Canon A-1/AE-1: Disassembly and service (Japanese site); information available on the web

I'm currently preparing for my next service and repair project and am researching the Canon A-1, the direct predecessor of the Canon T90. Fortunately there are more articles and videos available on the A-1 than on the T90.

Crucial for my own work is that there is also an article about the Canon A-1 in the SPT Journal, a C & C Guide and a comprehensive Canon Service Manual with lots of detailed information.

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I found a tutorial from a Japanese colleague for service, including removing the mirror box. I was able to follow along easily using the translation function in my iPhone's Safari browser.

I also really like the author's article on disassembling and cleaning the shutter of a Canon T90.






Compare this to Gene Pate:

I'll start the Canon A-series with the AE-1, since it's the best documented and was also the first in the series. The A-1 will have a lot in common, which I'll benefit from.

It'll start soon

Agenda:

• Presentation of the available literature (Larry Lyells!),
• removal of the covers and first orientation in the camera,
• rough documentation of the circuit as far as possible.

There's already a wealth of repair information on the AE-1 online, including videos. So I won't be able to offer much new information there, but perhaps I'll be able to with the digital circuitry (basing on the excellent articles of Larry Lyells and the repair/service manuals available) which was revolutionary back in 1976.

In any case, I have plenty of repair candidates and am curious to see how I'll get on with the horizontal focal plane shutter. And the tungsten wire that transmits signals via rollers - I think you can find it here

Andreas Thaler said:

And the tungsten wire that transmits signals via rollers

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In case you need a replacement, I can send you some polyethylene fishing line that is adequate -- breaking strength 14kg IIRC. How come I have it?

bernard_L said:

How come I have it?

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Fishing, your new hobby?

Videos on repairing the Canon AE-1





Literature


In particular, the comprehensive article on the AE-1 by Larry Lyells, which also explains details of the digital circuit (69 pages):

Thank you for this informative thread. I just received an AE-1 where the light meter works, but the shutter does not, which from what I have gleaned from the internet, is a common issue with these cameras. It had likely been sitting for 25 years in a bag in the bottom of a closet from what I was told by the person who gave it to me.
I am not sure it is worth it for me to repair. It did come with a few random lenses, but since I am a Nikon Shooter, having a different system might be too much "stuff".