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I had not used camera in a couple years. I pressed shutter release and tried to advance the film winder. The winder has stopped and winder advance handle is now loose. Mirror is stuck in up position. I can lowever mirrow by pushing on the tab inside, but it just returns to up posiotn when I release the tab.
I have replaced the batteries and left the camera with the lens cap off (which hd worked in the past when Ihad similar problem), but it still does not release.
Any suggestions?
Does the film advance lever lock in place when the lever is returned ? if not, the lock spring broke. This is a common weak point in the ME Super. the camera must be partially disassembled to be repaired. get a cost estimate first. there are no new parts for this model Pentax.
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Did you actually mean shutter release or shutter advance? And to load the film,you need to pull the roll winder upwards. While you pull the winder upwards, it would have a tuck voice and then the back cover would open up. Make sure you have wound the entire roll before you open the back.
Pentax ME Super was one of my favorite camera, small and clean shutter release. But it has been about 25 years since it was manufactured. They happen to use rubber break within shutter unit and as any rubbers, it started to deteriorate and melt between the shutter-blades. This prevents the complete cycle of the shutter and jams the winding. You may be able to unjam the winding but eventually you have to overhaul the shutter unit. Overhaul charge is around $100 in US repair market. -James
Have you tried taking a picture on either the 125X or B mode?
If you are able to take a picture on the 125X or B mode, then it probably isn't the mechanical part of the camera, but the electronics. If so, try putting some fresh batteries in the camera.
If neither if these work, then the camera might be past its prime.
The "magic needles" while making the camera easy to load are about as intuitive as a dead skunk, I had a similar confusion when I got an ME Super. Put the film can in the left side of the camera back (the side with the little thing sticking out is the bottom, it looks upside down this way, but that is correct). Next push the film winder down, this will semi-lock the can into place. Now pull the film-lead across the camera and push it down between some of the white "magic needles on the opposite spool(push it in a bit so that it will stay). Next advance the lever; release the shutter. If the spool starts to turn you are doing it right. Now close the door and continue advancing and clicking until the little frame number window on top reads 1.
Press the rewind button and wind the film advance lever, It will set to its place. Release the rewind button, press the shutter release button.Once again try wind the film.( provided your camera is not fitted with motor wind )
Pressing the rewind button wind the film advance lever,if it is free It will set to
its place. Release the rewind button, press the shutter release
button.Once again try wind the film.( provided your camera is not
fitted with motor wind ) Then your winding gears need cleaning
This has happened with my pentax super program. All that was wrong is the the spool/winder was dirty. It needed to be cleaned. You open up the back of the camera. Stick something such as a small screw driver, just something to stop the film winder from turning. Now turn the top of the winder off while keeping the bottom part in place. Be very careful not to close the back of the camera while you do this. Once you have it out give it a clean with a soft cloth and then put it back in. I found it tricky to align it and get it back through the whole. But, that's me. After that it worked perfectly. Until the next time in a year or so it needed to be cleaned again. Hope this helps.
Set your camera to B and release the shutter ( camera will work in this mode without batteries ) if you can wind ok and release shutter fine then all you need is new batteries.
If however your camera is not working when set to B then it is either the shutter or the transport mechanism that need looking at.
From experience ( have repaired 100s of Me-supers ) it is likely that your shutter needs attention : rubber components ( and foam rubber ) inside the shutter ( and the mirror box locking mechanism especially ) have perished and need replacing.
Your camera is cocked but since the shutter is not working you cannot release it and hence your film advance mechanism does not work.
ME-super will work without batteries in full manual mode so set your shutter to B and try to release it.
If the shutter will not release in B mode then the shutter/mirror box will need servicing : rubber components in the mirror box mechanism have perished and need replacing. After that your camera will be fine for another couple of years.
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