F3P with undependable shutter speeds

[Kawaiithulhu]

I've got an F3 with fresh battery (tested with both internal and MD4 power sources) and at using manual exposure I see the following:

At flash speed or slower (1/30 etc...) the shutter will randomly take longer to cycle, sometimes acting like T mode where I have to press the shutter release again to complete the shot.

At higher speeds this doesn't seem to happen, but it's naturally much harder to tell if the speeds are variable without finding the speed test I use for view camera shutters.
My guess says that something is wrong with the release of the 2nd curtain after the 1st has done its thing. Whistling in the dark on that guess

Is this something I can mess around with as a technically minded amateur sleuth, or best to track down a local tech with proper tools for a CLA and repair session?

 

[shutterfinger]

download the F3 service manual(s) http://arcticwolfs.net/ and decide if you really want to give it a try or not after reading them.

 

[benjiboy]

Your camera could be more than 30 years old and if you need it to be reliable It needs to be fully serviced by a pro.

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

Both are good advice. I don't have the tools to work with electronics at that small a scale, I'll track down a Nikon tech.

Thanks

 

[BMbikerider]

Electronic shutters may depend upon magnets to make them work, over time they get 'sticky'. I had this on an FE2 and the cure was a thorough clean before it was back to full working order.

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

Electronic shutters may depend upon magnets to make them work, over time they get 'sticky'. I had this on an FE2 and the cure was a thorough clean before it was back to full working order.

Good point. I can try a mild clean before packing it off to a tech for sure. First work-free weekend I find, anyways