Stuck shutter curtain Minolta XG-M

[Jon Beaumont]

Hello,
Not sure if I am correctly categorizing the issue with my camera, but what's happening is that recently I loaded a roll of film into the camera, closed the back and was trying to advance the film to the first frame, the film advance lever cocked and I pressed the operating button and I heard the click of the shutter but when I went to cycle the film advance lever again it would only go halfway and the camera would not fire. I opened the back and removed the film and noticed that the edge of both shutter curtains were visible on the left side of the curtain box, I took a small, jewelers tool and gently pushed the top curtain all the way to the left and exposed the bottom curtain, then I basically pushed the bottom curtain all the way to the right and let it go and it released the shutter and I was then able to completely cycle the film advance lever...I've tried poking around on a few things, took the bottom cover off and inspected the mechanics and I don't see anything catching or hanging up and I replaced the batteries. I'm good at tinkering but I admittedly am out of my league with this one and I don't want to make what could be a minor problem into a bigger issue, so any help that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated, this was one of my dad's old cameras and I'd hate to have to trash it...

Thanks again,

Jon

 

[John Koehrer]

Could be something as easy as putting a little drag on the curtain when you were loading it. It's pretty
common with horizontal travel shutters when the curtains lose a bit of tension on their springs. Usually
over time, but sometimes from a drop.

 

[Truzi]

I'm not familiar with that camera, but how are the light seals? Are they foam? Are they intact?
I had a similar issue when tiny bits of degraded, sticky, foam fell on the curtains. This caused them to stick. Cleaning it up and putting in new seals solved it.

However, that may not be your issue.

 

[Jon Beaumont]

Could be something as easy as putting a little drag on the curtain when you were loading it. It's pretty
common with horizontal travel shutters when the curtains lose a bit of tension on their springs. Usually
over time, but sometimes from a drop.

Thanks for the reply John, I appreciate it...Is it possible to easily fix this kind of issue or should I just bite the bullet and take it to a service shop?

Thanks again for the help,

Jon

 

[Jon Beaumont]

I'm not familiar with that camera, but how are the light seals? Are they foam? Are they intact?
I had a similar issue when tiny bits of degraded, sticky, foam fell on the curtains. This caused them to stick. Cleaning it up and putting in new seals solved it.

However, that may not be your issue.

That's something else for me to check that I didn't think of, thank you for the help, I appreciate it...

Jon

 

[John Koehrer]

John, if you still have the problem or did it clear up when you fiddled with the closing curtain?

 

[shutterfinger]

Your camera uses an elctromechanical shutter release. Camera battery check and batteries lie, they claim the battery is good but will not hold up to shutter release or film advance on a motorized camera.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_xg-m.pdf
Screw a cable release into the cable release socket, p38, and lock the shutter open on B. Inspect the curtain track for debris. Clean as needed.

 

[David Lyga]

Often, the Minolta electronic SLRs have this fault.

The problem seems to emanate from the 'too narrow' slit that both curtains' metal posts seem to have trouble navigating through. I have, at times, had to take a small screwdriver and gently pry open that slit to more fully allow the metal posts to pass more easily.

Maybe this is not your specific problem, as the slit is located at the BEGINNING of the film aperture, causing problems with the initiation of the film advance. - David Lyga

 

[shutterfinger]

Guessing its likely dried lubricant but could be deteriorating light seals or mirror bumper foam stuck to the curtain or track preventing the shutter from fully closing.
If its lubrication it may clear up after 5 to 20 shutter cycles then reappear after a few days rest, if its bad foam it may get worse.

 

[shutterfinger]

90% Isopropyl Alcohol or Acetone aka nail polish remover and a wooden dowel to fit in the track (round tooth pick with the end trimmed off or wooden electronics cleaning swab shaft) with the shutter locked open on B.
Moisten the tract then scrape clean with the dowel.