried the camera and the shutter no longer works at all. Is it possible that he has attempted to repair it with the battery still in and shorted it?
Thanks for having a look. |
Brcamera
Tinkerer
Username: Brcamera
Post Number: 121
Registered: 08-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 09:45 am: |
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Well, your problem is a bit different than what Ismaelg was experiencing. His issue was caused by Mg2 magnet not holding and shutter releasing at the end of the wind stroke. From your description, it sounds like the shutter is hanging wide open? If that is the case, problem is likely caused by switch SW4 under the top cover. It could be caused by a magnet (Mg3) under the bottom cover if the black wire leading to the magnet was shorted to the body but quite frankly, I don't see how the wire could get shorted to the body without lots of help. I have seen the Mg3 magnet cause problems when the camera has been subjected to water/moisture damage as it sits on the bottom of the camera and is quite exposed. As for why the camera is inoperative now, I don't have enough information to go on to comment and I would have a concern that the fellow you sent the camera to for service may have tampered with the mechanism since his comments were a bit vague. If you are going to keep the camera you should send it to a specialist who is familiar with the A series. |
Pierssy
Tinkerer
Username: Pierssy
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 01:30 pm: |
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Dear Brcamera thanks for your Reply. I haven't taken the bottom off myself but when I have some time I will, and maybe take some pics. I think it may have become a ' for spares' unit. Shame its lovely and clean all round but I do have a few more and I just got a rally nice T90 fully working and like new , so I have a camera that works and takes my lenses. |
