MG Issue

**twilhelm** · 08-30-2017, 06:01 PM

Today I grabbed my beloved MG from the cabinet to go do some shooting tomorrow. But it seems to have developed an issue. The film advance lever will not advance and the mirror stays in the up position. Of my film bodies, I was going to use my MG because it has had the most recent CLA. Guess I'll just grab my ME instead as I'm not real fond of the "number" meter system in the viewfinder of the Program Plus, I find it hard to read.

Maybe it's time I find myself an LX. I probably won't pay for another CLA on the MG if it's in need of repairs, I'll just find someone that needs it for repairs and get an LX.

Any ideas on what caused this?

gutter rock · 08-30-2017, 09:49 PM

I have an MG that does something similar. After I wind the film, sometimes it doesn't fire the shutter. I can't remember if the mirror is up or down at that point. I hooked up my power winder grip to it and had it cycle the shutter a few hundred times and it seems to do it much less frequently now. Does it fire properly in the bulb mode or the 100x mode? Just wondering if the battery may be weak or corrosion in the battery compartment?

**twilhelm** · 08-31-2017, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by gutter rock

I have an MG that does something similar. After I wind the film, sometimes it doesn't fire the shutter. I can't remember if the mirror is up or down at that point. I hooked up my power winder grip to it and had it cycle the shutter a few hundred times and it seems to do it much less frequently now. Does it fire properly in the bulb mode or the 100x mode? Just wondering if the battery may be weak or corrosion in the battery compartment?

Battery is dead. I thought the battery was just for the light meter? If that's all it is then it's an easy fix.

**twilhelm** · 08-31-2017, 09:23 AM

Update:

I changed out the batteries and of course the light meter started working, but not the advance. If I pull the mirror down by hand (it's not stuck, just returns to the up position) I am able to press the shutter button and I get a half hearted "click" which fully returns the mirror to the up position. The advance lever will not advance at any point.

Oh well...

Kai Theus · 08-31-2017, 03:19 PM

Sounds like the second shutter curtain is not closing completely. You could very gently nudge it down: I think there was a rivet attaching a hinge/linkage piece that I used my fingernail to push it down about level with the bottom of the opening for the negative. My camera would continually hang up though doing the hundred shutter releases suggested above might have worked

**twilhelm** · 08-31-2017, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by Kai Theus

Sounds like the second shutter curtain is not closing completely. You could very gently nudge it down: I think there was a rivet attaching a hinge/linkage piece that I used my fingernail to push it down about level with the bottom of the opening for the negative. My camera would continually hang up though doing the hundred shutter releases suggested above might have worked

That's exactly what it was! After a couple of actuations it now works properly.

Do you think it's from sitting too long or does it need some sort of repair?

Much thanks!

ctrout · 08-31-2017, 04:21 PM - **1 Like**

I'll bet it's from sitting and it just needs a CLA to replace the oil that has become sticky over the past 30 years and is gumming things up and slowing them down.

**cobbu2** · 09-01-2017, 07:05 AM

Had the exact same issue with an ME Super; nudging the second "curtain" down would complete the shutter cycle and allow advance. The same thing happens with cloth focal plane shutters when the second curtain doesn't completely close. In the past, I've use lighter fluid sparingly around the shutter area and allowed the "gunk" to drain while holding the camera upright. This may fix the problem temporarily, but the only thing that will completely cure it is a CLA.

08-30-2017, 06:01 PM	#1
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	MG Issue Today I grabbed my beloved MG from the cabinet to go do some shooting tomorrow. But it seems to have developed an issue. The film advance lever will not advance and the mirror stays in the up position. Of my film bodies, I was going to use my MG because it has had the most recent CLA. Guess I'll just grab my ME instead as I'm not real fond of the "number" meter system in the viewfinder of the Program Plus, I find it hard to read. Maybe it's time I find myself an LX. I probably won't pay for another CLA on the MG if it's in need of repairs, I'll just find someone that needs it for repairs and get an LX. Any ideas on what caused this?

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08-30-2017, 09:49 PM	#2
gutter rock Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 42	I have an MG that does something similar. After I wind the film, sometimes it doesn't fire the shutter. I can't remember if the mirror is up or down at that point. I hooked up my power winder grip to it and had it cycle the shutter a few hundred times and it seems to do it much less frequently now. Does it fire properly in the bulb mode or the 100x mode? Just wondering if the battery may be weak or corrosion in the battery compartment?

08-31-2017, 06:28 AM	#3
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369 Original Poster	Originally posted by gutter rock I have an MG that does something similar. After I wind the film, sometimes it doesn't fire the shutter. I can't remember if the mirror is up or down at that point. I hooked up my power winder grip to it and had it cycle the shutter a few hundred times and it seems to do it much less frequently now. Does it fire properly in the bulb mode or the 100x mode? Just wondering if the battery may be weak or corrosion in the battery compartment? Battery is dead. I thought the battery was just for the light meter? If that's all it is then it's an easy fix.

08-31-2017, 09:23 AM	#4
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369 Original Poster	Update: I changed out the batteries and of course the light meter started working, but not the advance. If I pull the mirror down by hand (it's not stuck, just returns to the up position) I am able to press the shutter button and I get a half hearted "click" which fully returns the mirror to the up position. The advance lever will not advance at any point. Oh well...

08-31-2017, 03:19 PM	#5
Kai Theus New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 9	Sounds like the second shutter curtain is not closing completely. You could very gently nudge it down: I think there was a rivet attaching a hinge/linkage piece that I used my fingernail to push it down about level with the bottom of the opening for the negative. My camera would continually hang up though doing the hundred shutter releases suggested above might have worked

08-31-2017, 03:43 PM	#6
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kai Theus Sounds like the second shutter curtain is not closing completely. You could very gently nudge it down: I think there was a rivet attaching a hinge/linkage piece that I used my fingernail to push it down about level with the bottom of the opening for the negative. My camera would continually hang up though doing the hundred shutter releases suggested above might have worked That's exactly what it was! After a couple of actuations it now works properly. Do you think it's from sitting too long or does it need some sort of repair? Much thanks!

08-31-2017, 04:21 PM - 1 Like	#7
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	I'll bet it's from sitting and it just needs a CLA to replace the oil that has become sticky over the past 30 years and is gumming things up and slowing them down.

09-01-2017, 07:05 AM	#8
cobbu2 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Potomac, MD Photos: Albums Posts: 1,427	Had the exact same issue with an ME Super; nudging the second "curtain" down would complete the shutter cycle and allow advance. The same thing happens with cloth focal plane shutters when the second curtain doesn't completely close. In the past, I've use lighter fluid sparingly around the shutter area and allowed the "gunk" to drain while holding the camera upright. This may fix the problem temporarily, but the only thing that will completely cure it is a CLA.