Pentax ME Super repair

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

Hi guys

I’m new here and I’m pretty sure I’ll learn a lot from this forum. Have already seen a couple of threads that I need to dive into.

But my main reason to join is that I have a hand-me-down Pentax ME Super that I really want to fix.

First issue was to open the battery cover. I never solved it but found out that I could unscrew the bottom. Unfortunately, a new set of batteries didn’t get the camera running. There’s no lights in the viewfinder.

What I have found out so far is that the reason the battery cover is stuck, is that it’s not actually the battery cover but the other cover that’s located at the bottom of the camera (I’m guessing that the previous owner lost the cover to the battery compartment and decided to replace lt with the other one)
I have no idea if the correct cover is needed to make the batteries work. But I’ve decided to test it by putting a piece of tin foil between the battery and the lid. But there’s still no lights in the viewfinder.

There seems to be some sort of life, though. Set to Auto, the shutterspeed does change in different light. It wouldn’t do that if there wasn’t any power, would it?
I’m hoping someone here can help me figure out what to do. I would prefer to fix the camera myself, but I’m very close to giving up. And it seems pretty hard to use without being able to adjust the shutterspeed.

Thanks for reading
Helle

moggi1964 · Jan 28, 2022

Welcome Helle.

If the camera has some personal attachment then definitely get it repaired otherwise it may be cheaper to pick up a replacement online.

Harrow Technical took two ME Super's I bought and made one very nice one out of them. Fully serviced of course. They are in England.

They are very good value.

moggi1964 · Jan 28, 2022

I forgot to say you could just use the 1/125s setting and change aperture but that would be limiting.

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

moggi1964 said:
Welcome Helle.

If the camera has some personal attachment then definitely get it repaired otherwise it may be cheaper to pick up a replacement online.

Harrow Technical took two ME Super's I bought and made one very nice one out of them. Fully serviced of course. They are in England.

They are very good value.

Hi moggi1964
And Thanks.

A close friend gave it to me. She told me that she spent all her savings to buy it back in the days, and now she wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it. So yes, it does have a personal attachment. But I’m not eager to spend a fortune on it. So of there’s any way I can repair it myself, I would prefer it.

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

moggi1964 said:
I forgot to say you could just use the 1/125s setting and change aperture but that would be limiting.

I am aware of the 1/125s setting. And that’s my plan B. But it does have its limitations.

moggi1964 · Jan 28, 2022

Helle,

I understand the attachment and why you would want to get the ME Super back to good working condition. One of the issues (and nice things I think) about this camera is the electronic shutter speed control and how challengin it can be to fix if it starts going wrong.

There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum so I am sure someone will be along to offer some advice. I'll just offer some good luck.

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

moggi1964 said:
Helle,

I understand the attachment and why you would want to get the ME Super back to good working condition. One of the issues (and nice things I think) about this camera is the electronic shutter speed control and how challengin it can be to fix if it starts going wrong.

There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum so I am sure someone will be along to offer some advice. I'll just offer some good luck.

I have never even heard of cameras with this kind of electronic shutter speed control. So I was surprised - and a bit annoyed when I realized that I needed power to operate it. But I see its advantages. If only it would work.

I keep my fingers crossed that some of those knowledgeable people can help.

Nitroplait · Jan 28, 2022

Hello Helle,
If you are near Copenhagen, you could stop by Photografica or Foto/C (the latter has just relocated so beware of the new address on Nørre Voldgade). Both shops sell second hand cameras and may be able to troubleshoot the battery issue - perhaps trying with the correct cover if they happen to have an ME Super in the shop. It is also possible that the ME Super shares battery cover with other models in the "M" series (ME, MX, MV etc). It doesn't harm to ask to have them look at it - they will not repair it of-course but may out-rule a user error.
Good luck.

<edit> One of Many Cameras on Gråbrødre Torv will also have the expertise, and would probably be my first choice.

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

Nitroplait said:
Hello Helle,
If you are near Copenhagen, you could stop by Photografica or Foto/C (the latter has just relocated so beware of the new address on Nørre Voldgade). Both shops sell second hand cameras and may be able to troubleshoot the battery issue - perhaps trying with the correct cover if they happen to have an ME Super in the shop. It is also possible that the ME Super shares battery cover with other models in the "M" series (ME, MX, MV etc). It doesn't harm to ask to have them look at it - they will not repair it of-course but may out-rule a user error.
Good luck.

<edit> One of Many Cameras on Gråbrødre Torv will also have the expertise, and would probably be my first choice.

Hi Nitroplait

Thank you so much for your reply.

I’m in Kolding and have no plans to go to Copenhagen in the near future
But there is a shop in Kolding, that used to sell analouge cameras - even after the digital ones took over. So I may drop by with the camera. They may have some experience.
There’s also a monthly Repair Café in town. But I’m not sure any of their fixers have any experience in cameras. And then there’s the pleasure in doing it myself.

shutterfinger · Jan 28, 2022

Download the ME Super factory service manual, the disassembly tutorial, and possibly the ME factory service manual.
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/pentax-me-super-service-manual.pdf
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Pentax-ME-Super-Disassembly.pdf
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Pentax-ME-Service-Manual.pdf
Common failures/points to check are the battery contacts, should be shinny, not satin or dull; wires from the battery to the circuits not corroded at the battery terminals; the power on and shutter release switch contacts. The tutorial shows a ceramic display board that could have cracked if the camera was dropped.

Helle · Jan 28, 2022

shutterfinger said:
Download the ME Super factory service manual, the disassembly tutorial, and possibly the ME factory service manual.
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/pentax-me-super-service-manual.pdf
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Pentax-ME-Super-Disassembly.pdf
https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Pentax-ME-Service-Manual.pdf
Common failures/points to check are the battery contacts, should be shinny, not satin or dull; wires from the battery to the circuits not corroded at the battery terminals; the power on and shutter release switch contacts. The tutorial shows a ceramic display board that could have cracked if the camera was dropped.

Hi Shutterfinger

Wow, thank you so much! It looks like quite a handful to figure out and I’m wondering if I should let the professionals take a look at the camera in stead. Even if the ceramic display turned out to be broken, I’m not sure how to get the parts or if I could replace it properly.
At least I’ll have to sleep on it.

Do you have any idea if the fact that the cover to the batteri compartment has been replaced with the other cover (I think it’s meant to cover a switch to connect a motor) has any influence to whether the batteries are functioning properly?

shutterfinger · Jan 28, 2022

Helle said:
Do you have any idea if the fact that the cover to the batteri compartment has been replaced with the other cover (I think it’s meant to cover a switch to connect a motor) has any influence to whether the batteries are functioning properly?

No, I do not. I'm not familiar with the camera and don't work on 35mm cameras. The manuals are a roadmap to the camera with the adjustment necessary to get it to work correctly.

jtk · Jan 29, 2022

The 2 batteries are A76. They are located under the cap that says "open" and is labeled "batteries". That's the cap that's closest to central.

Open the cap. You'll need a screw driver as the open-slot is too small for any likely coin, inspect the batteries (which are probably dead). If there's no obvious corrosion simply replacing the batteries is likely to do everything that's necessary. If nothing works with new batteries you have a problem. I got my batteries from a store whose sign said "batteries."

Helle · Jan 29, 2022

jtk said:
The 2 batteries are A76. They are located under the cap that says "open" and is labeled "batteries". That's the cap that's closest to central.

Open the cap. You'll need a screw driver as the open-slot is too small for any likely coin, inspect the batteries (which are probably dead). If there's no obvious corrosion simply replacing the batteries is likely to do everything that's necessary. If nothing works with new batteries you have a problem. I got my batteries from a store whose sign said "batteries."

Yeah well, I already replaced the batteries but it didn’t help. I worked around the stuck batteri cap (it’s probably stuck because it isn’t the original one) by unscrewing the bottom plate.
I’m just wondering if the fact that the cap to the battery compartment has been replaced with the other cap that was under the camera, is a part of the problem.

shutterfinger · Jan 29, 2022

Post some pictures of the camera bottom and both sides of the plate.

Helle · Jan 30, 2022

shutterfinger said:
Post some pictures of the camera bottom and both sides of the plate.

This is what it looks like:

shutterfinger · Jan 30, 2022

Ok, thank you.
Picture 1 - battery and motor drive coupling appear to be different sizes so the caps will not interchange.
Picture 2 - center contact of the battery cover is badly corroded, replace the cap with a correct one even if you have to buy a dead parts body to get it.
Picture 3 - battery chamber and contacts look good.

Helle · Jan 30, 2022

shutterfinger said:
Ok, thank you.
Picture 1 - battery and motor drive coupling appear to be different sizes so the caps will not interchange.
Picture 2 - center contact of the battery cover is badly corroded, replace the cap with a correct one even if you have to buy a dead parts body to get it.
Picture 3 - battery chamber and contacts look good.

Thank you so much for the freedback.

I’m afraid the previous owner of the camera has used the motordrive cap to replace the batterycap. And now it’s seriously stuck. I’m guessing it’s a combination of the corrotion and the fact that the replacement cap is slightly larger than the original one.
But tomorrow, I’m going to the camera store to pick up some pictures and I’m planning to bring the camera. The owner of the store doesn’t repair cameras himself. But he has a lot of experience with Pentax. So I’m hopeful that he can give me some advice and an estimat on the price of repairs.

shutterfinger · Jan 30, 2022

My money is on the cap being corroded in place.

Helle · Jan 30, 2022

shutterfinger said:
My money is on the cap being corroded in place.

I have tried carefully applying WD40 with a cotton swap. With no luck. Read somewhere that you can use vinegar. Do you know if that m’s better?

shutterfinger · Jan 30, 2022

WD 40 - In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. Working in a small lab in San Diego, California, it took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40® Multi-Use Product -which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today
I will not use it in/on cameras. It dries out after a few months and leaves a sticky residue that builds up with repeated use. The light weight oil in it will seep into threads over time allowing them to turn more easily. Penetrating oil works better.
Cider vinegar dissolves rust on steel. The plate and cap are aluminum. I do not know if vinegar will work on it or not.
Heat the bottom plate only in an oven at 350°F/177°C for 15 to 30 minutes then allow to cool to touch before attempting to try unscrewing it with a screwdriver. Turn counter clockwise to unscrew.

jwd722 · Jan 30, 2022

https://uscamera.com/product/pentax-23903-A405-battery-cover/
You could buy the proper battery cap, but not from ebay, the prices seem, shall we say, a bit extravagant. US Camera prices are more down to earth.
You could also try drilling the battery cap out starting with small bits and working your way up. Try an "ez out" or even a flat screwdriver that can be finagled to fit the drilled out hole. Sometimes the heat from drilling will help to loose it.
If all else fails, get the "new" battery cap and a "new" bottom plate. Bottom plates are available on ebay but prices and condition are all over the place.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2212167923...55-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050

jtk · Jan 31, 2022

WD40 is kerosine with additional crapola. It leaves lots of goopy residue.

Don't use any kind of oil on the camera. You need a solvent. Vodka might be perfect.

flavio81 · Feb 3, 2022

Helle said:
This is what it looks like:
View attachment 297060 View attachment 297061 View attachment 297062

Let me help because I know the ME/ME-s/MG/Program-A rather well.

Good news, it has the original battery cover in place. You need to clean out that contact throroughly, don't be afraid to scratch it with a screwdriver or with sandpaper. If the battery cover can't be removed, don't worry, just remove camera bottom whenever you need to replace batteries. They last for a long time.

Now, the batteries are two LR44 (or SR44) and the positive (+) terminal should face the camera. In other words, the battery cap needs to contact the MINUS (-) pole.

If camera doesn't turn on then clean the mating surfaces between the camera bottom and the bottom plate.

Having said that,

Even if your camera works. it will definitely need a complete overhaul. Otherwise it will behave faulty, straight away or after a short while. There's gunk from leftover foam and rubber in them, that needs to be removed, The moving mechanisms lubricated (a common fault due to dirt and lack of lubrication is the camera never being able to cock). The timing switches, cleaned (it would manifest as erratic auto operation).

This is an extremely good camera, one of the best cameras of all time, so give it to a good technician that knows this model. Emphasis added. If your technician tells you "that camera is unreliable, the electronic boards will probably need replacement" = crap technician, avoid like the plague.

Pentax ME Super repair

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