SRT 101 problem

[David Lyga]

Has anyone ever re-attached the lower curtain string for the first curtain? Does this involve removing the front vinylette and unscrewing the entire front mount area? That is all that is wrong, just the loose lower curtain string for the first curtain. - David Lyga

 

[RMD]

You could try this for inspiration.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/999085/Minolta-Srt-101.html#manual

 

[Jon Goodman]

Haven't had that problem but the SRT series is widely known for one gear in the train to run dry and cause everything shutter-wise to get wonky. You will know you have this problem when the second curtain stops halfway across its path at shutter speeds of 1/30 or slower. This will also prevent the mirror kick-out from working so your mirror will hang. Then things get worse. 20 or so years ago I finally made the attached two annotated files explaining how to easily solve it. Remove the bottom plate to find the gear...

 

[David Lyga]

OK, I solved it! (Is every one happy?). I removed the front assembly by removing the five screws under the vinylette (you do NOT have to remove the screws holding the self-timer). Then I removed the circular mount (four screws) then, underneath, an additional four screws holding the assembly to the prism area. NOTE: you do NOT have to remove the top or bottom of the SLR. The curtain string was NOT detached from the roller. But it was NOT guiding along the roller's indented wheel, to I simply lifted it into the wheel and that was that!

But there are some caveats for putting that whole assembly back! First, the thread that guides the circular meter lever is short and can easily be lost into the top of the body. I tied a piece of thread at the end of it so that it would be temporarily 'extended' so it would fit through the mount assembly as it should, However, there are pulleys in the top of the body that this thread rides on, and you cannot tell if the thread is still riding properly on those pulleys, so you might want to remove the top just to make certain after the front assembly is re-attached. Up front, I will say that this thread is a bitch, but doable.

Second, to put back the front assembly you will have to do TWO things. First, turn the mirror lock up knob HALF WAY between lock and not locked. That will allow easy placement without impediment.

Third, when finally re-inserting that front assembly you must gently (through the small circular hole) lift the self timer lever that is underneath the front assembly (that is why that hole is there). so that that lever fits perfectly onto the indentation on the shutter shaft. It is a bit tricky but what I have just imparted might save the day for you.

My SRT 101 works well, now, but if you ever become frustrated with breaking things that you had intended to fix, David Lyga's huge graveyard of broken cameras provides "proof without compromise" that he is not so very smart. He simply has 'paid the dues' for his endless experimentation with repairs and chemistry. - David Lyga

 

[David Lyga]

Haven't had that problem but the SRT series is widely known for one gear in the train to run dry and cause everything shutter-wise to get wonky. You will know you have this problem when the second curtain stops halfway across its path at shutter speeds of 1/30 or slower. This will also prevent the mirror kick-out from working so your mirror will hang. Then things get worse. 20 or so years ago I finally made the attached two annotated files explaining how to easily solve it. Remove the bottom plate to find the gear...
View attachment 225753 View attachment 225754

Thank you for this information. However, it must be said that the SRT series gives new impetus to the realization that this model is nearly as solidly built as the RF Leica. That, and the Spotmatic. - David Lyga

 

[Helios 1984]

Saved for future consultations.

Ps: Well done, David