Leica MP shutter not firing.

[Jodad]

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Leica film MP shutter not firing 

A strange thing has started to happen. Out of the blue the shutter button just doesn’t fire and very occasionally fires randomly after pressing it 20 30 times. It just feels soft the same way it feels when the film hasn’t been advanced to the next frame and you’ve already taken a photo.
 

When I take the film out and the lens off so I can see the shutter curtain, the camera seems to wind fine and shoot. Once I put the film in and wind on as normal the problem starts. Film loading normal. Nothing looks amiss there.
 

The camera hasn’t suffered any knocks or anything unusual. I use it almost daily and until yesterday, this never happened. Any ideas?

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[Sandokan]

So without a film and lens, the shutter fires each and every time? With a film loaded shutter does not fire at all

What about with a lens on? 

What do all the shutter speeds sound like? Accurate when slow? 

Put in a different dummy film (already exposed), without a lens, and with door open, is the film winding on and shutter firing? Go for about 4 shots. 

Close the door and does it fire and wind on? 

Is the film touching the shutter curtains when door is closed? 

What about with the film that was causing the problems? 

[hansvons]

Obviously, something mechanically doesn't work somewhere between shutter and film advance. A CLA will likely solve the problem. If your M were mine, I'd send it to a repair person asking for a full CLA. I won't send it to Leica; that takes too long. 

Perhaps someone with deeper knowledge can shed some light on the issue. However, the camera must be opened and the screws unscrewed. I don't know our repair skills, but mine are fairly limited, and thus, I don't tinker with my cameras.

[Mute-on]

Contact Cameraworks-uk, or another known to be competent Leica technician. The shutter release mechanism can be adjusted for take up point. It sounds like yours has come adrift. Regardless, a CLA to restore proper functioning would be worthwhile. 

[250swb]

The only mechanical thing I can think of that changes when you take the baseplate off is the little tab that springs down on the right hand side front near the film take-up chamber (looking from the rear). You can press it and feel the resistance of the spring, and normally this resets the film counter and then reengages it when you put the baseplate back on. I don't know if that is also connected in some way to the film advance mechanism, but if that little tab isn't springing down as it should perhaps the camera 'drive' is stuck in neutral? Just a vague theory. And the other thing is to check is if the 'R' lever is resetting each time you load a film, try setting it back manually before loading and advancing a film and see if it changes things..

[lincoln_m]

On another thread (digital m?) I think some users were having trouble with the shutter not firing too. The reason there was that nut under the shutter button had come loose , Lifted up a little , so it didn’t fire when pushed. The glue/nut lock had come unstuck. Maybe try and see if you can turn/tighten the nut/collar under the shutter button and wind on lever? Use something softer than metal like rubber, plastic, wood, card to touch/grip the collar. Don’t use metal pliers directly as they will scratch the collar and top plate.