Hi:

I would like to know just how often do you need to have Ms CLA? I bought my M6 new about 4 years ago and I am wondering if now is the time to send it in for CLA? Thanks,

Edward Yu

-- Edward Yu (fallot@ms2.hinet.net), November 13, 2001

Answers

Hallo Edward,

just send your camera in when it develops a trouble.

You can shoot thousands of rolls of film with it and it should still work alright. Yes, it is even better to do so. Should you have your camera sitting on a shelf for ten years without using it at all, it will most likely need a CLA.

Best wishes and good shooting

K. G. Wolf

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), November 13, 2001.

I would say: When it does not feel right anymore. I just aquired an old M2 which was quite battered, but never serviced during it's 40 years of life and when you operate it, you can feel if it needs service i.e. advance and shutter are smooth, sound of shutter at different speeds, self timer (if you have one) has to run flawlessly. Moreover the exposure has to be right on (test with a slide film). If all this is ok, I would not do anything.

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), November 13, 2001.

I've had my TTL for a whole year and it's still okay (har har). But a recent talk with an M6 fan who is by profession an electrical expert led to the conclusion that the first TTLs and some of the older M6 classics too may differ considerably as regards battery consumption. (No, not simply because one might possibly never turn that thing off.) I just wanted to mention this because the next (or first) CLA you ever get for your M6 should include a check-up here too.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 13, 2001.

Michael,

I still have to replace the first battery of my M2 ;-)

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), November 13, 2001.

Kai, I knew that would come...

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 13, 2001.

Michael,

I just couldn't resist. But if I put a battery in, do I have a reasonable chance that AE and motor on my M2 will work ?

Just dreaming - Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), November 13, 2001.

I could not agree more with K.G. and Kai. There seems to be a lot of people on this forum always advising CLA's - from my experience and talking to various Leica technicians - "If it ain't broke dont't fix it!". The more M bodies you play with, it soon becomes obvious how they should feel. Use it as much as you can! Don't waste money and risk a beautifully working Leica by un-necessary fiddling.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), November 13, 2001.

The service cycle depends on the particular camera, on your use & care of it, and on the nature/quality of the previous service. My heavily used M2 (made 1959, acquired 1970) has required service about every 10 years, usually when shutter speeds get a little off. My less used M3 (made 1962, acquired 1975) is still right on, 20 years after the last CLA (!). My M6 (made 1985, acquired 1998) required a service shortly after purchase due to worn light trap felts, metering contacts, preview mechanism, and many other little adjustments, but shutter speeds were fine. Small things were repaired over the years along with the CLAs of all 3 cameras, such as replacing worn strap lugs, touch-up of vulcanite, and cleaning internal dust from RF, but nothing other than the shutter speeds and light traps that actually forced a CLA. One benefit of a CLA for an M6 is that they are sold very dry, and I think most CLA's end up smoothing the action with more lubricant. I shoot mostly B&W, so my tolerance on shutter speed accuracy is not as great as someone doing lots of color. I guess my rule of thumb would be about every 10 years, just to assure that lubricants are freshly distributed.

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), November 13, 2001.

Well we have been over this ground many times before so I will not repeat myself. One point though, you are not likely to notice the gradual change is camera noises, at least have a GOOD Leica tech listen to your camera every five to ten years.

More importantly, how do I keep my M6 in good shape?

Regular exercise is important. At least every three months go through all the shutter speeds. This keeps the lubricant from separating and gumming up the works (especially important with the seldom used slow speeds). It also helps to keep the shutter speed dial's electrical contacts clean as well. For the same reason, you should turn the ISO dial through its full range too. At the same time move all the other controls on your camera and lenses though their full range of motion.

An occasional cleaning of electrical contacts in the battery compartment and camera back/body is a good idea. An eraser will do the job nicely.

The other problem to watch out for are wayward film chips. We all have had the occasional misload. This can cause little bits of film to break off and get jammed in various places. Look at your film leaders! If there are missing bits, give the interior of the camera a good inspection.

After separating lubricants and film chips, the other main weakness is the shutter curtain brake. If you are getting unexplained "light leaks", the shutter brakes are the most common culprit. Definately CLA time.

What do I do? I send my most used camera in every five years. My back-ups get regular exercise and a CLA every ten to fifteen years. A CLAed camera immediately receives careful testing upon arrival back from the shop.

People complain about the expense but it nothing compared to the maintanence required by my Nikonos cameras. Every year, at the very latest two, the camera has the have every internal o-ring changed (there are 15 or so). Just changing film requires following a meticulous proceedure or you may flood the camera.

Cheers,

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 13, 2001.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. A Leica isn't a watch which runs constantly. Except for heavy professional use, operating a Leica with less-than-optimal (not speaking about crunching, grinding, squealing!) lubrication isn't going to cause significant premature wear of parts. The exception to that rule is if you've had the camera in an area with a lot of dust (particularly sand) or salt spray. In that case, get it cleaned.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), November 13, 2001.