How to Fix a Ceased/"stuck" Mirror on a Pentax ES Spotmatic

Intro: How to Fix a Ceased/"stuck" Mirror on a Pentax ES Spotmatic

This tutorial is designed to help you repair a Pentax ES Spotmatic body in which the mirror has become stuck in the "up" position. However, these instructions will also apply to most other bodies within the Spotmatic family.

If your body is afflicted with this fault, you will see nothing but absolute blackness upon looking into your viewfinder (even with the lens cap removed), yet your film transport will continue to advance as usual when cocked and fired. In this condition, the camera will still take photographs, however you will not be able to frame, focus or meter the shot you wish to take. In other words, the camera is of no constructive/creative use to you. If sounds like your camera, this tutorial is here to help you.

Contrary to what some messageboards will advise, this fault is not electronic and is not the result of a died battery or failed circuitry. This is true on more advanced Pentax bodies, but does not apply to the Spotmatic series.

Before attempting this particular repair, check the foam "bumper" that cushions the mirror during exposure. It may have become sticky with age and just needs to be cleaned. In some instances, cleaning the top of the mirror with some rubbing alcohol or brake cleaning fluid, and dabbing a teeny-tiny bit of graphite lubricant across the foam with address this. However, this particular method will only work with mirrors that become seized every so often, particularly when shooting at slower speeds. If sounds like your camera, do this first.

Also, this repair method will not help you if your mirror has become seized, meaning that it is stuck mid-swing and/or will not move if even you try to force it by hand. Thanks to Kiteman for bringing this to my attention.

STEP 1: Required Tools

Here are the tools that you will need to execute this repair.

- Jeweler's/electronics Philips screwdriver.
- Jeweler's flathead screwdriver
- Camera cleaning "jet pump", compressed air or your own lungs.
- A light oil in a container that will allow for controlled, fine dispensing. (I used brass instrument valve oil, poured into a sewing machine oil container. However, specialty oils made for camera/gun maintenance are available)
- A tray to keep the tiny screws safe while you make the repair.

Nice to have...
- A well lit workspace.

STEP 2: Step One

Remove the lens, and do whatever you do with your lenses as far as storage is concerned.

With the mirror ceased in the "up" (exposing) position, your camera will look similar to this. The only difference being, looking into the camera, the material at the back will be a matte fabric rather than a shiny material, as shown here.

STEP 3: Step Two: Remove Base Plate.

Using the Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that keep the base plate in place. If the body has never been opened, you will need some measure of force into order to remove the screws. Note the scratch beneath the tripod connection. That's some from the screwdriver slipping when I tried to remove the second screw. So yes, you will never some force the first time around. Oh yes, and do not use oil to help the screws along!

In my frustration, I have found that keeping the screws lined up in the sequence of their removal helps with replacing them during reassembly.

STEP 4: Step Two: Remove the Circuit Board

This step applies only to those Spotmatics with electronics, such as the ES and the ESII. Those of you will mechanical bodies can skip this step.

Using the Phillips screwdriver, remove the three screws that hold the circuit board in place.

Once you have done this, carefully slide the circuit board out from under the clip shown on the right and gently pull the circuit board out of the black wiring harness. Once you have done this, put the board aside and replace the connect beneath the clip.

STEP 5: Step Three: Unceasing the Mirror Return.

Upon removing the circuit board, examine the part of the mechanics shown in the photograph. Note the pin and the lever just to the left the tripod mount.

While looking at this lever and pin, cock and fire body. You will notice that, while other parts of the body will operate, these two components remain relatively stationary, expect for the fact that the lever appears to be struggling a bit. This is the culprit, right here.

Press the shutter button to ensure that the body is not cocked.

Using the flat head screwdriver, gently push the lever to the right, towards the tripod mount.

You will notice that the spring-loaded pin will descend to the bottom of the channel, towards the gears just to the left, and you will hear the mirror drop.

Continue to step four.

STEP 6: Step Four: Blow and Lube.

Once free, the mechanism will look like this.The pin will have descended and lever will move freely and return to its position when articulated with the flathead screwdriver.

Cock and fire and the shutter. Odds are the mechanism will become ceased once again, as shown in step three, and the mirror be locked in the "up" position. Repeat step three to free the mechanism.

The issue lays with the large cog just beneath the "L" lever. It has become "sticky", and is not delivering enough tension to the lever for it to complete a full operation or "stroke."

Using compressed air, a hand pump or your own lungs (as I did), direct air at this cog and the area around it, such as the channel to the right of the cog. This will free some of the dust and lithium "gunk" that is impeding the operation of this cog. While uncocked and unceased, stick the flathead screwdriver into one of the slots on the cog and gently move it along just a few millimeters (just a tad). The spring should return it back into position. This will help free the mechanism a bit. Apply air once again.

Cock and fire the body a few times. If all goes well, the mirror should function normally. However, you will find that, especially when testing it at slower shutter speeds (60x and bulb), the mechanism will become ceased after a little while. Even it is does not, you will need some lubrication, so continue to the next step.

STEP 7: Step Five: Lubrication.

Using a light oil, such as sewing machine oil, brass instrument oil or specialty camera oil, sparing apply a drop or two to the two regions tagged in the photo. Make sure to use a precise dispenser, so as not to over lubricate or spill oil where it is not required. Keep a piece of absorbent paper towel handy, just in case you need to dab some overspill off of these or other components.

DO NOT USE WD-40 or any similar lubricant! Not even a non-aerosol WD-40 "pen". The problem with these lubricants is that they contain wax, which is great for a small engine meant for outdoor use, but will eventually "gum up" the workings of your camera body.

Now, in order to work the oil into the mechanism, set the body to the fastest shutter speed (1000) and hold it upside down. Keep the flathead screwdriver within reach.

Shoot about twenty-five frames of imaginary film, freeing the mechanism should it become ceased. Now do the same at the slowest speed (60x), freeing the mechanism if it becomes ceased. If all goes well, you should be able to shoot two "rolls" without the mirror return ceasing up.

Footnote:'' Some suggest applying a small amount of automotive brake cleaning fluid to the cog using a similar method before apply the lube. This is meant to clean the old lithium grease and dust that is seizing the cog mechanism. Theoretically, this makes perfect sense and would aid in the repair. However I didn't do this, so I cannot confirm its efficacy .

STEP 8: Step Six: Reassemble the Body.

Once you are satisfied with the operation of the body, reassemble it!

Rejoice! You're Spotmatic is now ready to take photos once again!

This is hardly a replacement for the standard CLA (Clean-lube-align) provided by most repair shops, however this method will get you back up and running for a lot less.

Comments

[aesede]

Great tutorial! I fixed my Pentax Asashi SP1000. The steps are the same, except that this model doesn't have any circuit board.

[DonaldD6]

Thanks fixed four Pentax m42 ES ll cameras that had that problem. Very common problem these days, Don

[DavidH26]

Excellent tutorial! This was a huge help as I fixed an ESII tonight and an Electro Spotmatic last week.

[michaelmilsteadtaylor]

Ok good, so the stuck mirror doesn't affect the photo. That's what I was wondering. Mine sticks on my Nikon FM10 after I take a picture, but it becomes unstuck if I lightly hit the side of the camera or if I remove the lens. I'm thinking the plastic seal at the base of the lens has become swollen over time and won't let the mirror go back down without this little bump.

[Dave-H]

I was going to just open it up and try to figure it out. You saved me a lot of time.

Thanks Dave

[don.henderson1]

Thanks! Your tutorial was awesome! I was able to fix my Spotmatic SPIIa! :-)

[dudeismbowling222]

Thank you, good sir, for posting this great tutorial! Within an hour of getting my Pentax SE I was able to fix the jammed mirror! Thank you!

[mbradley13]

Fantastic! Thanks for posting this tutorial! I just repaired an old K100 following these steps. Thank you! Simple & easy to follow steps.

[alansim]

Great tutorial, thanks. I just freed up an old K1000 that I bought from a fair, the mirror got stuck up the top when (mostly but not always) slow shutter speeds were used.
I took the baseplate off and used some Ronsonol (lighter fluid) on the gear and pivot. It freed it up and with finishing up with a spot of 3 in 1 oil, seems to be working perfectly, just wish my ME Super was as easy to fix....

[crrimson]

This looks like just what I need, I'll have to give this repair a try to fix my spotmatic 2. Very clear and well documented instructable.

Thank you!

[jessew32]

Thanks alot for this instructable. I just fixed a spotmatic 2 that I bought at goodwill for $8.

[Trans_Am]

When you say "ceased", do you mean "seized"? Maybe you don't, but I've never heard of ceased being used like that. Very detailed instructable though. 4.5

[cameraninja]

Yeah, Kiteman brought that to my attention and I've made a note in step one. I used "ceased" (as in stopped) instead of "seized" (as in stuck or caught) because the mirror itself isn't seized. In some instances, the mirror can become seized, becoming caught mid-swing or refusing to move even by force. That's another problem altogether, and I don't know how to fix that. In this case, the mirror return moves freely, but it's ceased (at rest) where it needs to be, just out of sequence. However, this is cause by another component being seized.

[gonz700]

I have a Pentaz ZX m with the same problem...replaced batteries but still not working. Is the process the same or different?

[thearchitect]

Excellent instructable! My SP II had the same problem and I 'wrongly' put grease on the escape end of L lever. My camera would get stuck once in a while. Tonight I followed your instructables and my camera won't stick anymore!.. Once I heard that most of the stuck Pentax Spotmatics on ebay have the same problem. So fellas, if you need an M42 mount SLR, helluva bargains out there! :-) Thanks mate! K.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Nice. I'm getting a free camera monday with a stuck shutter.