Canon Demi EE17 stuck

[pinkarmy]

i got a Demi EE17 that looks like a piece of junk.

i want to take a look into it myself (in a step-by-step way) as a practice, so i need some advices.

the first thing i want to solve is:
the camera is stuck at the rewind position--the rewind button is pushed in and the winding crane is frozen.

anyone could help?
thanks in advance.

[monopix]

Remove the base plate. The reason for the button being stuck in should become apparent.

The winding crank may be stuck because the wind lock is on and the problem is the shutter isn't firing which would then release the wind lock. IIRC, the wind lock is under the base plate so you could check that as well.

[pinkarmy]

thanks for the hint!

i have open the front of the camera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54130523@N08/
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it's dirty and rusty...
added a few drops of ronsonal and alcohol, hope to loosen those brass wheels--what's that for? i imagine it is the film-advancing movement

where should i go further?

any more clues?

[monopix]

Looks like it's had water in it and the mechanism is rusted up. I think this would need a complete dismantling to save it.

What I can see from your pictures is that the shutter is cocked and that's why the film wind-on is locked. I can also see that the shutter release rod is pressed down. Not quite all the way but it is down to the point where it should begin to trip the shutter. The normal operation is that the aperture starts at its smallest size. As the shutter release is pressed the aperture opens out to whatever aperture is required, then the shutter is released.

Does the shutter release button move at all? If it does you may be able to see the aperture opening by looking in the back of the lens while pressing the button. The button just needs to go in further to trip the shutter. If the release button isn't moving at all then that's your problem and you need to free it. I think you'll have to remove the lens assembly to do it though. I'll see if I can find some pictures that might help.

The brass gears are the self timer and won't effect the anything as long as you don't try and set it.

Edit: Found a few of pictures that might help.


Look at the position of the shutter release rod compared to yours and also the horizontal rod that crosses it. The horizontal one cocks the shutter.

To remove the lens assembly you need to first remove the rangefinder and the meter. These are the three screws that release the meter assembly.


I don't have a picture showing the four screws that hold the lens plate in place but here's the bare chassis with the positions marked. To get at the one at the top right you may have to remove the rangefinder coupling lever first.


Second edit:
Before spending any more time on this, you might want to check out the meter first. With a battery installed you should be able to get the meter to move. Dead meter cells or disintegrated ISO potentiometer tracks are a poroblem with these and (I know from experience) it's frustrating to fix all the mechanical problems only to then find the meter's dead.

[pinkarmy]

Woooow...@_@
thanks for the tips (and the great pic) monopix
seems to me a very long battle--i am a camera mechanic idiot--but should be a lot of fun, and with a piece of junk like this i have no pressure to dismantle it...nothing to lose i guess

and the meter is absolutly NOT responding.

will digest your info a bit and post again later

[pinkarmy]

opened the top...super ugly...i'm completely lost...
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[monopix]

Remove the meter (you'll need to desolder the wires). But take careful note of where the linkages go so you can refit it later. You won't be able to go any further without the meter out of the way.

[pinkarmy]

meter removed...">">

[monopix]

That's certainly ugly.

I'd remove the lens plate with the lens and shutter assembly but looking at the state of it you'll probably have to strip the shutter as well.

Remove the four screws I previously indicated. The 'rangefinder coupling lever' I previously referred to isn't, of course, that at all as the camera doesn't have a rangefinder. It's just a focus indicator. It's the brass coloured lever at the side of the lens with the needle attached to the top of it. I found it easier to remove it to get at the screw underneath. I think the other three should be accessible.

[pinkarmy]

Originally Posted by monopix

That's certainly ugly.

....it smells creepy too...

[pinkarmy]

the four screws removed!!
but it is still linked by that horizontal shutter cocker...">">

[monopix]

I'm not at home so can't check but I think there's a clip (e clip) holding the lever to the shutter cocking mechanism. It should come off easily. I'll check later.

Edit: Yes, definitely an e clip.

[pinkarmy]

lens off!!! ;D (have to check what an e-clip means )
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[monopix]

Here's an e-clip...

http://pinballmagic.com/index.php?ma...products_id=74

But looking at yours I'm not sure it has exactly the same sort of attachment to mine.

In its present state, it should be possible to cock and fire the shutter. I suspect it won't work so you'll have to figure out what is gummed up and stopping it from working.

[pinkarmy]

thanks i have managed to solve the e clip mystery and take the lens off,
have to play around to see what's wrong with the shutter...
will report again later

[pinkarmy]

bought this thing...">

[pinkarmy]

i am stupid, i forgot to mention the most obvious factor...
the self-timer seems to be stuck when i received the camera...
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[monopix]

I did look at the ST position in your first pics and it didn't look cocked so ignored it. If it was cocked then the shutter wouldn't release until the ST has run down.

The ST mechanism is obviously gummed up from whatever got into the camera but I don't think it's your main priority.

[pinkarmy]

thanks...
i guess i should open the lens next?
because the aperture did not open or close (i can see it is open at the smallest) when i play with the aperture ring...

[pinkarmy]

just uploaded a video showing the shutter release action (if you call this "action"...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJphjd4gqPQ
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