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M7 Repair Cost by Leica? film advance jammed


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Hi folks, one of my beloved M7s has developed a jammed film advance. Ahead of this, it exhibited the top plate being loose and rewind crank periodically binding.  I'm not forcing the advance after trying all the basics, battery change, film eject after a successful rewind and a quick inspection that shows the shutter is not fully cocked.  It is out of warranty; it was purchased from Popflash.

 

Knowing it will be approximately 2-3 months to even get this through Leica NJ and then onto Germany, I've got a couple of questions:

 

1 Knowing this problem has appeared before in a number of posts, and even my other M7 (only 3 years old) developed a top plate loosening, that Leica repaired under warranty, do you think some of this repair cost might be waived?

 

2 I've tried contacting a couple of famous repair experts in the US mentioned here, with no return email.  With that lack of communication, I'll feel better sending it to Leica, but I am sure it will be more costly, unless Leica repair is sympathetic to it being a problem with some M7s.  Should I just stop trying local repair "experts" and just send to Leica?  I am well aware of the M7's more complex construction under the top plate with its flexible circuit assemblies; what do you think?

 

Many thanks in advance!

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Go to the Leica website and in the service and support section and fill out the form.  Customer service will get back to you with an estimate.  Depending on the age of your M7 there may be an upgrade to the shutter seals which can be done at the same time.  It is more expensive and takes a bit longer but many of the independent repair shops are hesitant to work on the M7 due to the electronics.  

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Go to the Leica website and in the service and support section and fill out the form.  Customer service will get back to you with an estimate.  Depending on the age of your M7 there may be an upgrade to the shutter seals which can be done at the same time.  It is more expensive and takes a bit longer but many of the independent repair shops are hesitant to work on the M7 due to the electronics.  

 

Great advice; many thanks - will check out that form again.

 

My guess would be around $360, but I know for sure they won't pull your leg with unnecessary repairs

 

That would be great; I'm hoping!  Thanks for your reply.

 

I just had a CLA by Leica on my MP. The cost was $427.50. I definitely recommend you go through Leica. Sherry Krauter will take just as long. You may save a few bucks but I am not at all confident that you will get as good a job as you will be sending it to Leica. 

 

Yes, absolutely; it's interesting how these repairs vary.  I would think the MP would have been less costly as less electronics, but it's anyone's guess, will keep you posted!

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I just had a CLA by Leica on my MP. The cost was $427.50. I definitely recommend you go through Leica. Sherry Krauter will take just as long. You may save a few bucks but I am not at all confident that you will get as good a job as you will be sending it to Leica. 

Yes, absolutely; it's interesting how these repairs vary.  I would think the MP would have been less costly as less electronics, but it's anyone's guess, will keep you posted!

 

 

$427 doesn't sound too bad compared with what Leica UK told me Wetzlar now charge for working on the M7. I recently had the Dx reader upgraded to the optical version and was warned that Wetzlar might want to charge around €600 to carry out a general CLA as part of the upgrade. I was told that it was pretty much their standard charge. Fortunately, I wasn't charged anything at all in the end.

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How is it possible to contact Leica directly for repair, without going through the Leica dealer (importer) in your country?

 

 

This page will be a good starting point for contacting Wetzlar. This page has downloadable forms.

Edited by wattsy
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  • 3 weeks later...

In case anyone is interested how the repairs are going these days, I'll update this thread on the repair progress of my M7.  Hopefully it gives you an idea of a typical repair Timeline:

 

3/20/2017 Email to Leica:

 

 

Hello folks, my other M7 S/N 332xxxx purchased from Popflash Photo has developed the following issues:

 
1. Top plate loose (my other M7 had the same issue which you repaired under warranty - thank you)
2. Film advance lever jammed
 
Should I just send it insured to your address?
 
Leica Camera Inc.
Allendale, New Jersey 07401
 
Thank you!
 
Best regards,
Steve Surfaro

 

 

3/21/2017 Email from Leica:

 

 

Good Morning,

 

Yes, please send the camera to our address.

 

I have taken the liberty of including a Service and Repair Form that you can fill out and send with the camera.

 

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

With Kind Regards,

 

R----------------

Customer Care Administrative Manager

Customer Care Department 

Leica Camera Inc.

 

3/22/2017 Delivery by FedEx to Leica USA

 

 

Shipment Facts

Our records indicate that the following package has been delivered.
Tracking number: 77870530XXXX
Status: Delivered: 03/22/2017 09:36 AM Signed for By: E-------
Reference: 3328964
Signed for by: E--------
Delivery location: ALLENDALE, NJ
Delivered to: Shipping/Receiving
Service type: FedEx Priority Overnight
Packaging type: FedEx Box

 

3/24/2017 Email confirmation of receipt from Leica

 

 

S-----
cleardot.gifMar 24 (2 days ago)
cleardot.gif
 
cleardot.gif
cleardot.gif
to me
cleardot.gif
Good day to you!

Thank you for sending your product to Leica Customer Care.

Please refer to attached confirmation of receipt for your reference.

We will inform you about the test results as soon as possible.

Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
us.

Thank you and have a great day.

Best Regards
Customer Care
Leica Camera INC.

Contact:
Phone: (+1) 800-222-0118
Fax no.: (201)
E-Mail: estimatesXXXX
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  • 2 weeks later...

Update: Email received today with estimate dated 3/24/2017:

 

Necessary labours...350

DURING REPAIRS WE FIND MORE DAMAGE A REVISED ESTIMATE WILL FOLLOW. shutter jams
adjust shutter times
adjust range finder

adjust exposure meter
clean viewfinder optic as far as possible clean, lubrication and adjustment

Release button M7 $30

Leather covering M7 $50

Subtotal Tax Total

350.00

30.00

50.00

____________

430.00

 

Total including shipping $465

 

Sandra is extremely courteous!

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  • 2 months later...

 

Update: Email received today with estimate dated 3/24/2017:

 

Necessary labours...350

DURING REPAIRS WE FIND MORE DAMAGE A REVISED ESTIMATE WILL FOLLOW. shutter jams

adjust shutter times

adjust range finder

adjust exposure meter

clean viewfinder optic as far as possible clean, lubrication and adjustment

Release button M7 $30

Leather covering M7 $50

Subtotal Tax Total

350.00

30.00

50.00

____________

430.00

 

Total including shipping $465

 

Sandra is extremely courteous!

 

 

 

Here's an update:

 

6/11/17 - Leica advises that my service was approved on 4/5/2017 and takes about 12 weeks for turnaround, so I'm thinking that I'll expect to receive it around July?

 

If you take a look at the time of receipt via FedEx to sending an estimate back to me, that added about another two weeks.

 

Let me say I found the folks at Leica extremely courteous and helpful.

 

I do not believe however, that the M7, with its convenient Aperture priority auto and electronic shutter is worth the bother of being out a camera about four months, assuming that my repair does not get extended further by vacations.

 

And that my friends is why I am switching over to use my MP as primary film camera and resurrected my F3/T for my second body.  In any case, for those of you with M7s, I hope you never have to run into these repairs and happy shooting, and for those of you that have MPs, I get it now :)

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Hi Steve,

Any word on what actually caused the shutter jam?

I have the same issue with a 'new, old stock' M6TTL after a second roll of film.

I'm waiting on a quote from a local repairer who used to work for Leica, but recommended by members of this forum. 

Edited by Pjay
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Hi Steve,

Any word on what actually caused the shutter jam?

I have the same issue with a 'new, old stock' M6TTL after a second roll of film.

I'm waiting on a quote from a local repairer who used to work for Leica, but recommended by members of this forum. 

 

Hi Pjay, after digging into this after my first M7 getting repaired under warranty, I found a few threads relating the top plate becoming loose to the angled rewind crank assembly and also exacerbated by the use of soft shutter releases.  Now keep in mind I only occasionally used a soft shutter release and when I heard of it causing damage to M7s, I stopped using them immediately.

 

It appears that under heavy use, on some units, the top plate loosens, putting stress on the rewind crank shims, washers or whatever they use to manage that articulated angle crank, then ultimately jams the transport.  With most of the electronics right on top, under the top plate, it seems prudent to just turn it over to Leica, albeit for four months.

 

Another symptom is the M7 film advance becoming more difficult to crank, that sometimes temporarily eases if you reverse the crank a bit.

 

So here are a few links to study:

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/159230-film-advance-problem-with-m7-ideas/

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20070202073329/http://www.asc.upenn.edu:80/usr/cassidy/leicaslacker/rewind.html

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/217863-m7-shutter-release-damage-by-pressure/?p=2480255

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/157843-leica-m7-shutter-jam/

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/90119-leica-m7-shutter-problem/

 

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-150757.html

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/201672-film-stops-advancing-in-m7/

 

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/leica-m6-advance-stuck.288994/

 

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/leica-m6-rewind-knob-issue.414761/

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks Steve for all the links - it certainly is a well documented problem.  Amazing to see the range of repair costs, from $70 to 800 euros!!!

Got a call today with a quote of AU$396 with no details of the actual fault or parts/labour needed to rectify.  Really have no choice but to proceed, as postage costs to repairers elsewhere are prohibitive.

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To get detailed quote you need to send the camera to Leica for assessment. This costs around 40 Euros, even if you don't go ahead with a repair. Then you'll get a detailed listing of what to do.

 

I recently had my M6 classic (1990) serviced. The first time ever for this camera. The Film advance was getting stiffer and stiffer. To give you an idea of the cost: CLA + MP Finder upgrade and a new light meter diode. Couple of bucks short of about 900 euros + VAT. July 2017.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi folks, to conclude my original post, I just received the M7 back from repair, so the total turnaround dates "door to door" turned out to be 3/21/2017 ~ 7/14/2017, or about three and a half months.  The return packaging was simpler than others have described, with the camera wrapped in a plastic bag, a Leica Sticker, bubble wrap and a repair report.  No big deal, but I heard they used to include a little Leica repair logo tag and clean up some of the surface scratches.  No worries on that either as I'm glad to have it back, even though I'll be basically storing it after running a roll of film through it and then back to MP and F3/T for film; M9 and MM for digital :)

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  • 9 months later...

Hi Steve,

Any word on what actually caused the shutter jam?

I have the same issue with a 'new, old stock' M6TTL after a second roll of film.

I'm waiting on a quote from a local repairer who used to work for Leica, but recommended by members of this forum.

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Hello All

My first post.

I have just acquired a iiig and collapsable Summicron. It seems in very nice condition but I would like to get full CLA before I start using it.

Who would you advise for doing this service ? I live on Central Coast NSW Australia.

Many thanks for any suggestions, I can't seem to find much on google.

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Hello All

My first post.

I have just acquired a iiig and collapsable Summicron. It seems in very nice condition but I would like to get full CLA before I start using it.

Who would you advise for doing this service ? I live on Central Coast NSW Australia.

Many thanks for any suggestions, I can't seem to find much on google.

Hi NikkiE & welcome to the board

 

I'm also from Australia (Brisbane)

 

Just out of interest, did you pick up the camera/lens on Gumtree recently for a ridiculously low price

 

You'll probably best to look for someone in Sydney, not sure of who as I use people in Brisbane. Maybe others on the board who live in Sydney could be of further help.

 

It may be better if you moved this enquiry to the REPAIR SPECIALISTS (pinned) in the LEICA COLLECTORS & HISTORICA SECTION

Edited by romualdo
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