Had to pick between a full shutter replacement or trying to fix a bent curtain myself

This old Nikon FM2 came in with a shutter that was dragging on one side, and the owner didn't want to pay for a full new curtain assembly (which would have been about $120 for the part alone). I had the choice to either order the whole unit and wait a week, or try to very carefully bend the metal curtain rail back into shape with my micro pliers. I went for the bend, which felt risky, but I used a jeweler's loupe and worked in tiny, tiny increments over about an hour. It actually worked, and the shutter fires at all speeds now. The key was patience and not trying to fix it all in one go. Has anyone else had luck with a repair like this on a focal plane shutter, or is it usually a lost cause?

3 comments

3 Comments

derek65627d ago

My old Pentax K1000 had a bent shutter blade that caused a weird shadow. I spent maybe two hours with a pair of tweezers and a bright desk lamp, just nudging it back a hair at a time. It felt like I was going to snap it, but that slow pressure finally got it to sit flat again. The camera worked for another five years after that. Sometimes the risky fix is the only one that makes sense.

lane.cameron27d ago

That "nudging it back a hair at a time" part is wild, @derek656. I've tried similar stuff on old gear and that feeling of being one wrong move from total disaster is so real. What made you go for the tweezers instead of just calling it a loss? Like, was there a specific shot you needed the camera for, or was it more about the challenge of saving it?

noah99926d ago

The patience for that kind of repair is just insane.