Bronica SQ-Am Mirror Lock Up

[GjG]

Sorry for the miss spelling - there seems to be a short between brain and finger action!!!

 

[GjG]

Eureka!!!
Just installed another 6v battery (Energizer 4LR44), no back, Mirror back to normal position!!! Hooray.

I also re loaded film making sure feed was ok, Waste of film? Although I unfurled, suspect fil may be fogged.

Re installed back, switched on power the advance light flickered then stayed on. Powered off then on again, shutter still not firing, when adv button pressed reed light came on. Powered off.

Lesson so far - Don't use cheap 6v battery, have more in stock.

Still not sure why shutter inactive??

 

[GjG]

Ok, Rick after rereading your post about battery pack, I unloaded pack (and batteries) there is some corrosion on terminals in pack - noticed these earlier but didn't think they were that bad, Cleaned up and packed some foil to ensure connection between terminals - Now the Advance button works (sounds when pressed).

NOW. the shutter still doesn't fire, BUT I can hear a subtle 'click' when pressed. - Sounds to the back of camera, Film Back??

Will continue cleaning further, just hope its not mechanical inside the box,

 

[GjG]

I loaded a spare 6x4.5 back. No joy.

Advance button works, move the film counter to 1. Shutter still doesn't fire, although I still hear that faint click????

 

[Rick A]

Remove the back, switch to multiple exposure, try it again with back off. You may need to remove the lens and clean the electrical connections, Turn the power off first and make sure the camera doesn't fire with lens off. Reinstall and try again.

 

[GjG]

Just tried both, no difference I'm afraid.
I'm a little relieved, the mirror back in normal position, the advance button clearly does its job - I don't really want to delve into the workings, need to pluck up courage for that...ut it may come to that - looking at MANUAL, SQ any recommendations as I want use the lenses, EV finder and backs I have?

 

[GjG]

A manual SQ body

 

[Rick A]

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/bronica/bronica_sq-a-m/bronica_sq-a-m.htm

 

[GjG]

Thanks

 

[choiliefan]

Is it possible your lens' shutter is bad?

 

[DWThomas]

(No -AM experience) but the actual shutter in the lens only makes a faint click (maybe it's working?), it's the mirror/film shade triggering and lifting that can be heard from ten yards away. Just thought I'd mention that for the 1.3 after tax cents it's worth.

 

[GjG]

Hi thanks for that, tried the second lens on same effect. - No movement of shutter leaves.

When MLU is used and film advanced, I see the shutter in the lens close then open again (without pressing the release). So I think the mechanism works. When I press the shutter release normally I now hear the very faint click (the shutter leave don't move) the click coming from/near the back of the camera - haven't quite located it yet.

At the moment all contributions are worth their weight in gold - Many heads and all that. I appreciate you all taking the time to ponder this problem. Thanks

 

[GjG]

Hi all, Ok - this morning tried again with the SQ-Am, shutter release still wouldn't fire although made faint 'click' sound. read somewhere the pins locating the camera to the film back could be at fault (bent or not making contact with film back pin).

Having taken the film back off and the 'on' dial to set to Sm, I inserting a tiny screwdriver and pressed the pin (on right, under film advance cog), pressing the shutter release, made a louder Kerchunk, as I removed the screwdriver the shutter/mirror and lens shutter all sprang into action! - tried a few times with multi exp on and off (vertical/horizontal) shutter fires.

Loaded film back, still worked, exposed a few test shots then shutter release stopped again. I found if the process was repeated with the screwdriver inserted in the camera's pin 'sleeve' and retracted (while pressing the S/release) the shutter would fire - So now the shutter works (tried at several speeds/apertures) all be it erratically, works for a while (5-6 shots) then I have to repeat the process. Finished a roll of film, will send off for processing and see results in due course.

I think the mechanism in the camera is either sticking, or dirty? I also read the internal workings may need 'oiling', could this be a cause? I think the camera may not have been used for some time prior to my acquiring it - Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[Amylphoto]

Hi all, Ok - this morning tried again with the SQ-Am, shutter release still wouldn't fire although made faint 'click' sound. read somewhere the pins locating the camera to the film back could be at fault (bent or not making contact with film back pin).

Having taken the film back off and the 'on' dial to set to Sm, I inserting a tiny screwdriver and pressed the pin (on right, under film advance cog), pressing the shutter release, made a louder Kerchunk, as I removed the screwdriver the shutter/mirror and lens shutter all sprang into action! - tried a few times with multi exp on and off (vertical/horizontal) shutter fires.

Loaded film back, still worked, exposed a few test shots then shutter release stopped again. I found if the process was repeated with the screwdriver inserted in the camera's pin 'sleeve' and retracted (while pressing the S/release) the shutter would fire - So now the shutter works (tried at several speeds/apertures) all be it erratically, works for a while (5-6 shots) then I have to repeat the process. Finished a roll of film, will send off for processing and see results in due course.

I think the mechanism in the camera is either sticking, or dirty? I also read the internal workings may need 'oiling', could this be a cause? I think the camera may not have been used for some time prior to my acquiring it - Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Hi, sorry yo revive an old thread, wondering if you found a resolve? I to am having a very similar issue

 

[mshchem]

Hi, sorry yo revive an old thread, wondering if you found a resolve? I to am having a very similar

A few years ago I picked up a couple Hasselblad 553 elx motor bodies, super cheap, I was mostly interested in the focusing screens. The cameras had been sitting for several years unused. I had problems with the cameras cycling properly. I figured I had nothing to lose so I applied a solvent/lubricant to the gear train. Kodak movie film cleaner. Heptane and now banned CFC-113. I got the two cameras running and they have been fine for the last couple years.
Grease turns to glue overtime.

 

[wiltw]

I loaded a spare 6x4.5 back. No joy.

Advance button works, move the film counter to 1. Shutter still doesn't fire, although I still hear that faint click????

Decades ago, I had a ETRSi body purchased new (with back) and I purchased a used back to use with the body. With the used back I found that intermittently the shutter release would seem to fire the shutter, but no exposure was taken....I contacted GMI Photographic (the Bronica distributor at the time in the USA) and they asked me to submit both the body and the back.
After I submitted both, GMI alerted me that the back needed adjustment, and the body was fine (still under warranty). They returned both, with problem fixed, and explained that the film-advanced interlock pin was just a bit too long, which would intermittently prevent the reflex mirror from rising fully, when then kept the shutter-open lever in the body to not actuate, so the lens shutter would not open. By shortening the interlock pin appropriately, they fixed the problem.

 

[Amylphoto]

Decades ago, I had a ETRSi body purchased new (with back) and I purchased a used back to use with the body. With the used back I found that intermittently the shutter release would seem to fire the shutter, but no exposure was taken....I contacted GMI Photographic (the Bronica distributor at the time in the USA) and they asked me to submit both the body and the back.
After I submitted both, GMI alerted me that the back needed adjustment, and the body was fine (still under warranty). They returned both, with problem fixed, and explained that the film-advanced interlock pin was just a bit too long, which would intermittently prevent the reflex mirror from rising fully, when then kept the shutter-open lever in the body to not actuate, so the lens shutter would not open. By shortening the interlock pin appropriately, they fixed the problem.

I've ordered a new back as to see if tgos could be the issue

 

[neilt3]

Hi, sorry yo revive an old thread, wondering if you found a resolve? I to am having a very similar issue

I might not have spotted it , but have you or the OP tried the lens on another body .
It might simply be a faulty lens , not camera etc .
Likewise, have you tried another lens on the body , that you know to work correctly?

 

[choiliefan]

Follow-ups are always good.