The copal shutter self timer issue of yashicaflex s

corydon · Aug 7, 2025

Hi all, I just got a Yashicaflex S which has several problems. The one problem is the self timer. It got charged but can not be held. Once my finger leaves the charging nod, the timer starts to discharge. I watch some videos on YouTube and read some repair curese materials but still could not figure out the root. My first question is how self timers is locked once getting charged? Thanks!

BMbikerider · Aug 7, 2025

I not sure about your self timer but the pictures show the surface machine work on the various surfaces when compared to Rollie's, Nikons, and Pentax is extremely crude and poorly finished.

As for the self timer I have seen some which operate on the same principal as a firing hammer on a revolver hand gun, where when you load it there should be a catch where it stops it from unloading. This is probably badly worn or broken off or in need of adjustment if it can be.

Dan Daniel · Aug 7, 2025

I am not certain, but on later Copals the self timer latch is at the upper end of the unit as shown in your photo. At about 11 o'clock on your top photo is a screw on the body that is just past the self timer unit itself. On your photo withj the spring going straight left, you can see a latch connected to the pallet. Most likely this latch is pushed in a way that hold the pallet against the star gear and stops the self timer from running down.

All of this happens if the shutter is already cocked. Shutter not cocked= no self timer action (or possibly simple run-down on an older shutter like this?)

So anyway, focus on the pallet and its latch, and how this intereacts with the shutter cocking and release mechanism.

corydon · Aug 8, 2025

Dan Daniel said:
I am not certain, but on later Copals the self timer latch is at the upper end of the unit as shown in your photo. At about 11 o'clock on your top photo is a screw on the body that is just past the self timer unit itself. On your photo withj the spring going straight left, you can see a latch connected to the pallet. Most likely this latch is pushed in a way that hold the pallet against the star gear and stops the self timer from running down.

All of this happens if the shutter is already cocked. Shutter not cocked= no self timer action (or possibly simple run-down on an older shutter like this?)

So anyway, focus on the pallet and its latch, and how this intereacts with the shutter cocking and release mechanism.

Thanks Dan. You are right. While the self timer setting lever being pushed, the self timer spring got tension and the whole self timer assembly moving towards the lens barrel. The latch of self timer is hooked by the bar and the pullet is blocked by the barrel with its teeth proeventing the star gear from releasing the spring tension. Once the shutter release lever being trigger, the latch is unhooked. The pullet leaves the barrel and can move freely which frees the star gear to release the tension. Here are some pictures for referenc.

The copal shutter self timer issue of yashicaflex s

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The copal shutter self timer issue of yashicaflex s

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