Jammed Spotmatic?

Sarah101 · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 6 Location: United States

Thanks I'd appreciate it. I tried getting the bottom off, but I dont seem to have a screw driver that small!!
Lol me and my family tried everything, so I guess I'll just have to go out and find one. Anyway, its just a Pentax spotmatic, nothing else.
I really think this is why my camera is jammed!

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

GrahamNR17 · Expire: 2012-09-06

Superb thread Cool

...twenty years too late Evil or Very Mad

ventrikolo · Joined: 10 Apr 2012 Posts: 6

I just read this thread and got so happy! I removed the bottom and pushed the little thing just as you said and I was able to take one shot... but now I can't seem to wind the film... Any clue what the problem might be? Not to good with these oldies, maby I pressed something in my desperation before reading this thread? I have a Spotmatic SP looks slightly different... I could post a picture if that would help.

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

Will the shutter fire?

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

A picture would certainly help. I'm aware there are different SP versions, but I think the basic mechanics are all similar. The film-advance lock is released when the mirror descends after the 2nd shutter curtain closes.

ellepi · Joined: 07 Aug 2010 Posts: 486 Location: Treviso - Italia

I just use this trick with last SPII bought Cool

Now I resolve only the sticky mirror problem. I remember a topic about this, it's correct?

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

The sticky mirror is usually the strip of foam that the mirror hits when it flicks up, it degrades into a sticky goo - as do the film door light seals. They aren't hard to change and there are a few posts on the forum showing how it's done.

I un-jammed a Spotmatic last week, using these instructions, for the local charity shop so they could sell it. I put light seals in as well and made a very nice camera out of a doorstop.
It's wonderful to have these instructions from people who have done these jobs, un-jamming the camera isn't a difficult thing to do - once you can see what to do.

http://forum.mflenses.com/light-seal-replacing-the-alternative-way-t51335.html

I did a tutorial on changing the light seals a while back -

But there are others as well
I didn't mention changing the mirror bumper, but it's not difficult. The hardest part is cleaning the sticky from the camera, I use tweezers to pull as much foam off as possible, then use a cocktail stick, bit of plastic or bamboo, to scrape as much of the old glue backing off as possible. I don't use any solvent here for fear of it dripping on the mirror or focusing screen, so often I end up leaving a bit of sticky in place rather than risk damage - the new foam will stick over the top ok.
Cut the foam to size, ( I use the same foam as I use for the film door seals ) remove the backing paper, then I lightly lick the glue surface. This allows the foam to slide a bit when you place it into position, and when the moisture dries the foam is firmly in place.
And that's about it, as long as you're careful with the mirror and screen it's not hard to do,

Sevandija · Joined: 15 Feb 2013 Posts: 1

Hi all, I know this tread is old but I would like to thank Peter. Just bought a Pentax ES that was jammed and was able to fix it following the instructions and the pictures Peter provided.

So, thank you Smile

Stiruam · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 1

Hey guys, like ventrikolo I am having issues as well. My Spotmatic SP's internals look slightly different... I have attached a photo showing the internals.

Its a shame because its my first film camera... It looks superb and worked like a charm as well. Both the meter and the shutter worked fine, right up until the moment I loaded my first rol of film...

After cocking and firing the shutter became stuck.

Following the instructions I slided the lever up, I could hear the shutter snapping into place. I tried pulling the cocking lever one stop (how does one call moving the film to the next slid?) however it is stuck. There's literally no moment possible. I've tried pulling on some stuff but there appears to be no possible way of moving anything.

What would you guys recommend?

Edit: For some reason the image above does not appear to be working correctly and I am not able to post a link it simply does not show up...
forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20148/8409_Spotmatic_1.jpg

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4745 Location: Cheshire, England

ventrikolo · Joined: 10 Apr 2012 Posts: 6

Hey,

So, I realize my last response was a long time ago. But I've been moving a lot and haven't had the time to pick up my old hobbies until now. So my winder is jammed as well but it looks a bit different compared to other cameras making me wonder if it might have been repaired before where they changed parts.

One thing that confuses me is that the shutter works if I pull my spring lever in the opposite direction compared to all tutorials.

When a try pulling the wind lever it becomes obvious that something is stuck since the cogs to the left only budge a millimetre or two.

Any ideas? As you can see there's a picture of my cameras interior but also a link to a movie with the movement of the cogs when I try to wind the lever.

Cheers

#1

https://goo.gl/photos/1YqHRb2Mq13zfiFfA

Thomas · Joined: 09 Aug 2017 Posts: 6

Hi there,

Does anyone know anything about the small white washer / spacer that I keep seeing under the film release button? Looked at quite a few photos on this forum of the underside mechanics of the Spotmatic.
My film release button is permanently depressed and it will not pop back out under any circumstances. I do not have this spacer/washer under he button. Is that the problem?
The camera has now also jammed and any amount of fiddling with the mechanism under the baseplate (as per forum guidelines) makes no difference.

Any help/sympathy greatly appreciated

Ian

Thomas · Joined: 09 Aug 2017 Posts: 6

Hi there,

Does anyone know anything about the small white washer / spacer that I keep seeing under the film release button? Looked at quite a few photos on this forum of the underside mechanics of the Spotmatic.
My film release button is permanently depressed and it will not pop back out under any circumstances. I do not have this spacer/washer under he button. Is that the problem?
The camera has now also jammed and any amount of fiddling with the mechanism under the baseplate (as per forum guidelines) makes no difference.

Any help/sympathy greatly appreciated

Ian

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Gardener · Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Posts: 950 Location: USA

shangyien · Joined: 07 Mar 2015 Posts: 1

Thank you for all the advice on unsticking the mirror. It worked, but in my case the problem kept recurring until I placed a drop of oil between the large black cog and the flat part of the long lever that ends beneath it.

gleitmo · Joined: 28 Dec 2022 Posts: 2

Hello everyone
I have question which in a way is related with current topic.

Recently I've bought Spotmatic camera body (SP). It looks like new and it seems to work properly - with one exception. It is about the lightmeter - I wonder if anyone can help me because I'm a little confused.

On one hand, user manual says (on page 7, step 4) that in order to turn lightmeter on, one should "push up the switch button" and "when the shutter is released, the meter switch will automatically turn off", and in step 6 it says: "be sure to turn off the meter's switch when not actually taking readings". The last statement suggests that the lightmeter can be switched off in other way than described in step 4.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1220203/Honeywell-Pentax-Spotmatic.html
On the other hand manual pusching the switch down is considered to be most frequent cause of breaking the lightmeter. I'm not sure if it is true or what exactly does it mean - I've heard it from an experienced photographer and I have no reason not to believe him.

My confusion comes from that, in my Spotmatic when shutter is released the lightmeter doesn't switch off automatically (Can it be easily fixed?). It wouldn't be a problem if I was sure that I'm allowed to switch lightmeter off manually.
I wonder what yours experience is? Can the lightmeter be switched off manually?

PS
Of course I've inserted into the camera a new battery (SR936SW) with a ring spacer and the lightmeter's nedle moves up and down (to plus and minus) properly as I change shutter speed and rotate diaphragm ring. But since I had to switch lightmeter manually I did it only once.

titrisol70 · Joined: 14 Dec 2021 Posts: 183 Location: State of Denial

titrisol70 · Joined: 14 Dec 2021 Posts: 183 Location: State of Denial

Flipping the switch up and down by hand is a common problem due to lack of lubrication in the Spotmatics (a.k.a old age)
I had to do it for years until I had the camera serviced and now it does it automatically.
It doesn't break anything to do it by hand; I think the engineers were conscious that in many cases you look at the pic, compose, meter light, and then decided to not take it.

gleitmo · Joined: 28 Dec 2022 Posts: 2

tromboads · Expire: 2015-10-01

Hey everyone Smile

Long time no see

Just a quick thanks to this thread, my Spotmatic started playing up, now she's sweet again

Legends Smile