Is my Ricoh TLS 401 shutter sticking? Or is it something else?

[anthony_cicero]

I bought a Ricoh TLS 401 on ebay. Came with a 135mm Vivitar 2.8, and

Auto Rikenon 1.4 50, small old tripod, and Weston Euro-Master meter.

Seller told me all shutter speeds work. For less than $50, I thought

it wasn't a bad deal.

 

But.

 

The Ricoh's shutter sticks. I think. It has a tendency to do this,

at all speeds, even 1000. But it doesn't do it every time.

 

I say "I think", because what's peculiar is that with the back open,

the shutter isn't stuck open. It's the mirror that goes up and

sticks. The shutter hasn't even opened.

 

I have to wind it again and let the lever slap back in order to

release the stuck mirror. At this point, the lever hits and the

shutter then opens and closes, with the mirror going back down with

it.

 

The second peculiar thing, is that 1) the camera lets me wind a

second time, and 2) the winding lever stays locked like its been

cocked, but nothing more than a barely imperceptible click happens

when I press the shutter release.

 

The shutter blades don't look dirty. The only abnormality is in the

picture, and looks like wear from constant friction. Doesn't look

like an oily or sticky substance to me (I had to shine the light

directly on it for it to show up, it's not actually reall that shiny).

 

So is what I am experiencing sticky shutter blades that only a CLA

will fix?

[winfried_buechsenschuetz1]

The TLS401 has a lot of foam rubber seals inside, there are even some between the shutter assembly (which is inserted from the front) and the main camera body. If particles of rotten foam get into the rails of the shutter blades they may stick.

 

Anyhow I think a TLS401 is not worth doing a costly repair. I'd rather check for another one in working condition - it probably will be cheaper than having the first repaired.

[richard_oleson]

If you do decide to replace the camera, I might be interested in your old one as a repair project to help you pay for the replacement.

 

rick :)=

[anthony_cicero]

Winifred - ...or I'll get another bum camera. The wonder of ebay!

 

I have my Mamiya DSX, but I took the 1.4 55 apart to clean out the sand (yes, sand) that was grinding away inside, and now I can't seem to put the thing back together properly so that the focusing ring turns something. I tried the TLS lenses on the Mamiya since the body works wonderfully, but it seems like the metering is off, even though they are both M42 screw mounts. So I still can't use my DSX.

 

Rick - that might be worth both our time--how much were you thinking?

 

I may just use it as a guinea pig and open the thing up and do what I can.

[donnie_strickland]

Anthony -- how, exactly, do you mean the metering seems "off" on your DSX when used with the Ricoh lenses?

[anthony_cicero]

Donnie - the needle doesn't seem to move properly when turning the aperture ring, for example. There seemed to be a uniform amount of movement with the mamiya lens, but with this one it seems to barely move with one then move a quite a bit with another. The lens blades do seem to be moving properly.

[donnie_strickland]

A thousand pardons for asking -- but -- you have been pulling the advance lever out and then pushing it back in when stop-down metering with the Ricoh lenses? I can't see why it wouldn't work in stop-down mode if it will work at open aperture with an SX lens...

[anthony_cicero]

Donnie - apparently the stop down pin is stuck in the "in" position! (Thanks to Rick for that info.)