Bronica SQ-B mirror-lock-up failure.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 16, 2009

This afternoon as I was working with my SQ-B camera I suddenly noticed the shutter wouldn't fire; looking down at the camera body, the plastic lever connected to the mirror-lock-up mechanism had broken, and then fallen off.

If you have experienced this issue, did only the lever need replacing or was there a more underlying fault?

I'm guessing the replacement tiny plastic lever will cost £50 ...

EDIT: I should add the shutter does appear to fire in the non locked-up position, but I've not put a test roll through yet.

Tom.

Christopher Walrath · Jun 16, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Bump.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 16, 2009

Christopher,

Thanks for the repost. It can be rather unpredictable how these sorts of questions are replied to.

Tom.

archphoto · Jun 16, 2009

I gues this is a push-knob.
If you pull on it, does it release the mirror ?
In that way you could be without an expensive knob.......

Peter

John Koehrer · Jun 17, 2009

Does the lever (or shaft) have a slot or index of some sort? It might be easy enough to fashion something from brass or "aluminium" with a set of files & a drill.
Most likely the lever won't be that expensive. Depending on the technician it could be a freebie or couple of US bucks. Face to face dealing might be better than sending out. It's easier to charge more when you're not looking into someone's eyes.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 17, 2009

John,

The disc seen in the photo does unscrew, there is a metal mechanism with a tiny bolt underneath, which the plastic lever connects to. My first reaction when it failed was why Bronica would use such a flimsy plastic part on a commonly used function.

Tom.

DWThomas · Jun 17, 2009

Bits from an ETRSi repair manual . . .

So it's a little bit with a double "D" hole, I suppose one could do some creative work on an odd chunk of alumin(i)um with a file. It wasn't real obvious in the photo, but the round disk is actually a screw with a special head shape. Probably an easy do-it-yourself job if you can find a part.

DaveT

archphoto · Jun 17, 2009

Seeing the drawing I was thinking of a selftimer lever.
It shure is a pitty that I am not in Holland, I have some at my place there.

Peter

paul_c5x4 · Jun 17, 2009

Tom - Do you have the broken bits of the lever ?

Tom Kershaw · Jun 17, 2009

Some of them, yes, although I've not found the circular cap yet.

Tom.

paul_c5x4 · Jun 17, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Some of them, yes, although I've not found the circular cap yet.

The little circular cap isn't important... If you'd like to post the remains of the lever up North, I'll have a go at producing one in HE30 for you.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 17, 2009

HE30?

paul_c5x4 · Jun 17, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
HE30?

Aluminium (I think the 'mericuns spell it differently).

Tom Kershaw · Jun 17, 2009

Some more detailed photos:

Tom.

paul_c5x4 · Jun 17, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Some more detailed photos.

Looks fairly simple - Have some plate that a replacement could be machined out of. The only problem would be the colour. Could get it anodised, or paint it with a drop of Humbrol enamel.

DWThomas · Jun 17, 2009

This incident provides another little data point. A year or two back I was interested in a different focus screen for my SQ-A. I saw screens go for nearly $60 on ePrey and people asking $35 to $40 for cranks. I was tempted to buy another body (typically less than $100) just for parts -- now here's another little widget I'd have backup for! I now inadvertently do have a "parts" body, as its internal shutter release mechanics are stuffed.

DaveT

John Koehrer · Jun 18, 2009

With the detail in the new pics it wuld be really easy to fabricate from that there aluminium stuff.
Why do you folk have to add them thar extry letters to all them words?
Self timer lever sounds like a good idear IF the hole was smaller to begin with, if larger it's difficult to fab up a part of a hole. Fill it with JB Weld & drill/file it out I guess.

Bronica SQ-B mirror-lock-up failure.

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