Olympus OM-2n Shutter Jam Repair

[Nictrolis]

Hi All! First time poster here, no idea why it's taken me so long to join up!

I have an OM-2n that I recently won in an eBay auction (with a few lenses too - totally stole this thing!). I've had an OM-10 for years but figured it was time for the upgrade. The 2n appeared to be immaculate, and I was excited to finally get one. I ran a couple rolls through it and will be developing them soon - keeping my fingers crossed the metering etc is ok, but the numbers the meter was reporting seemed pretty reasonable.

Of course, one of the first things I do is accidentally advance the film while the shutter was open (lens cap on while loading a new roll). Palm to face, for sure. Didn't seem like there was an issue initially, but after a couple shots the shutter locked up about half way through the travel of the advance lever. I ended up unloading the film in a bag and then taking a look at the camera - the shutter curtain is basically half way across its travel. I tried turning the mode knob to reset but that didn't seem to free it up. If I gently try to advance further, I can see that the top of the shutter curtain looks like it moves to the right just a bit, but the bottom doesn't move.

I've searched all around the interwebs for solutions but no luck. The closest I found was this one at Rangefinderforum, but it seems to be a different root cause than mine. I've taken off the top and bottom covers and compared it to another OM-2n that I have (basically a parts camera that I got from a friend) but there are no obvious differences at this first layer. I'm pretty comfortable with mechanical things and I'm not too worried about the camera as I didn't pay much for it, so I'm planning to dig into this myself. I've located the service manuals on the internet, and there are a couple items listed that seem like they would apply, but I thought perhaps there would be someone out there who could point me at the right procedure in the service manual (or on the net, if they have a good link)? While I don't mind learning on the fly, it's always easier to get help from the people who do this all the time.

Thanks much, APUG!

 

[Rick A]

First, try switching to Test/Reset, if that doesn't work then try removing the batteries and re-installing them. It may need new batteries.

 

[Xmas]

Hi All! First time poster here, no idea why it's taken me so long to join up!

I have an OM-2n that I recently won in an eBay auction (with a few lenses too - totally stole this thing!). I've had an OM-10 for years but figured it was time for the upgrade. The 2n appeared to be immaculate, and I was excited to finally get one.

...

I ended up unloading the film in a bag and then taking a look at the camera - the shutter curtain is basically half way across its travel. I tried turning the mode knob to reset but that didn't seem to free it up. If I gently try to advance further, I can see that the top of the shutter curtain looks like it moves to the right just a bit, but the bottom doesn't move.

Thanks much, APUG!

Snapped ribbon probably in that case new ribbon, needle and thread...

Google OM ribbon etc...

take photos...

good luck

 

[Nictrolis]

Rick A, I've already tried the reset and battery replacement, this is something that occurred during winding not during shutter release.

Xmas, something similar to that is what I was expecting. I wasn't really able to find anything on Google related to fixing this, but I'll take a look again as perhaps I missed something.

If anybody happens to have a procedure for accessing the shutter curtain drums (or an indication of where this is in the OM service manual) that'll probably get me there. I'll try and look through it tonight in more depth and post back if I find anything.

 

[Rick A]

Send the camera body to Camtech, John Hermanson is the absolute best Om repairman in this continent.

 

[Nictrolis]

Send the camera body to Camtech, John Hermanson is the absolute best Om repairman in this continent.

Yeah, I had read that pretty much everywhere!! Only problem is, can't really envision waiting months... I'd rather take a little risk and end up with a junker -- gotta have a camera!

 

[Rick A]

I have a fully functioning OM-2n I am selling--$50 for the body.

 

[Nictrolis]

I have a fully functioning OM-2n I am selling--$50 for the body.

Haha --- OK, I'll keep that in mind.

 

[John Koehrer]

Getting to the curtain drums means taking the mirror box/finder out of the chassis. Generally speaking it's a royal PITA. You say you've got a manual but there are manual and there are manuals.
Pentaxmanuals. com,org(?) has a bunch, and usually several for a specific model. If you can find an SPT manual for it It MAY help, many of them assumed some familiarity with prying cameras apart.
I've found that if they're being uncooperative a 3lb machinists hammer takes the fight right out of them.

 

[snapguy]

steal

Sometimes a steal ain't a steal. When you are dealing with olde cameras its more like a crap shoot. If I was dependent on one camera body I think I would tend to buy from a source known to be reputable. I'd have fantastic luck with KEH. When you're buying something other than your main camera, then that's the time to look for a steal.

 

[Nictrolis]

Perhaps, snapguy, but I'd rather that I messed up a $50 camera (oops... Plus a bunch if great glass) than a $130 camera (body only). KEH is great for what they do, but I'm happy with my decision and will enjoy fixing it anyway.

 

[flash26c]

I hate to admit that I did the same thing with my then brand new OM2n while in Yellowstone. I guess I was much luckier in that all that broke was the film counter. That was in the 70's and I still use the camera. Still enjoy it, glass is great; get your repaired and never look back! Ron

 

[M6F6E6]

OM2N are junk. throw it away !! dont waste a minute on it. get an OM1. end of story

 

[Nictrolis]

Thanks Ron! I will.

M6, I do have an OM-1 as well, but part of my stash of spare parts. I like having the AP mode, can really speed things up in certain situations. I'm planning on fixing the OM-1 at some point as well, if it's not too far gone... First thing is correcting the battery circuit to accept modern cells, but that's a piece of cake. Hopefully it won't need many other fixes, but I haven't spent much time with it yet; 2n first!!

 

[camtec]

There is a gear in the bottom of the camera that is spring loaded and will jam up. Easier to repair than describe. I have repaired that on OM-1s, 10's' G's, and 2's.

 

[Xmas]

The generic site for OMs

http://olympus.dementix.org/Hardware/

good luck

 

[John Koehrer]

There is a gear in the bottom of the camera that is spring loaded and will jam up. Easier to repair than describe. I have repaired that on OM-1s, 10's' G's, and 2's.

If you take the bottom cover off, It seems the gear is pretty much centered, just using a probe to give it a nudge may free it up.

 

[Xmas]

- the shutter curtain is basically half way across its travel. I tried turning the mode knob to reset but that didn't seem to free it up. If I gently try to advance further, I can see that the top of the shutter curtain looks like it moves to the right just a bit, but the bottom doesn't move.

That symptom is shutter curtain snapped or detached not an interlock problem.

 

[Nictrolis]

I tried looking at the gearing and seeing if anything was jammed up but it doesn't appear so. Xmas, seems like you've got the right idea!

I've since started disassembling my "junker" OM-2n, to learn more about how it goes together so I don't needlessly turn the good camera into a real-life exploded diagram. If it gets too hairy I might end up scrapping the plan and sending it off to KEH (their repair lead time is much better than what other places are telling me). Of course, for the $200 job, I might as well buy a new body... I'm not particularly attached to this one yet. We'll see.

Anybody have suggestions for a general purpose lubricant and cement? I figure I might as well CLA it as best I can while I'm in there... the service manual has 5 cements and 6 lubricants indicated! What happened to duct tape and WD-40?? ;-) I haven't searched around for this yet so forgive me for being lazy and just asking in this thread.

- Cements: Araldite, Alon Alpha, Cemedine 3000RS, Pliobond MC1770 or Everstic, Bell Lock SM
- Oil/Grease: EP Grease, Cosmolubric, 023P Grease, Molycoat, 017P Grease, Rocol Paste


FYI for those interested, here's a picture of what the shutter looks like:



So sad.

 

[Xmas]

Zippo can cig lighter fuel
cotton wool waste

for removing old lube

RadioShack Lube gel
Radio Shack oil applicator

Think the gel is a premium US auto grease with PTFE, thin oil ditto, don't do curtain repairs to OMs, life is too short,...

Haberdasher store for ribbon with same form - only replace broken one.

You may want to make up the stereo shutter timer.

 

[John Koehrer]

Araldite's a two part epoxy, Pliobond, a contact cement. am not familiar with the others.
Having worked on a variety of camera's(not as many os others) I've never used an epoxy.

WD-40 isn't really a lube, it's a "water dispersant" it can actually remove lube from a mechanism.
Duct tape still works mighty good though.

 

[Rick A]

My son dripped some WD-40 into my OM-4 to loosen old lube trying to repair it. I paid Zuiko John nearly $300 to bring it back to life , and got a nasty note from him about what it did to my baby. Bottom line here, NEVER, let me repeat, NEVER use WD-40 in or around any photo gear.