I've got two old K1000 bodies I bought to learn about repairing the meter in these cameras before I futz with the meter in my good body. While I have an assortment of tools such as small screwdrivers, lens spanners, soldering iron and electrical meter, is there any specific tools I'll need to take a body apart? I believe I may have to buy a new set of tips for one of my spanners from the look of the speed dial, but is there anything else I may need? THX.
For meter repairs I have multimeter, very fine tipped cordless soldering iron. A jar opener is handy (sometimes you can get enough friction to get things like the speed dial off without resorting to micro spanner etc.) Assortment of greases and oils. Assortment of solvents (naptha, isopropyl, lacquer thiner, etc). Black enamel paint. Various glues. Avoid super glue, the vapors will destroy plastic (will turn plastic lenses permanently white). Cotton wool sticks (q-tips). Windex & 409. Any PDF files you can find. Digital camera & notebook. Computer for searching the internet ( link points to forum discussion of K1000 meter repair: http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/6901/3712.html?1110796308 )
Note: the one good reason to own a digital camera: Disassembly and reassembly of film cameras (and to post how you did it so others can follow).
IC-racer's got it all there.
FWIW on the K1000 there's a cell just above the eyepiece that acts as a switch. When the light level goes below a certain value the cell stops conducting, turning the meter off. If this cell fails to stop conducting the camera kills batteries in short times.