Mirror Lockup Mechanism - Nikon EL-2

Thanks for the responses to the previous question I posted regarding

battery drainage - it turns out I'd been leaving the shutter-lock

lever in the 'unlocked' position, which in turn left the light meter

on at all times. Never thought I had to actually turn the light meter

off!

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Anyway, while reading an online manual for the EL-2, I noticed that

my mirror lockup mechanism wasn't working. When I examined it, it

seems like the rod that would normally lift the mirror has either

been worn down so that it no longer contacts the mirror, or somehow

has shifted so that it's no longer under the mirror. When you

engage/disengage the mirror lockup switch, the rod moves right past

the mirror when it seems like it should be under and lifting the

mirror. Have I got the concept right as to what this rod should do?

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If so, any suggestions on how to correct this? I was thinking maybe a

dab of 5-min epoxy (or something similar) on the end of the rod would

work, since it's literally only a hair's width away from making

contact with the mirror. Does anyone see a problem with doing this?

Thanks in advance...

How were you replacing the battery without locking the mirror up?

My first thought was that maybe you were holding the shutter open

in "B" mode, but if your battery is dead, I don't think

that will work.

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Anyway, there is <em>NO WAY</em> I would want to put 5 min

epoxy anywhere near the mirror box of my camera! The mirror

and the things around it are very delicate, lightweight objects

that have to move very fast and precisely. Just changing the

mass of some of the parts with a small bit of epoxy could

cause things to stop moving correctly. Nevermind what might

happen if epoxy were to drip onto the shutter. I'm normally quite

a DIY person. I've taken apart and repaired mechanical

watches, printing presses, microwave ovens, VCRs, electronic flash

units, and a bunch of other things that have a "No user servicable

parts inside" sticker on them. But I'd still leave anything

around the mirror box or shutter of an SLR to a professional.

<p>

But it's been decades since I've looked inside the mirror box

of an EL (I've never seen inside an EL2).

When I replaced the battery, I just gently lifted the mirror up and held it while I changed the battery.

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As far as the epoxy goes, it wouldn't be on -anything- but the mirror lockup rod. I studied how all the parts move during exposures and this part doesn't contribute at all to the exposure process. It's a simple lever mechanism - you move a switch on the front of the camera and it lifts up the rod inside, it's stationary except when you move the switch. I can't see any harm to putting a dab on the rod to extend its reach a bit, but then again I <i>am</i> looking for opinions on it, so yours is much appreciated! Thanks -