Canonet GIII GL1.7 Issues with shutter or something

[Camerajoe]

This is hard explain my issues/problems with my Canonet. I have had work done on it but the camera repair man but it is still having issues.
When I purchased the camera last year it had been restored.
Here is the issue: I pick the camera up and everything works just fine. And then it is shelved for a week or so. I pick it up and advance the film and the shutter release buttons does nothing. It is not locked but allows me to press without anything happening. I was told the electoral parts have been replaced when it was worked on recently. Sometimes when you open the back of the camera everything resets but it is intermediate.

It seemed to work fine at the shop. I think the shutter is sticking What do you guys think?

 

[Andrew Moxom]

Is it happening when on A mode only? If so, it could be the exposure lock locking you out until it gets the right amount of light hitting the meter

 

[mgb74]

First, as Andrew suggests, make sure you're not out of exposure range in in auto (the needle should point to a f-stop value). Then try it in manual mode to see if the shutter works. If it works in manual mode, check your battery and battery contacts. If you're using a zinc air battery, they will degrade over time even if not used; though probably not in a week. If you don't have a cap on the lens, your meter is on and the battery is being discharged.

If the problem is power to the meter for auto exposure, and the battery and contacts are ok, then it may be a bad electrical connection inside the camera. This would be consistent with an intermittent problem. Opening the back should not have any impact. It could be coincidence . But it may be that it the process of opening and closing restores (temporarily) the connection.

Also, if your repair person simply "loosened" the crud in the shutter with lighter fluid or something similar, the shutter can work for a while and then stick again. But that would effect both auto and manual modes.

 

[John Koehrer]

The shutter in manual is fully mechanical. If the shutter isn't firing in manual, the aperture or aperture housing have some oil residue.
As mgb74 suggests it's from improper cleaning.

 

[xo-whiplock]

"Sometimes when you open the back of the camera everything resets but it is intermediate."

Could be an issue in film advance mechanism, if you followed the steps listed above by the other board responses. Opening the back resets the frame counter and you have to wind the film and snap the shutter until you get to #1 position. There could be an issue where someone forced the wind on lever in the past and a tooth is messed up on the gear system???

 

[Camerajoe]

Thanks for all the replies - The camera has a new battery and it does not work in manual or Auto mode. Same issue in both modes. It may be the film Mechanism as suggested above. I will suggest this to the camera repair man. Great idea. Thanks!