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?