Help needed with my Yashica mat 124

Laurent · Apr 30, 2009

Hello all,

my Yashica mat 124 has become a bit "picky" : it will trigger fine for a series of images, then will refuse any more triggering until I unscrew the rear lens and "tick" the shutter blades...

Should I lubricate it a bit (it's been CLA'd recently, so I'm not sure it's the issue) ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Paul Sorensen · Apr 30, 2009

I guess I would consult with whoever did the CLA, because if it was done that recently, I do not think it should be doing this.

paul ron · Apr 30, 2009

Sounds like the shutter needs another CLA. Depending on how it was cleaned, there may still be some old gunk in there. Was the CLA done by a pro shop or a DIYer?

John Koehrer · May 2, 2009

Shutter blades SHOULD NOT be lubricated, that's why they stick. They need to be absolutely dry.
This also includes the blade housing. Any old lube left in place when serviced will keep the blades from traveling properly.

Laurent · May 2, 2009

Thanks for your answers.

I'll contact the tech who did the CLA, but I'd assume that, since it worked OK for 8 months (I did about 15 films in this period, plus many tests without film), it may not be left lubricant.

Laurent · Sep 2, 2009

A quick update on this. I finally decided to bite the bullet and remove the rear lens element (I bought a 124G I plan to CLA so I first had a look at it) and tried to rub the blades with alcohol... And now the shutter works perfectly ! :-D

paul ron · Sep 2, 2009

Good call. The blades might have still had some oil on em.

John Hermanson · Sep 8, 2009

The problem sounds like oil on the shutter blades. Blades should be bone dry to operate properly. Whatever you do, DO NOT OIL IT. John

Xmas · Sep 16, 2009

Zippo fluid (cig lighter fluid) is safer then alcohol there is less water in Zippo fluid.

Rick A · Sep 16, 2009

Zippo fluid leaves an oily residue- its a petroleum distillate. Try xylene or lacquer thinner.
Rick

Laurent · Sep 17, 2009

I dried the alcohol before screwing the rear lens element in place, the camera operates like a charm since I cleaned the blades

mgb74 · Sep 17, 2009

Xmas said:
Zippo fluid (cig lighter fluid) is safer then alcohol there is less water in Zippo fluid.

Different alcohols will have varying amounts of water. Common rubbing alcohol tends to have the most water of all the readily available (non lab grade) types. Perhaps all have more water than lighter fluid - I don't know.

Help needed with my Yashica mat 124

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