Leica M6 light meter - Only working from 1/125 to 1/500

[Mattoken]

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Hello guys,

I just bought my first Leica M6 few days ago (and certainly not the last one).

 I have an issue with the light meter, the measure is only working for the following shutter speed, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500. As soon as I'm turning the wheel over 1/125 or under 1/500 it's going OFF. Also it's detecting when the lens caps is on for the "working" shutter speed, I thought that it was only for the TTL version.

Do you have any idea of what is happening ? And if it can be fixed.

Thanks.

[Pyrogallol]

My Leica repair man suggests turning the ISO dial on the back of the camera round from one end to the other a few times to clean up the contacts.

[Mattoken]

I tried during few minutes without improvement. And I have the same behaviour for any ISO selected on the wheel so I supposed that it's located around the shutter wheel circuit.

[250swb]

I don't know what the problem could be but make sure you've done the basics, so make sure the batteries are the correct type and clean the contacts between the rear door and body. And I'm sure you have read the manual but the meter is OFF when the shutter is un-cocked and only ON when the shutter is cocked.

Edited October 5, 2021 by 250swb

[Mattoken]

So first thank you guys for giving me some ideas to troubleshoot this bad boy.

The batteries are 2 LR44, the contact for the batteries is really clean. Same for the one at the back of the camera.

Indeed I red for the use of the meter and this is where I found that normally the range of measure is for all the shutter speed with of course a minimum of light. But even I have the cap detection on the lens so it should lit for any shutter speed selected if the cap is on which is not the case.

[Mattoken]

Does anybody know where I can find the schematics and circuit diagram ?

Edited October 5, 2021 by Mattoken

[TomB_tx]

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The shutter speed dial setting also changes resistance in the meter circuit. On the M6 I don't know if this is a variable resistor, or switching to discrete resistors, but it sounds like the contacts may be dirty with dried lubricant. You might try repeatedly rotating the shutter speed dial over its full range to see if it cleans the contacts.

I've had my M6 since 1985, and the only meter problem was due to battery leakage (long storage) that messed up the meter circuit board, which had to be replaced. The new circuit board caused some differences in the way the LEDs worked at very low light levels, so there were meter changes over the life of M6 production.

[Mattoken]

I tried your suggestion during 5 minutes straight with no improvement. 😥

The one I have is from 1993 from the serial number.

 

[Mute-on]

Use silver oxide batteries SR44. Alkaline batteries, LR44, lose voltage as they age, which may cause odd meter behaviour. If you haven’t already, get two sets of new, branded SR44 batteries and try both. 

[BradS]

first thing with the M6 meter is always try a new, fresh, Duracell or Energizer lithium or silver oxide battery.

[Bangrossi]

If you have multi meter, you can measure the battery voltage. My m6 ttl light meter not working really well if one of LR44 battery drop below 1.35v. Sometimes it is on, sometimes off, sometimes flashing rapidly, sometimes blinking slowly like when you forget to put lens cap off. If it measured 1.3v, then you should throw away the battery because it is not enough juice to turn on the light meter.

New set of healthy LR44 battey should measure more than 1.5v. If you use new CR1/3N, it should measure more than 3v.

One thing that I noted, the battery will drain faster if I store M6 on fully cocked position. To preserve battery's juice, don't forget to turn shutter speed dial to OFF position wether it is on cocked or uncocked position.

[Mattoken]

Hello guys !

So I checked the batteries and they were low 1.2V each so as suggested I changed them by fresh SR44 type, that I also checked, 1.59V each.

I can see a little difference on the measure but still the others shutter speeds are not working.

And everytime I'm putting the shutter speed on Bulb to stop the light meter.

[Danner]

It looks like the camera needs a CLA.  Or, use an external light meter.  Even though the M6 meter works well, I use a Gossen incident meter 95% of the time.  YMMV.

[Mattoken]

Yeah that's what I think also unfortunately. I'm currently in Taipei, does anybody know a good repair shop for Leica there ?