Camera Talk

Hi all -

This is for you fixit-gurus, y'all know who you are: My Yashica-Mat, which I gave a complete overhaul years ago and has worked perfectly ever since, has developed a hiccup. In use, sometimes, the shutter release sticks. The button doesn't pop back out, the advance doesn't work with the button depressed. A little time, maybe wiggling the advance back and forth, and the button pops back out and everything is groovy. So I don't think there's an issue with the advance mechanism. I want to avoid opening this up if possible, as the leather, which is an expensive leather kit, wouldn't be grateful.

What do you all think? Is this just a sticky release? Shot of Ronsonol and work it in? If I DO sell off the Bronica, the Yashica-Mat will become my go-to 6x6, again. Aside from it being a great, fun camera.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Scott

Okay, so patience has never been my strength…

Soaked a Q-tip in some Ronsonol and pressed it lightly against the shutter release button, which let a small amount of liquid down into the release. Fixed. Have cycled it a bunch of times, no issues. I’m going to load ‘er up and take ‘er out.

Scott

For what you say I understand when it sticks the shutter is not released until you manage to do it somehow, or does it release and it’s only the winding what is blocked?
I mean the shutter release button in these camera is connected only to the shutter release lever.
If it released the the cocking ring doesn’t finish its way and that’s the lock for the winding.
The mechanism that link the winding and cocking is pretty fragile as I found, materials are easily worn out in Mats or just old grease sticky and it doesn’t allow the cocking ring to come back to resting position and ready to wind/cock operation.
I don’t think Ronos bath would help, if you say the leatherette is new, probably is the type with auto adhesive layer then it’s pretty easy to take it out without damaging, just a drops of lighter fluid to ease the peeling and all is good.
My 2 cents, ofc

Edit after Scott’s post… well done!!

Thanks Alex. So far so good. I’m loading up some FP4+ and am going to try to head to Birdsboro tomorrow to walk around. Haven’t done that in years. Found my Rollei gelb hell filter, so that’s on, too. Looking forward to using this camera again.

I was going to suggest starting with some lighter fluid on the shutter release. This way, you can eliminate that as the source of the problem. Alex always has good advice, too.

Sticky buttons are an indication of lubricant either going dry, or being where it's not supposed to be. Eventually it would be a good idea to do a CLA to see what condition the lubricants are in, especially if the Ronsonal fix doesn't last very long, Scott. Hope you have some dry weather at Birdsboro.

PF

I *think* this wasn't lube in the release, I think it was gunk ON the button. It's still working fine, though I haven't gotten to Birdsboro yet. Maybe this afternoon...

I've had this camera since, I think, 2007. In/around 2010 I tore it completely apart to fix the shutter for good, and to rectify a problem with the film advance. It's been purring along since, though I have only used about once ever second or third year for the past while. I'm hoping to fix that. Too bad nelsonfoto went belly up - I had a whole ton of repair exploits documented there.