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I fixed a stuck shutter on a 1978 Minolta and the sound is like new again | Camera Repairers - Vivisector

valp32•7mo ago

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?

4 comments

4 Comments

kevinking7mo 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.

evan_davis5mo ago

Huh, never thought about the bounce back issue. I remember trying to fix a stuck curtain on my old Nikon using some random foam weatherstripping from my garage and it actually worked but yeah, it didn't hold up well. The black craft foam sounds way more reliable than the crappy stuff I grabbed.

patel.shane7mo 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.

phoenix1497mo 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.