Pentax H1a service manual

[E. von Hoegh]

When I was given an old Nikkormat, it took about five minutes to find a downloadable service manual and print out the pages I needed.

I'm having no such luck with the H1a I just acquired. It came to me with a sticking second curtain; application of a tiny bit of furnace oil to the curtain drum bushings freed it, and now it works just fine - all speeds are in the ballpark including the non-existant 1/1000, X synch works, and it sounds "right". But, it needs a complete CLA and I need to know things like how far to tension the curtains and what all the adjustment screws with red paint locking them do.

 

[BradS]

I don't remember if it is for the H1a and I'm not sure it is service manual or an exploded view/part list but, I have something in a drawer at home. I'll be back there Sunday night. If I can find it and it seems useful to you, I'll send it to you...please send me a PM or email.

 

[Les Sarile]

There is a comprehensive National Camera Spotmatic service manual that may be useful -> Dead Link Removed

 

[henry finley]

I've worked on an H1a and H3v. Not much different from the Spotmatics as I recall. I could be wrong--I've worked on so many cameras that models within any brand are rarely total re-engineer jobs.

 

[PentaxBronica]

As I understand it all the basic design is the same, but was tweaked for the Spotmatic to make it less vulnerable to shutter capping.

The problem may be with the search term. I think the H1a was sold as the S1a (or SV for the next model up, same basic design but with 1/1000 marking and a self timer) outside the USA. H is of course the initial of Honeywell, who imported them as "Honeywell Pentax" while everywhere else had them as "Asahi Pentax". If you try looking for an S1a or SV manual you may have more luck.

 

[AgX]

There is a comprehensive National Camera Spotmatic service manual that may be useful -> Dead Link Removed

Access to this document is blocked depending on IP-address region.

 

[Ian Grant]

Look on this website, the S1a/H1a issimilar to the SV and S3, it's a model inbetween.

Ian

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Look on this website, the S1a/H1a issimilar to the SV and S3, it's a model inbetween.

Ian

Bingo. Thank you Ian, and thank you all very much.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

As I understand it all the basic design is the same, but was tweaked for the Spotmatic to make it less vulnerable to shutter capping.

The problem may be with the search term. I think the H1a was sold as the S1a (or SV for the next model up, same basic design but with 1/1000 marking and a self timer) outside the USA. H is of course the initial of Honeywell, who imported them as "Honeywell Pentax" while everywhere else had them as "Asahi Pentax". If you try looking for an S1a or SV manual you may have more luck.

You are correct, the fact that the H prefix was used only in the US didn't occur to me.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The camera is now working like new, and according to the label on the oil it's good to minus 75f(!). Thanks all!