Olympus OM10 sticky shutter repair

Olympus OM series are awesome, these are tiny cameras. They are versatile, come with a large and bright viewfinder, and OM lenses are very compact with awesome optical and build quality.

Olympus OM10 is one of the lower spec OM bodies, which can be obtained second hand fairly easily. A common failure is the sticky shutter situation, where the exposure time is significantly longer at first use after a long unused period. For instance, LED indicator shows 1/1000, but the first exposure is something like 1/30 or 1/15, pretty long. In most cases, the subsequent exposures are spot on.

The reason is that oil migrates onto the shutter magnets which causes them to stick open. This is fairly easy to fix, you just need to clean the shutter magnet assembly using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.

For this instructable you just need:
- Flat tip screwdriver
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Cotton swabs
- Masking tape (or any other weak sticky tape)

Step 1 Tape the mirror to the top position

I used a weak masking tape. This is to open work space and protect the fragile mirror surface. Things are much harder to deal with with the mirror down.

Comments

[jimdigriz]

This worked a treat. Simple clear concise. Saved me throwing a perfectly usable camera away. Thanks!!!!

[akaarina]

Well done! Nice job !!
Me too I have an OM10. It's like new and everything go smooth.
The only problem is that when i use B setting (bulb), the shutter will not close after i release the button and remains open.
It will close only after I rewind again so loosing a pose.

Do Y have any idea of what appens to my OM 10 ??

Thank Y for the answer.

[fotocianado]

 good stuff!!!!  found a "broken" OM10 in my local camera store's bargain bin for $5 and bingo this fixed it :)

[enriquo91]

Hey mate, Do you think this solution would work the om40? I've been looking for a solution forever!

[rewilliams]

Almost correct, but you would be better soaking in alcohol a small (strong) piece of paper cut 3mm high, putting it between the magnet faces. push the moving arm of the magnet together and then draw the paper out. This will clean both faces. Do it a couple of times clean paper each time. If the paper breaks its too thin.