Pentax LX mirror/shutter delay

[YoIaMoNwater]

Recently got a serviced (replaced mirror damper) Pentax LX from Nik and Trick. However, when I tested a roll of film the other day, the first few shots had a delay once the shutter button (@ 1/125 s) was pressed. Initially I thought it was a battery issue, but after putting in new batteries and not shooting for awhile (think 2 hours or more), the issue persists. I know that the shutter should be mechanical from 1/2000 to 1/75 and electrical from 1/60 and down, so I suppose the batteries isn't the problem. It's weird because it's only the first few shots that gets delayed and afterwards it's fine. I'm just a bit worried because I want to shoot a roll of Aerochrome/EIR and don't want to risk some very expensive blank frames.

I've checked online and only found some people talking about this and the noticeable description is from Harrow Technical (attached). Nik and Trick messaged me and said they're gonna tell this issue to the person (Miles Whitehead) who serviced this and will let me know.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this problem before?

 

[johnha]

Sounds like the well known LX sticky mirror problem. The bottom mirror stop degrades with age, making the mirror stick momentarily before exposure, likely to get worse. Both of mine suffered from it, both then fixed by Harrow Tech.

 

[woodlandSerenade]

Just like the mirror bumpers, there is another rubber damper pad somewhere inside the aperture stepdown mechanism. This one is more difficult to get to, and can most certainly delay a shutter actuation.

 

[YoIaMoNwater]

Thanks for the info guys, I’m gonna try to send it off for repair next week or so. Just odd that the first service did not seem to fix it or notice the issue.