Ricoh Singlex II Shutter issues

[Donald Qualls]

I've had my Singlex II for more than thirty years -- I bought it originally in the mid-1980s as an upgrade from my Spotmatic SP (metal shutter, higher sync speed, not dependent on mercury cells that were getting hard to find even then). For all the time I've had it, there's been an intermittent issue with the shutter (or something related to the shutter).

Sometimes it will work correctly for a whole roll; other times, it'll get into a state where the shutter release only fires the mirror and unlocks the film advance, then does it again, and then the shutter will fire at the end of the second advance stroke. It will remain in this state for a while, then it'll start working correctly again (sometimes for as little as a single frame). Because of this, I don't use the camera much, so I can't reliably reproduce either the problem or the return to normal operation. I've had it occur both with and without film, with and without a lens mounted.

When it does work, the shutter is accurate, and the camera is nice to use -- and I like being able to use common alkaline cells for the meter, or a silver oxide for long life, without modifying the camera. If it would work reliably, this would be my best M42 body.

I have a strong hunch that a CLA by a competent technician would fix it up, but for this camera, I'm not that technician (and truth be told, I'm a little afraid to get into an SLR in the workspace I have available now -- too easy to lose parts, too hard to see well what I'm doing).

Is this a known, easy to fix issue with this camera, something that could be handled with minimal disassembly? Or is there a recommended technician who won't charge the price of a newer, more sophisticated camera body (or just refuse to work on it, because it's not one of the Big Name Brands)?

 

[Disconnekt]

I have a Sears TLS (rebadged of the Ricoh Singlex TLS), and I found a camera repair place down in Atlanta, GA named Camera Service Co. (http://www.cameraservicepro.com/) that said they're able to do a CLA on it, so they may be able do to a CLA on your version. Wouldn't hurt to email them and ask. Only thing is that you'll have to send it in to get an estimate from them.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Now I'm going to have to contact them to see if they can work on a Singlex II. I've got one I got in the early 1980s and most of the time I've had it, it has intermittently gotten the shutter and advance out of sync. When it work, it's great; good meter that seems to work fine on alkaline cell, very nice focusing screen, smooth operating -- but sometimes it'll fire the shutter during film advance instead of when I push the release. And sometimes it won't, and I can't reproduce either starting or stopping this failure.

 

[BrianShaw]

Might not be a shutter issue, per se. If you decide to DIY… Focus your attention, initially, on the wind-cock mechanism in the camera bottom. Specifically, both ends of the long lever that goes from side to side. That’s easy to access and doesn’t require a lot of teardown of the body. Of course… sending it out, as you are considering, sounds like a great idea.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Of course… sending it out, as you are considering, sounds like a great idea.

Unfortunately, as someone who fixes things (power tools) for a living, I also know that if someone is charging honestly for their labor, repairing an irreproducible intermittent is likely to cost much more than a fifty year old M42 SLR is worth.

 

[BrianShaw]

A standard overhaul might be all that is needed. Sounds like gummy bottom. The wind and cocking and release mechanism. No matter… the overhaul is guaranteed to cost more than the camera is worth. Always does. I don’t mind paying that if I’m going to be using the camera on a regular basis. I like reliability.

 

[BrianShaw]

I had similar issues with a Nikon FE. After much fussing, isolated the problem to a spring-loaded pendulum that was the final act of the wind-cock cycle. Once that was cleaned and oiled all is well. But finding that was a real challenge that was only revealed to me by detailed scrutinization of the parts layout, and perhaps a bit of divine intervention! Good luck if you open it up and fiddle… I’m betting that you can solve this problem.

 

[Donald Qualls]

My odds would be better if I had a workspace where I could leave it between sessions, where it was safe from cats and partners and sleeves. As is, I pretty much need to have everything back together before I go to lunch or dinner or bed, else I'll miss bits when I come back.

 

[BrianShaw]

Same here…