Gossen Super Pilot malfunctioning - what to look for...

[TheDreadPirateRobins]

I have a CdS Gossen Super Pilot that is currently reading the battery (which is new) but not giving any readings. I know I could probably just buy a new meter and be done, but I thought I would try to learn something here.

Does anyone here have any suggestions what I should fiddle with upon taking this apart. I looked inside to where the CdS cell is and it looks like it may have some dirt on it. I was going to start with that. I figure the worst that will happen is that I won't fix it but I will learn something. I am hoping someone else has tried to recondition one of these and can give me some pointers. I am comfortable with a soldering iron if need be.

Thanks in advance.

 

[glbeas]

I'd check the swithes on it first as they would be wear items for loose connections or bad contacts. If thats not dirt on the CdS cell it may be corrosion which would kill the cell, no idea if replacements are available.

 

[John Koehrer]

No great loss if you can't fix it I guess.
Clean the switch surfaces, battery contacts. Check also the hairspring of the meter movement, if the meter got bumped, one section of the spring may have jumped. If nothing improves try resoldering all of the soldered joints in the lil critter. Sometimes that'll work. After that possibly the cds cell.

 

[TheDreadPirateRobins]

No great loss if you can't fix it I guess....

Exactly.

I will check these things that both of you mentioned. It seems were getting battery contact but possibly nothing beyond. I am going to pop the back off tonight or tomorrow. If nothing else, I can use the face of this to convert EV's into shutter speeds and f stop combinations.