Zenit TTL Mirror will not lift when firing

Spaghetta · Nov 2, 2015

Hello again everyone,

My Zenit TTL's mirror will not lift when taking a picture. This issue came about after (there was a url link here which no longer exists) where my shutter was old and see through so I applied plastidip to darken it. The shutter is now working fine, however the mirror will no longer operate. Any ideas on fixing this? There are no shops near me that will repair it so I will try it myself. Any tips on tearing it down or starting the repair would be very helpful. Thank you!

AgX · Nov 2, 2015

It would be a good idea I think if you told what you did with the shutter as the fault of the mirror seems to be related to your repair of the shutter.

Spaghetta · Nov 2, 2015

AgX said:
It would be a good idea I think if you told what you did with the shutter as the fault of the mirror seems to be related to your repair of the shutter.

I applied plastidip to the shutter with a q-tip, and applied silicone lubricant on top of the plastidip once in was dry. That may have been the source of the problem. Not sure where to go from here though

Xmas · Nov 3, 2015

Try removing lens, setting shutter speed to B, releasing shutter and then lifting the mirror very gently from lens opening.

But if you were not able to google 'fabric shutter problem' then wait for second camera to arrive and use it to take photos rather than 'repair'.

Spaghetta · Nov 3, 2015

Xmas said:
Try removing lens, setting shutter speed to B, releasing shutter and then lifting the mirror very gently from lens opening.

But if you were not able to google 'fabric shutter problem' then wait for second camera to arrive and use it to take photos rather than 'repair'.

The lens just falls back down when lifted in this manner. I've already ordered another camera body but I would definitely like to try and repair this one if possible.

Xmas · Nov 3, 2015

That is progress!
The mirror should pivot freely with no trace of friction and the shutter fire when the mirror reaches the top of its travel?
Did it?
Any trace of continimant on mirror pivot bushes can be a problem!
Applying lube to blinds is not normal.
The camera runs dry with merest trace of Swiss watch makers fine oil on bearings.
Otherwise shutter speeds can be erratic!

You need the skill to put the camera on a shelf and think rather than compound the problem.

Start by reading all the camera repair threads on the web.

The Zeniths can take nice pictures and the plastidip can work but needs careful application like ceiling of cisistine chapel.

Spaghetta · Nov 3, 2015

Xmas said:
That is progress!
The mirror should pivot freely with no trace of friction and the shutter fire when the mirror reaches the top of its travel?
Did it?
Any trace of continimant on mirror pivot bushes can be a problem!
Applying lube to blinds is not normal.
The camera runs dry with merest trace of Swiss watch makers fine oil on bearings.
Otherwise shutter speeds can be erratic!

You need the skill to put the camera on a shelf and think rather than compound the problem.

Start by reading all the camera repair threads on the web.

The Zeniths can take nice pictures and the plastidip can work but needs careful application like ceiling of cisistine chapel.

I would say that the plastidip application was pretty careful, the issue was plastidip is a very grippy rubber so it was not able to cycle without lube. The mirror seems to be disconnected from everything, it does not interact with the shutter for some reason

leicarfcam · Nov 3, 2015

Spaghetta said:
I would say that the plastidip application was pretty careful, the issue was plastidip is a very grippy rubber so it was not able to cycle without lube. The mirror seems to be disconnected from everything, it does not interact with the shutter for some reason

I suspect that some plastidip got transferred onto part of the mirror mechanism and may have gotton onto other parts of the cameras mechanism.. If this is the case then a strip down and clean is in order. While you are at it, replace the curtains.

As I said in another reply, you should replace the curtains when they get rotten, not patch them..

Curtain material can be bought from Aki at http://aki-asahi.com/store/

trythis · Nov 3, 2015

This would be an excellent camera to practice curtain replacement on. No risk in terms of the camera being lost. Good luck!

Sent with typotalk

Spaghetta · Nov 3, 2015

I definitely wish I knew more before beginning to take apart the camera, but I suppose I will begin slowly and see what happens

Spaghetta · Nov 3, 2015

So a rather interesting development, if I set the shutter to bulb, and press down the button to fire as I flick the mirror upwards gently, it will fly up and stick, and will release when I release the fire button. Very odd, I'm not sure what to make of that.

Edit: Even if I lift the mirror up slightly from it's resting place it will spring up the rest of the way on it's own when fired... Maybe I will raise it slightly?

Xmas · Nov 3, 2015

Spaghetta said:
So a rather interesting development, if I set the shutter to bulb, and press down the button to fire as I flick the mirror upwards gently, it will fly up and stick, and will release when I release the fire button. Very odd, I'm not sure what to make of that.

Edit: Even if I lift the mirror up slightly from it's resting place it will spring up the rest of the way on it's own when fired... Maybe I will raise it slightly?

That is a normal symptom of too much lube or the wrong lube put your toy on the shelf.

If you put a cigarette paper under the mirror rest it won't focus accurately.

Maybe you need to read a book on camera maintenance before the next camera arrives.

Spaghetta · Nov 3, 2015

so here is what I was able to deduce... The arm that props up the mirror runs down below the mirror (1) isn't high enough to be manipulated by (2) which moves when the camera is cocked, and moves in a way to push the mirror up via (1) when fired. It doesn't seem like the arm attached to the mirror (1) is tensioned enough to keep it up, I'm not sure if that is still a symptom of lube being in the wrong spot. Any ideas? I took the camera apart as much as I was comfortable but I couldn't seem to really get the body apart.

Xmas · Nov 4, 2015

Yes put it all in a zip lock bag and start reading... You are on third strike,

trythis · Nov 4, 2015

I would guess gear skipped tooth or a spring broke. But thats a wild guess! Either way, keep digging, you'll enjoy the view along the way, but don't expect to make it a functioning camera again. I keep all my broken ones in plastic bags and farm them for screws and other pieces when a camera that I'm able to fix is missing something.

Sent with typotalk

Spaghetta · Nov 4, 2015

Xmas said:
Yes put it all in a zip lock bag and start reading... You are on third strike,

I'm sure that you're aware that this isn't helpful advice, unless you have something specific you're referencing in terms of reading material then I'd appreciate it if you kept the replies helpful. There is very little in terms of help literature for this model, if I would have found an answer on Google then I wouldn't be posting here. Thank you for your replies.

trythis said:
I would guess gear skipped tooth or a spring broke. But thats a wild guess! Either way, keep digging, you'll enjoy the view along the way, but don't expect to make it a functioning camera again. I keep all my broken ones in plastic bags and farm them for screws and other pieces when a camera that I'm able to fix is missing something.

Yea I'm not expecting to have a fully functioning camera, if I can go for a quick and dirty fix that would be fine with me, it's fun for me to tinker with it but I'm trying to have at least some semblance of a plan in place before I have the thing in a million pieces

Xmas · Nov 4, 2015

Spaghetta said:
I'm sure that you're aware that this isn't helpful advice, unless you have something specific you're referencing in terms of reading material then I'd appreciate it if you kept the replies helpful. There is very little in terms of help literature for this model, if I would have found an answer on Google then I wouldn't be posting here. Thank you for your replies.

Yea I'm not expecting to have a fully functioning camera, if I can go for a quick and dirty fix that would be fine with me, it's fun for me to tinker with it but I'm trying to have at least some semblance of a plan in place before I have the thing in a million pieces

I am able to detect you did not like my advise which is what you need to do.

One other problem you have is you are unaware that cameras are close clones of one another and when you google you should omit the term Zenith.

eg your shutter is a copy of a Leica shutter.

So there are Gbytes of helpful data on the web which you have been ignoring.

But your current problem apart from impetiousity is most probably lube on mirror pivots after you painted it all over your shutter curtains...

You need to remove it from pivot (and curtains)

required

Pair of small tweezers
Can zippo fluid
Cotton wool
Cassette tub or sewing thimble

Fill tub with 1cm zippo fluid
Pick up droplet between blades of tweaser jaws after-jam them apart with cotton wedge
Transfer droplet to first pivot of mirror first placing cotton waste below pivot rotate mirror on pivot to move lube out of bush as much as possible
Do other pivot bush
Try operating camera

Repeat until fault clears.

But a zippo bag was best advice!
Even if you don't like.

Fixing cameras is about not dismantling them, people send me complete kits of parts in zip lock bags.

Do not dismantle!

AgX · Nov 4, 2015

I doubt that silicone oil at the pivots of the mirror caused to stop it being lifted.

Xmas · Nov 4, 2015

HiAgX

How do you explain post #11 other than contaminated bushes, wear etc.

Noel

Zenit TTL Mirror will not lift when firing

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