Minolta SRT 101 mirror problem

[PFMcFarland]

One of my junk store finds, when you wind the camera, the mirror rises unless the camera is held pointing down at a 45 degree or greater angle.

The blue arrow points to the mirror control lever, and the green arrow points to its catch lever. The catch lever is what moves out of the way when it’s not supposed to, and I’ll need to remove the mirror box to fix it.


Mirror Catch at Ready by P F McFarland, on Flickr


In this photo, the catch has disappeared behind the main sequencer, allowing the mirror control to move past. The magenta arrow points to the Kick Lever for the mirror, and the yellow arrow points to the dog on the Main Drive Gear that actuates the kick lever. That part is working fine.


Mirror Catch at Fault by P F McFarland, on Flickr

More photos at
https://www.flickr.com/gp/7699588@N07/178i6V

PF

[Brazile]

Nice walkthrough, does look like a lot of work to fix a camera that mostly works.

Robert

[melek]

Yes, sometimes thrift store finds work out great. Sometimes ... well ... maybe not.

[LarryD]

I have a box of projects for you. I have been able to fix a few on my own so the box is not as large as it was. On the other hand The only one I want back is the Spotmatic F.

Today I fixed a dead meter in an old GAF M42 Screw Mount with just a dab of solder. I git it dead on eith my Nikon meter and my hand helds with modern batteries. I believe that part was an accident.

I am getting out of the Camera collecting game and now just using the Nikons and a few others. I could never part with the Canon Pappa Lester gave me and I keep it exercised to the chagrin of some of my other photo friends. {read Nikonions.}

You are saving history one bite at a time.
Let me know when you want some new projects.

[PFMcFarland]

You got that right, Robert. I took a look at the repair manual, and the affected part means having to take the camera down to just the shutter train. A LOT of work for a slipped/broken spring.

I'm just going to run it as is, Mike. It's otherwise fully functional, as long as I remember to hold it correctly when winding. I put it back together, and cleaned the crud off the outside. It looked really good with the 500mm mirror on it today.

Larry, you can send it anytime you want. I'm in the middle of a reorganization around here, but have a parts Spot F. Just be sure to include a note as to what is wrong with it.

PF

[LarryD]

I will and I too am in re org and I believe we spoke of this a year or so ago but I just had a rough spot in life and I am doing some things all over again. I doubt it will even need parts replaced it is just a locked up shutter that just when DO"H mid roll.

[PFMcFarland]

This is the replacement for my first 101 which has the mirror latching problem.


Minolta SR-T101 by P F McFarland, on Flickr



Minolta SR-T101 by P F McFarland, on Flickr

I need to put some new seals in it, then it will be ready for action.

PF

[Brazile]

Looks clean. I love the reflections in the first shot.

Robert

[PFMcFarland]

Looks clean. I love the reflections in the first shot.

Robert

Yeah, the way it changes color on the different lens layers is kind of neat. I had one angle where the first reflection really dominated, and it looked like some alien blob from outer space.

PF

[melek]

That's a sweet looking camera. I had a SRT 202 a few years back and sold it. I sort of regretted it, and bought back into the camera. But now I'm thinking that I should sell it again and cut back to only my XD-11 for Minolta.