M5 Light Meter Advice

[Ste_S]

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I recently bought a M5 in good condition and everything seems to work ok. Apart from the light meter, which is intermittent. 

When it works, it's accurate, however it can be sluggish to start working, especially after removing the lens cap. I've found turning the ISO dial immediately wakes the meter up.

Is the mechanism just a bit sticky from lack of use, and that will resolve over time with use? Or do I need to be more concerned?

[mann61]

Give the finest Leica known to humanity a work out. I have two, one that has been doctored to take a modern battery and one that takes the old mercury battery. Both work fine. If they gave up the ghost I would use sunny 16 or a meter.

[Pyrogallol]

Sounds like the meter on my 1970’s CL. When it works it is accurate, other times it does not switch on. I guess it is a poor connection on the on-off switch which is the wind-on lever.

[TomB_tx]

Both my old CL and M5 had behaved similarly. After a service (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) by Don Goodman (DAG Camera Repair) both are back to working properly. I'm sure it is dirt (dust & dried lubricant) or corrosion on some of the meter contacts, especially if the ASA adjustment dial (variable resistor) affects the operation.

My M5 had other minor issues when I got it - but after Don's work it is like new. Don can also adjust to use 1.5 V batteries. I kept mine original and use a voltage-reducing adapter to use 1.5V batteries, but if I had it done again I'd have the circuit adjusted instead. However, even 1.5 V batteries in the required "PX625" size are disappearing.

[jerzy]

Am 22.7.2020 um 21:46 schrieb TomB_tx:

....but if I had it done again I'd have the circuit adjusted instead. However, even 1.5 V batteries in the required "PX625" size are disappearing.

when I am rebuilding CL, Leicameter MR or M5 I prefer to modify the circuit directly and use battery mechanical adapter (no voltage reducing). This gives more flkexibility which batteries to use, either cheaper alkalin LR44 or more expensive but better SR44. PX625 size batteries which I found were alkaline only at the price of SR44

For intermittent CL problem - I found that these are rather contacts from battery test switch which cause a problem, less power on switch on wind lever. In case of CL it is a nightmare to get to the plate with the switch, you have to take apart 1/3 of camera approximately. On M5 it is solved much better, much easier to remove the plate