Yashica-Mat LM shutter and crank stuck

<p>Hi<br>

I recently bought a Yashica-mat LM. Unfortunetly after my first exposure on my first roll, the crank was stucked, and the shutter button release can't coks. I pull off the film and the problem already exist. So, I can't mve the crank in any position and the shutter doesn't work.<br>

What to do when the crank is stucked ???<br>

thanks in advance</p>

<p>Is the film counter at "1"? Have you wound the crank clockwise until it stops? After that you have to wind it in the opposite direction/counter-clockwise for about half a circulation, until it stops again, to cock the shutter.</p>

<p>Here is a <a href="http://www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica/yashica_mat-em/yashica_mat-em.htm">manual</a></p>

<p>And whatever you do, don't try to force the crank to move if it's stuck.</p>

<p>It sounds like the shutter release button has not released the crank for the next winding. Sometimes, pushing the shutter release button again frees this up - if it doesn't, my guess is that something is bent or out of adjustment and it will need to be serviced.</p>

<p>This is why I always tell people to buy a knob wind crank TLR such as a Yashica D or Mamiya C220 over a film crank model. Have had 3 Mamiya TLRs and about 12 Yashica models. The knob wind crank models are more dependable.</p>

<p>OK, I'll confess...for several years Yashica-Mat's, then Yashica 124's were my choice of cameras for wedding photography and general work. The reason was that they were cheap. When one started giving me trouble, I would hold it at arms length...and drop it into the trash can, then replace it with a new one. I've moved along sence...my 6x6 is now a Hasselblad. But, then again, I've quit shooting weddings, too. </p>

<p>Those cameras have a tendancy to shoot great pictures, but, mechanically, they leave a little to be desired. But, then, I have had just as many problems with many other brands thru the years, too.</p>

<p>You have a choice to make...have it repaired, or replace it with a higher quality camera. It will take fine pictures, but Mamiya 330/220's, Rolei's, Hasselblads, etc., will do it more reliably. If you accept the fact that the cameras will have to be replaced more often, the Yachica-mat series will serve you just fine.</p>

<p>Whenever one of my Film crank TLRs got jammed. What I have done is to jiggle, but don't force anything. Was able to get the camera unstuck each time.</p>

<p>One of 4 reasons this happens is the self timer was used with the flash sunc in M more instead of X n is now stuck.<br>

The other is perhaps the locking ring at the fire button is in the locked position?<br>

Another problem might be the fire button mechanism is bent beneith the button itself. To cure that, you might want to try a cable release n see if that works.<br>

The last is the shutter needs to be repaired n is jammed.</p>

<p>As for using Mats for weddings, it is definately the wrong tool for the job. Koni Omegas, Mamiya TLRs, Mamiya RFers, Hassies, Bronicas. Onluy amatures dipping their toe in the field would do that because they couldn't afford heavy duty pro equipment with interchangeable lenses. Why would anyone want to use one lens for a wedding?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The film counter was on "1" but since I pulled off the film, it came back to S... And the self timer is also stuck... I think the shutter release button has no released the crank for the next winding. When I'm pushing the shutter, there is any resistance. Everything is stucked, except the shutter. which is loose.<br>

May be I'll try to jiggle it a bit... or bring it to a reparator, or buy a new camera...</p>

<p>Try racking the focus in and out and jiggle the shutter release button.</p>

<p>Sounds like the shutter is jammed and has to be opened. Bring it in to a reapir shop or sell it in an "AS IS" condition n get another in working order.</p>

<p>Have had a fairly new C330, (less than a year old), film crank get jammed. Back then, I sent it to Bell & Howell. So, I feel the problem can be attributed also to some degree to the more complicated mechaisim. The most dependable devices are the ones that are the most simple.</p>

Look at my photo in my library to view my Yashica 124G's internal parts behind the lens plate. A screwdriver points to the crank release that gets stuck. It has a very small coil spring attached to it. Oil will free it up in most cases by using one tiny drop between the sliding bar and the housing it attaches to

My 44LM (the 127 film camera) has knob film advance, and it jammed part-way through a roll once. The winding got stiff, but with only a little extra force, the knob would turn. I could feel it wasn't right, so I didn't keep forcing it. What had happened was the first gear in the train driven by the knob had slipped out of alignment, and that jammed the knob itself. The shaft of the knob is made in two parts that screw together, and a gear wheel is mounted on the shaft at the joint between the two parts. The thread of that joint was slipping more easily than the film was winding.

I tried gluing the thread with thread-lock, but it failed. Doing that, I found that there was already some kind of adhesive in the thread, so maybe I wasn't the first to try this repair. In the end I used a proper glue, and the camera has worked well ever since. I try to treat it gently, since I don't know if I can do the same repair again.

 

If the delayed action (self-timer) is even partly set, the shutter won't release, surely? You may need to gently push that forward.

[ATTACH=full]1264649[/ATTACH] Look at my photo in my library to view my Yashica 124G's internal parts behind the lens plate. A screwdriver points to the crank release that gets stuck. It has a very small coil spring attached to it. Oil will free it up in most cases by using one tiny drop between the sliding bar and the housing it attaches to

If the above photo shows yours does move freely go to this link for further instructions on thr repair

I can't believe that anyone's suggesting replacing a neat and lightweight Yashica with a behemoth Mamiya C330! They're really not comparable, and the C330 isn't immune to age-related wear-and-tear issues either.

 

Incidentally, I have a Yashi mat from 1959 that's still in perfect working order, and never been serviced.

 

Ooops! Suckered in to replying to a 9 year old thread.

 

Watch the posting date guys!