Cleaning shutter magnets on 35 MB

I just bought a very used Minox 35 MB today, very cheap. I am going to use this camera to find out if I want a GT-E. But the shutter does not work. I was told that this is because the shutter magnets are dirty, and needs to be cleaned. I do have the tools and knowledge to take the camera apart (and put it back together again), but know very little about cameras. Does anybody here knows the way in to these magnets? Please don't suggest that I send the camera to a professional, as the postage alone would be more than I payed for it.

 

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Thanks in advance

Take off the camera back, you will see several tiny screws around

the border, remove those screws, and lift off the cone shape buffer

you may see the interior of the camera and the small magnet, try to

use a brush to brush off the tip of magnet(a solenoid with fine wire)

or use a rubber blower to blow off dust, in particular between the solenoid and

the strike plate which the solenoid magnet attracts.

<p> This is only a suggestion, because I never encounter solenoid magnet dusty problem.

Thank you, Martin. I took the camera apart, cleaned everything, and

reassembled. The camera was very dirty, and I even found sand inside.

But after this cleaning the shutter works again. This camera have

obviously been repaired many times. Some of the screws did not hold

anything, they just turned freely and had to be removed with a magnet.

The camera was very easy to work with, no special tools needed to put

it back together again, and everything very logically designed. What a

nice experience!

Anders, I have being thinking about the longevity or lack of Minox 35 camera in some users hands.

That prompted me to take a deeper look into the working of Minox shutter in general.

<p> Click on "Publisher" and read my new article : "Minox Shutter and the Quest for Longevity of Minox 35 Camera"

As for the cause of this 'silicon lung' problem in Minox 35 camera,

see my article "Lung of Minox 35 ".

I recently purchased an old Minox EL. When I get prints back, about half of the frames are blank. Pressing the shutter button with the back open, I notice that my shutter opens every time, unless I wind it with the cover closed. Is this a common occurrance? Also, I seem to get underexposed photos even when I set the ISO at a slower film speed. Could this be from a sticky shutter caused by dirt? I could open it and clean the shutter, but it makes me a bit nervous. I thought that maybe I should just send it to a Minox repairman and see what can be done to save it. Any suggestions?

Heather, looks like the sticky shutter needs a cleaning

I am confused about how to 'exercise' a 35EL shutter after removing the 'cone'.

 

I have posted three photos externally showing ht einterior. It may be helpful to others (?)

 

I placed a red dot (in photo #1) next to the one mechanism I can get to move manually - the shutter with no battery will only open about 2.5-3 mm when wiggling this lever the spring attaches to.

 

The cocking cam appears to only have a roller, no spring, so I guess that's normal.

 

http://www.uptowngallery.org/Murray/Minox_35EL/35EL_1.jpg

http://www.uptowngallery.org/Murray/Minox_35EL/35EL_2.jpg

http://www.uptowngallery.org/Murray/Minox_35EL/35EL_3.jpg

Murray, I know this is maybe a year too late but it could help others in the future. Looking at your 1st picture it appears that there has been some damage to the copper spring strip on the shutter close solenoid circuit. The copper strip has been bent back quite severely. Compare that to the other side where the copper strip makes contact with the sprung silver part. The copper strip needs to make contact with the silver part when the shutter is cocked as that contact is part of the electrical circuit. The shutter will not fire if there is no contact. Also the copper strip should not contact the silver part after the shutter has fired; that shuts off the solenoid automatically. The attached picture explains it well.<div></div>