Minolta xm/xk jammed

Guydio · Oct 27, 2019

Hi everyone, I've just joined the forum. I've been a lurker for some time though.
I just wanted to ask if anybody had a link to a service repair pdf for the minolta xk/xm or x1 depending on your location? I'm about to take delivery of a "new" old camera with a supposed jammed wind on lever and the shutter not operating. I'm sure there's going to be other issues to sort out so I want to be ready for when it arrives.
I've already read the post here on the site but I want able to view the photos that were originally posted.
Many thanks in advance.

Guydio · Oct 27, 2019

I found the service manuals for the xm camera and the ae meter prism too.
They were free downloads from the SPT online camera service tutorial website.

Pentode · Oct 27, 2019

Thanks. That’s very useful information for those of us with aging XKs.

Would you mind posting a link to that site?

Guydio · Oct 27, 2019

Sure, being new I wasn't sure if it was ok to post links, but here it is.

http://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=3&category=2&secondary=7

Hope it works, it should be easy enough to find from that websites directory anyhow.

Bikerider · Oct 27, 2019

As you live in the UK, there is a repair service offered by a company called the Camera Workshop based close to Milton Keynes. Just google the name to get the telephone number and address. The owner of the company was astute enough to buy up all the available spares for Minolta's when they sold out to Sony. If there is anyone who can sort it out, he will be able to. I had my XM given a general service together with a small repair to the shutter speed dial and the turn round time was about 8 days. The cost for a good clean, service and the repair was about £79.

As an afternote, the XM has possibly the quietest shutter ever on a SLR and is a dream to use.

Guydio · Oct 27, 2019

Thanks bikerider, I had heard of Camera workshop but had forgotten he'd purchased all those spares. I'll drop him a line one I've had a look around the camera. They sound reasonable too.

Sirius Glass · Oct 27, 2019

I do not have any suggests. I just wanted to say:

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Pentode · Oct 27, 2019

Guydio said:
Sure, being new I wasn't sure if it was ok to post links, but here it is.

http://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=3&category=2&secondary=7

Hope it works, it should be easy enough to find from that websites directory anyhow.

Thanks for this!

John Koehrer · Oct 27, 2019

Guydio said:
I found the service manuals for the xm camera and the ae meter prism too.
They were free downloads from the SPT online camera service tutorial website.

Holy bat cow man! A true treasure trove of information.

Guydio · Oct 31, 2019

The camera arrived and the film winder lever just spins with little or no resistance with no end, it just turns and turns. The mirror was locked up. I've tried testing it by twisting the battery cap to operate the little lever but that didn't work. I've cleaned the batteries, battery holder and cap and also the prism finder contacts. The sensoswitch on the front brings up a red light in the viewfinder bottom right, I think that's the under exposure warning?
I'm wondering if the shutter mechanism is jammed or the shutter magnet is not releasing? Has anyone had any symptoms like these on their XK/XM/X1?

John Koehrer · Nov 1, 2019

Simple things first, you have to know if the shutter is cocked or not.
Is the screw on top of the lever holding the advance lever tight? The lever cocks the shutter and should NEVER keep moving unless something has been forced or is loose. The screw holding the lever on can be removed with a rubber bung and a bit of pressure on it while twisting. There will likely be a loose washer or two under the lever. keep them in the order they came out.
IF! you luck out the lever came off and it was put back incorrectly.
With the lever removed any physical damage should be apparent. If it's OK then you can look for other problems.

Guydio · Nov 9, 2019

Thanks. The wind lever was fitted correctly and tight enough, no damage there. The screw nut underneath securing the top cover had been stripped by a previous attempt by somebody to remove it. It's a left hand thread and so needs to be removed by turning clockwise. That way the "normal" film winding keeps it tight and doesn't unwind it. I guess the person at some time tried to "undo" by turning anti clockwise and ended up stripping the thread. Now it's jammed and locked on the top cover. I've tried everything to remove it it won't budge. I might have to cut or grind it off using a dremel.

Minolta xm/xk jammed

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