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I fixed a stuck shutter on a 1978 Minolta and the sound is like new again
A guy brought in his dad's old Minolta XG-1 last month. The shutter was stuck halfway, making a sad grinding noise when you tried to fire it. I figured it was just old grease, but after taking it apart, I saw the real problem. The shutter brake pad had turned to sticky goo and was gumming up the whole curtain track. I spent about two hours cleaning every part with isopropyl alcohol and a set of wooden picks. I put in a new brake pad I had from an old parts camera and used a tiny bit of proper watch oil on the pivots. When I put it back together and tested it, the click was so clean and sharp. It went from a choked sputter to that classic, quick snap. It's a small thing, but hearing that healthy sound again after 45 years feels good. Has anyone found a better modern substitute for those old foam brake pads?
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kevinking24d ago
Nice fix! That craft foam idea is clever, but does the thin stuff actually stop the curtain fast enough? I'd worry about it bouncing back.
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patel.shane25d ago
Got to disagree on the watch oil for shutter pivots. That stuff can creep over time and make a bigger mess. I've had way better luck with a super light synthetic grease, like the kind for tiny plastic gears in old CD players. It stays put. For the foam, I just cut my own from thin adhesive backed craft foam sheets. The black stuff from the dollar store works fine, lasts years, and you can make a hundred pads for pennies.
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phoenix14925d ago
Oh man, the "creep over time" part hits hard. I once used watch oil on an old SLR's shutter and ended up with a sticky mess that looked like I lubed it with maple syrup. Your CD player grease trick is way smarter. I'm clearly still learning the hard way.
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