Hi again,

Maybe someone like John Collier is qualified to answer this question. In his previous post I stated that one of my M bodies has a bent shutter release. When you advance the film you can clearly see that the Softie that resides on the shutter release wobbles. This doesn't seem to affect the shutter but it definitely affects the meter which turns on everytime I advance the film now. That and the shutter release is a bit "grittier" now than before. So I guess my question is... the shutter release; is it a short shaft or a long shaft? And will the repair on this snafu be simple or elaborate (if its just the wobble on the shutter release)?.

Thanks in advance,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

Well I do not know that I am qualified but that has never stopped fools before so here goes :-).

The release knob is a short shaft that runs in a bushing concentric with the winding mechanism. It is directly over the take -up spool, which is why it is short. There is a horizontal plate with a forked end attached to the bottom of the release knob. This forked end sticks out past the take-up spool and a hooks to a release rod which goes the rest of the way to bottom of the camera. The release rod pushes against a long flat spring and has a beveled arm which works arresting lever "A". Moving arresting lever "A" releases the first curtain. Also working on the flat spring is a rod which works arresting lever "B" back up at the top of the camera next to the shutter speed dial. This holds the second curtain until such a time as the timing mechanism sees fit to release it and stop the light from continuing to contaminate your film.

My beloved son once spilled apple juice on my camera and the release knob became sticky and reluctant to return. I just turned the camera upside down and washed the knob with paint thinner. Then I wiped it gently with a light lubricant, turned it back upright and left it overnight before wiping the knob clean again. It has been fine ever since.

I have also come across a number of cameras where the release point is so low that the knob is actually hitting the take-up spool. As in previous postings, you can adjust this but you may have to adjust the rod up to arresting lever "B" too and I think I would leave that to a Leica tech.

The release knob is pretty short and I cannot see it getting bent without taking a good portion of the camera with it. If the camera is eight years or older, I would recommend a CLA by a GOOD Leica tech. I have not worked on a M6 so I do not know where the meter on switch is located so I cannot help you there either.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 08, 2002.