Yashica TL-Electro question

rberry65 · Jun 17, 2011

I just bought a Yashica TL-Electro at a flea market for $10. Before buying it I tested it to see if the shutter would work, but stupid me did not test it on all speeds. It works great from speed 1/60 to 1/1000. At 1/30 the mirror and shutter stick open. I can turn the dail back to 1/60 and the mirror will fall/ shutter closes. Anyone know how to fix this problem? 10 bucks is not a big loss but would really like to use this camera.

Ottrdaemmerung · Jun 17, 2011

I just picked up another (my second) TL-Electro specimen today, and this one has pretty much the same problem! At 1/1000, it works fine. At 1/60 or faster, the mirror returns exactly every other snap of the shutter. At slower speeds, it doesn't return at all. Batteries are not the issue: I put fresh batteries in it and nothing is affected - they only power the meter.

elcabezagrande · Jun 17, 2011

Check that the foam mirror bumper has not turned to a sticky, gummy, mass, causing the mirror to adhere to the focus screen when it is in the up position. I have had several TL Electro/TL Electro X cameras where that was the problem. On the TL Electro, with the horizontal cloth shutter, it is very important to clean up and replace the foam body seals or you will end up ruining your shutter when bits of gunk get stuck to it.

rberry65 · Jun 17, 2011

Thanks. I will try that.

David Lyga · Jun 17, 2011

Remove the bottom plate and WITHOUT GETTING ANY INTO THE PRISM AREA squirt a little lighter fluid on the sides of the bottom of the camera. Then turn camera back down so it falls out (hopefully dirty and black) The timer gears need to be cleaned this way. If you get any in the prism area you will have to take off the top. Keep doing it several times being careful like I said. Make sure all the bottom is squirted. If you were in Phila I could do it in 5 minutes because I have taken hundreds of cameras apart (partially). CAUTION: with this model (not one of the best, by the way) the bolts that hold the pressure plate actually go right thru the back, sometimes causing light leaks. If you get light leaks check this bolt area also. I believe the TL Electro X (not yours since you have the TL Electro without the 'X') does not have this vulnerablilty. - David Lyga

Ottrdaemmerung · Jun 17, 2011

David, that did it, and it worked immediately! You're a gentleman and scholar, and there are damn few of us left. Thanks very much!
rberry65, you should try this. I was unsure exactly where to squirt the fluid, but I think where it was needed was the cluster of black gears that has a little scythe-shaped piece arcing around them.
elcabezagrande, I also followed your advice and replaced the deteriorated front mirror bumper foam with some I cut from a 35mm film cassette.

rberry65 · Jun 17, 2011

Well, I tryed it and my situitation only got worse. Now it is just stuck open, and I can not turn my dail down past 1/60. So, i figured the camera is a loss so why not just go ahead and take it apart some more and have a look. That was interesting, but if the camera wasn't messed up before, it darn sure is now. The shutter is completely gummed up, but don't know how to get it out ofthe camera. A gear fell out from somewhere, but I have not a clue from where. I just learned that I am not skilled with this sort of thing, lol. Maybe I will play with it some more....better yet, maybe I should just chunk it into the garbage, lol.

Ottrdaemmerung · Jun 17, 2011

Ugh, sorry you're having such bad luck with it! If all else fails, keep the lens on it (if you got it with one), and get yourself another camera body that accepts M42 screwmount lenses. They can be rather inexpensive. Besides the TL-Electro, Pentax Spotmatics and various Zenit cameras accept the same M42 lenses. It's no ideal camera, but I got a Zenit ET from eBay a while back for $7 and change, shipping included!

elcabezagrande · Jun 17, 2011

For $10, if it has a nice Yashica Yashinon lens, especially if it is a fast prime, you are still way ahead. There are hundreds of bodies that use the M42 lenses. Besides the ones that Ottrdaemmerung mentioned, older Ricoh, Sears, Chinon, Mamiya, Praktica, Petri, Fujica and many other brands. Look for ones with metal shutters, they stand the test of time better, and are easier to clean if they do get gummed up.

I would bet a bag of donuts that the root cause of your problem was tiny bits of gooey foam materiel getting into places where it didn't belong, like in the grooves of the shutter assmbly, and on the shutter curtain itself.

Steve Roberts · Jun 20, 2011

I have a TL Electro bought for £5 at a market that also hangs up at 1/60th. It came with the f1.7 DS-M lens, so as has been said, I'm ahead regardless of the body. These cameras were a cheaper Yashica equivalent of the Spotmatic II, but apart from the fact that the viewfinder was a bit pokey, I rather like them.

Steve

rberry65 · Jun 22, 2011

Yeah, it came with the lens. It is a Yashinon-DS 50 mm 1:1.9. I don't know much about lenses, but it lookg pretty good, no fungus or scratches that I can see. I think I am going to list it and several others that I do not need on the classifieds. I also have a Canon AE-1 that I do not like that I may list too, so go check it out, might find something you need.

c_anicai · Apr 16, 2012

My camera is Yashica tl electro x, and battery check push button not work, and exposure indicator viewfinder also, but exposure times is ok.

Any indication for repair is welcome, thanks.

Pumalite · Apr 16, 2012

David Lyga said:
Remove the bottom plate and WITHOUT GETTING ANY INTO THE PRISM AREA squirt a little lighter fluid on the sides of the bottom of the camera. Then turn camera back down so it falls out (hopefully dirty and black) The timer gears need to be cleaned this way. If you get any in the prism area you will have to take off the top. Keep doing it several times being careful like I said. Make sure all the bottom is squirted. If you were in Phila I could do it in 5 minutes because I have taken hundreds of cameras apart (partially). CAUTION: with this model (not one of the best, by the way) the bolts that hold the pressure plate actually go right thru the back, sometimes causing light leaks. If you get light leaks check this bolt area also. I believe the TL Electro X (not yours since you have the TL Electro without the 'X') does not have this vulnerablilty. - David Lyga

+1

sergeant1989 · Apr 5, 2017

I just purchased a Yashica Electro TL X body only for $10 to use as a spare for all of the M42 lenses I have and the shutter works problem is no matter what I dial in on the shutter speed knob shutter speed is always the same about 125 of a second if not faster. Any ideas on how to correct, camera was 1 of 4 items purchased from the same vendor off ETSY.com and they are all in excellent condition and the whole lot was $35 & $12 S&H so I'm still ahead on 2 great zoom lenses, and 1 rangefinder 35mm camera. Thanks Peter

John Wiegerink · Apr 5, 2017

sergeant1989 said:
I just purchased a Yashica Electro TL X body only for $10 to use as a spare for all of the M42 lenses I have and the shutter works problem is no matter what I dial in on the shutter speed knob shutter speed is always the same about 125 of a second if not faster. Any ideas on how to correct, camera was 1 of 4 items purchased from the same vendor off ETSY.com and they are all in excellent condition and the whole lot was $35 & $12 S&H so I'm still ahead on 2 great zoom lenses, and 1 rangefinder 35mm camera. Thanks Peter

The X stands for "electronically controlled shutter" and that might be the reason you have only one mechanical speed. No power to the shutter timing?

Brett Rogers · Apr 9, 2017

sergeant1989 said:
I just purchased a Yashica Electro TL X body only for $10 to use as a spare for all of the M42 lenses I have and the shutter works problem is no matter what I dial in on the shutter speed knob shutter speed is always the same about 125 of a second if not faster. Any ideas on how to correct, camera was 1 of 4 items purchased from the same vendor off ETSY.com and they are all in excellent condition and the whole lot was $35 & $12 S&H so I'm still ahead on 2 great zoom lenses, and 1 rangefinder 35mm camera. Thanks Peter

What is the battery condition, and fit, like? Is it making effective connection to the terminals?

Yashica TL-Electro question

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