I have an MX that one of the list members gave me for parts because "the shutter is worn beyond repair" I was going to use the mirror assembly on my other one, but checked it out first. Visually it shows no sign of excessive wear. Checking the speeds shows that the first snap is slow and subsequent snaps at each speed are all within tolerance. The usually indicates dried out lubricants. The speeds from 1/125 and up are about 1/3 stop slow. That is a slit width adjustment which is simple to do, but not to be bothered with until I tear it down, clean out the old lube, relube, and reassemble it (full CLA) which I do not have the energy to do right now.
But on this one, and I suspect on yours, the tech who claimed it was worn out was just trying to get out of a job he probably knows nothing about (the camera is probably older than he and he only knows the newer electronic stuff, which by the way you do a shutter assembly replacement for instead of working on it (applies to all post MX Pentax Cameras except maybe the LX). The MX shutter is very like a Leica shutter and any competent mechanical camera tech should be able to repair it even if it was worn out. Whether it is worth the cost to you is another matter.
So, before you toss it I would suggest you find someone who specializes in working on older mechanical gear for a second opinion.
graywolf http://www.graywolfphoto.com "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" -----------------------------------
Peter J. Alling wrote:
Well, today I got very bad news, one of my black MXen has been declared un-repairable. After it's second trip
to the repairman for related problems the shutter can no longer be adjusted. I bought it used about 4 years ago and
it spent a fare amount of it's life with me being kicked around on various trips and I guess it was just too much for it
to take. I've heard that the meters were the weak link so the shutter going was somewhat unexpected but I guess all
things must end.
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