Bronica SQ-A locked up

[one90guy]

Just got my Bronica back from my daughter and why test firing and trying to remember how to work it I think I have the mirror hung in the up position. I based that on no view through lens and I can no longer advance film to cock shutter. Any thoughts or suggestions. Hopefully I have not done any major damage.

David

 

[illumiquest]

sell, buy a hasselblad.

or check battery.

 

[one90guy]

sell, buy a hasselblad.

or check battery.

LOL got new battery, No new cameras, had to replace my computer yesterday and TV went out day before.

 

[benjiboy]

LOL got new battery, No new cameras, had to replace my computer yesterday and TV went out day before.

Troubles never come in ones

 

[one90guy]

Two is enough for now. Bronica will have go to the back of the line for repair or replacement.

 

[mweintraub]

sell, buy a hasselblad.

or check battery.

Because Hasselblads don't lock up?

 

[epig]

Silly question but is the mirror lock up switch activated?

 

[one90guy]

Because Hasselblads don't lock up?

Ouch kick a man while he's down

 

[one90guy]

Silly question but is the mirror lock up switch activated?

Wish that was it, thanks for your help. I am not sure what I did to cause that, hopefully someone else has experienced this problem.

 

[Dave in Kansas]

I think they can lock up if you mount a lens that is not cocked with the body is cocked or something like that. Any chance you did something like that? The same think can happen to Hasselblad, or so I've read. I don't know how you solve that problem if it happens, however. It hasn't happened to me - yet.

And be sure your new battery is actually a good new battery. I recently had battery problems with my Mamiya and discovered my new batteries were old inventory and were dead when purchased.

Dave

 

[lxdude]

If the interlocks are working properly, a lens cannot be mounted to a body unless both are cocked.

 

[one90guy]

I think they can lock up if you mount a lens that is not cocked with the body is cocked or something like that. Any chance you did something like that? The same think can happen to Hasselblad, or so I've read. I don't know how you solve that problem if it happens, however. It hasn't happened to me - yet.

And be sure your new battery is actually a good new battery. I recently had battery problems with my Mamiya and discovered my new batteries were old inventory and were dead when purchased.

Dave

I dry fired it several times before the problem occurred, it had a good battery but went and bought another one in hope. Thanks for suggestions.

 

[one90guy]

If the interlocks are working properly, a lens cannot be mounted to a body unless both are cocked.

Now the lens is not cocked and can not remove it, I can move the mirror slightly but its clear that its hung. I fear forcing it will do more damage

 

[lxdude]

Remove the back and see if you can then get the body to wind.

 

[one90guy]

Remove the back and see if you can then get the body to wind.

Still locked but thanks for suggestion.

David

 

[Chris G]

Hold the body firmly and rotate the lens back and forth by the ribbed collar (the one that says Seiko) there will be a bit of play in there.

Sounds like the the pins in the lens are starting to stick.

 

[lxdude]

Check the contacts in the battery compartment. Make sure they are clean and that they are making solid contact.

 

[DWThomas]

Hmm - the SQ-A will fire (at fastest shutter speed) without a battery so I'd be disinclined to suspect the battery.

The camera can normally be cocked and fired with no back installed by turning on the multi-exposure (turn lever horizontal) and cranking. Of course if it's now in some in-between state I suppose all bets are off.

 

[one90guy]

Hold the body firmly and rotate the lens back and forth by the ribbed collar (the one that says Seiko) there will be a bit of play in there.

Sounds like the the pins in the lens are starting to stick.

Thanks for the help, but lens has just a tiny bit of wiggle room. Every time I walk by I pick it up and will keep trying. Please keep suggestion's coming.

David

 

[one90guy]

Hmm - the SQ-A will fire (at fastest shutter speed) without a battery so I'd be disinclined to suspect the battery.

The camera can normally be cocked and fired with no back installed by turning on the multi-exposure (turn lever horizontal) and cranking. Of course if it's now in some in-between state I suppose all bets are off.

I believe that's the condition the camera is in. Its almost time to break open the tool kit. Right now still concerned about doing more damage. Please keep the suggestions coming. Thanks for your input.

David

 

[one90guy]

Check the contacts in the battery compartment. Make sure they are clean and that they are making solid contact.

Thanks but I have ruled out the battery, wish that was it. But keep the suggestions coming.

David

 

[Chris G]

Thanks for the help, but lens has just a tiny bit of wiggle room. Every time I walk by I pick it up and will keep trying. Please keep suggestion's coming.

Yes, there is a tiny amount of play. Just force it back and forth between the stops and it should finish the cycle. I have had the same problem before, I twisted it fairly hard, but want to be careful about putting that advise out there!

The cause was the pins on the lens side were sticking for the first part of their rotation. Lens dis-assembly, cleaning and light lubrication was required.

 

[lxdude]

Yes, there is a tiny amount of play. Just force it back and forth between the stops and it should finish the cycle. I have had the same problem before, I twisted it fairly hard, but want to be careful about putting that advise out there!

The cause was the pins on the lens side were sticking for the first part of their rotation. Lens dis-assembly, cleaning and light lubrication was required.

Yes! I forgot about that. That is likely to be the problem. It is due to old lubricant which has thickened. As Chris says, move the lens rapidly clockwise/counterclockwise and it should complete the cycle. If not, warm it up. A sunny window might be enough, or putting it in an oven which is not above 120 actual degrees F, or a hair dryer blowing on the lens (being careful not to overheat any spot). Jiggle it periodically until you get it to release.


Once the lens is off, it is not difficult to get into the lens through the back to clean and relube it.
In this thread over on P.nut I explain how to do it:

http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00bG13

One thing I said in that thread was Koh's is always an option for repair. I was wrong about that, obviously. They have stopped doing repairs.

 

[one90guy]

Yes, there is a tiny amount of play. Just force it back and forth between the stops and it should finish the cycle. I have had the same problem before, I twisted it fairly hard, but want to be careful about putting that advise out there!

The cause was the pins on the lens side were sticking for the first part of their rotation. Lens dis-assembly, cleaning and light lubrication was required.

Thank you for the link, will keep working on it.

David

 

[one90guy]

Yes! I forgot about that. That is likely to be the problem. It is due to old lubricant which has thickened. As Chris says, move the lens rapidly clockwise/counterclockwise and it should complete the cycle. If not, warm it up. A sunny window might be enough, or putting it in an oven which is not above 120 actual degrees F, or a hair dryer blowing on the lens (being careful not to overheat any spot). Jiggle it periodically until you get it to release.


Once the lens is off, it is not difficult to get into the lens through the back to clean and relube it.
In this thread over on P.nut I explain how to do it:

http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00bG13

One thing I said in that thread was Koh's is always an option for repair. I was wrong about that, obviously. They have stopped doing repairs.

Great idea to warm it up, thanks. Light at the end of the tunnel hopefully.