How do adjust the shutter release travel on Leica M cameras?

-- mitch brown (leicameter@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001

Answers

1. Open the bottom plate. 2. Remove the film loading instruction plate (three tiny cross head screws) 3. Loose the two screws(larger cross head)holding a long, flat, narrow, black metal leaf spring (which is about 50 cm/2 inches long. 4. Move the spring back (toward the film plane) slightly (0.5mm). 5. Tighten the two screws fairly tightly. 8. Replace film loading instruction plate.

Be careful not to move the leaf spring to far towards the film plane or the camera will fire when the shutter is cocked. Best to check the shutter release before replacing film loading instruction plate. You will need two high quality crosshead jewelers screwdrivers to fit the two different size screws. An ashtray or other shallow container is necessary to keep the the three tiny screws that hold the film loading instruction plate from getting lost. Use plenty of light to see what you are doing and take your time and you will end up with a beautiful short, smooth shutter release.

-- mitch brown (leicameter@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001.

And note that when you take off the film loading instruction plate, a set of tiny shims used to locate the baseplate lock plane will fall out. They are extremely tiny and thin and a real pain to refit. I did it once and will never ever open the mechanism on an M again. I sweated blood getting those shims back in place.

However, Mitch, since you're very evidently an expert, how do you lubricate a sticky shutter release? My shutter release is jerky and sticky and if I could fix this problem without sending the camera off for six months I'd be very happy. Thanks

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), March 01, 2001.

Robert,

I'm no expert. You're right about the shims although if you have the camera upside down they shouldn't fall out. I just use a needle or similar to line the holes up as they get knocked slightly out of line.

To the best of my knowledge to lubricate the shutter release mechanism requires the shutter release collar to come off for starters. A special tool is available for this from www.microtools.com although it isn't cheap. It is a job best left to a competent repair person with the correct tools as it is easy to marr the collar. I once had this service done by a non-Leica repair person who badly marred the shutter release collar and then tried to cover it up with black paint.

-- mitch brown (leicameter@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001.

Robert,

I forgot to ask, after you sweated all that blood was the shutter release travel adjusted to your liking? Sorry I couldn't of been more helpful regarding lubricating your sticky shutter release.

-- mitch brown (leicameter@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001.

I didn't do it to adjust the release travel, just to try and lubricate the release as noted above. However, when I saw the interior of the box, I closed it as quickly as I could!

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), March 01, 2001.

I had a rather unfortunate conjunction of three otherwise innocuous substances: son, apple juice and a M6TTL. The shutter release was sticky both literally and functionally. I would work it up and down until it loosened but it would gradually stiffen up soon after and freeze up entirely when outside in the cold. The camera is under passport warranty but I hate being without it if I can help it. I dug around in my daughter's medicine cabinet for some Nail polish remover (acetone). I soaked a cotton ball with the acetone and held it to the shutter release with the CAMERA UPSIDE DOWN. It works just fine now.

Rob, first get a cable release and see if the shutter release is still sticky using that. If it as smooth as butter then try cleaning the release button as I did. If it is still sticky using a cable release then I would send it out for repair. You could try a SMALL DROP of thin synthetic lubricant in the space between the shutter release and the collar.....

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), March 01, 2001.

And, if you have an M6, make sure you do not adjust the shutter to fire before the meter turns on. :-)

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), March 01, 2001.