Pentax MX - stuck mirror

[madsox]

I finally got out the old MX to give it a quick function check, and the mirror is stuck up. I can move it down with no resistance, but it flips back up (out of the film plane, into the shooting position) immediately. I'm wondering if I should send this off for a CLA and repair, or just find a currently working example and buy that.

The shutter looks/sounds like it's working (I'm going to get a tester and check), and the meter is responsive after I put batteries in, but I can't tell about DOF preview because, well, that mirror is rather blocking things.

I have other bodies to test, but this was the first camera *I* bought, so it's special to me.

Then I'll need to find someone to do the CLA, so I'll be asking about that too. And yes, I've crossposted on the Pentax Forums.

Thanks in advance, etc.

 

[M-88]

These cameras are several decades old. Even if you find a currently working example, it will still need CLA, although maybe not as evidently critical as your current body. I'd say CLA the current one. It's an investment in a fine tool. More so, since it's your first camera.

 

[grain elevator]

Seconded, if you can afford it. Mine works but the shutter tapers a little at 1/1000. Something like that is bound to happen with a cloth shuttered camera, so they all will eventually need to be serviced.

 

[Huss]

Have you tried to use the self timer? Maybe that will reset it.

 

[madsox]

Ah-hah! the depth-of-field preview lever is sticking, and that is making the mirror lock up. Troubleshooting tips for that? I'm thinking a little bit of compressed air, definitely don't want to be spraying WD-40 in there or something like that...

 

[Huss]

So I was right. The dof is part of the self timer mechanism.

 

[madsox]

So I was right. The dof is part of the self timer mechanism.

Yes, the self-timer part doesn't seem to affect this problem, but the DOF part does. But now it looks like the meter may not be working after all. Different issue, let's see about this mirror function first...

 

[GRHazelton]

Eric Hendrickson at pentaxs.com is the go-to man for Pentax repairs, etc. Sadly he is unable to work on the LX, unavailability of parts. So I'll have to send my LXs elsewhere.

 

[ic-racer]

You need to figure out how the camera works. Frequently when the mirror reaches the top, this triggers the first curtain to let go. After the second curtain comes across, frequently its closing triggers the mirror to come down. For example in a earlier Pentax or Rollei SL35, the rotating takeup spool for the second curtain, directly hits the latch to bring the mirror down.

 

[madsox]

So, with help from here and from the Pentax forums, I seem to have the sticking mirror cleared up - broke down the camera, cleaned and lubed a few bits, and all seems well. Time to go shoot a rolls or three and see how it goes.

And then deal with the drying, brittle foam I noticed around the mirror box while I had the camera open - that's got to be replaced, which may be interesting finding just the right type of foam...

That will be a new thread, because it's a quite different problem.