Fix Old Cameras: Pentax ME-Super Winding Issues 

Excellent. Thank you very much. It took a while of looking to finally whihc component the latch was. I still couldn't see exactly what to move, so gave a good but not excessive quirt of light oil and then gingerly moved the only tab I could see with a very thin bladed screwdriver. Perfect repair.

I had the issue where my winder was not cocking the shutter, and shortly after this and winding the shutter and trying to fire it a few times, the shutter started to work more and more until it worked perfectly! And this is an ancient ME Super I found in a bric-a-brac shop for £5!! Thanks a ton!

Please, do not stop making these videos. I cannot survive without people like you.

I had one in working condition about to be used. Loaded up a film but after a day or so I found out it wasn’t properly installed as that rewind dial wouldn’t spin when advancing. So messing around I must’ve done something wrong as now the shutter is cocked but can’t be fired anymore and the forwarding lever has no tension at all. Hopefully this video will be a fix to my issue. I just need to find the proper screw drivers first…

Excellent video. worked like charm. My stuck ME Super was fixed. However it was not easy to find the latch. And also putting back the levers in order the winding mechanism to work properly was a major pita. Anyhow Thanks a million you saved my camera.

I picked up this (second) ME Super cheap because the mirror was stuck and ot wouldn't crank, but the button wouldn't depress. Oddly, it seems the mirror flipped down by itself some time after installing newer batteries. I've verified this several times *shrug*. Anyway, after having the bottom off and the bits out and reassembled, I'm right nack to where I was before taking the bottom off. The crank lifts the rear shutter but doesn't engage whatever needs to be engaged for button to do anything. Then suddenly it will do something, take a shot and the mirror sticks up. It'll sit like this for some time (days) until I come back to it and put batteries in. I might come back to it an hour or later and the mirror has flipped down. You're right about being difficult to see. But I think I understand better now when this lever is.

Thank you, I menaged to fix mine. I'm very happy.

If the mirror seems hopelessly jammed up, try this.Make sure your fingers are clean first. Take any film out and touch the shutter curtains from both sides. Move the front one UP while moving the back one Down at the same time. Front being front as you look at the front of the camera. What is happening there is having both shutter curtains fully extended Isn't happening so the shutter cycle isn't completed hence the camera doesn't appear to work or seems jammed.

This is a great repair guide, with this video, a bit of fiddling and some wd40 I managed to fix my advance lever problems. Thank you!

How would I go about fixing an ME Super with a counter that doesn't advance? The camera oaks fine otherwise. Thanks for making these videos.

Just fixed my ME Super, thanks!

I opened the bottom, removed the winding mechanism, and pushed the latch with a small screwdriver which caused the mirror to come down and allowed me to fully wind the advance lever. I thought I fixed it so I reattached the advance mechanism and closed the bottom of the camera. When I pressed the shutter, the latch and mirror got stuck again. Any ideas on what I should try for a long term solution?

This video shows a fairly simple fix for the possible cause of a mirror stuck in the up position on a Pentax ME-Super.

great Video! ive had this camera jus sittin in my collection for quite sometime hoping one day to get it repaired.. and after getting rejected by repair shops countless times, i almost gave up until i came across this video! so thank u! so i was able to lube everything up, however after putting everything back, the shutter doesnt seem like its catching onto anything after i wind the lever... would u happen to know off top what i need to look out for when reseating the part that was removed in this video? thank u so much!

Спасибо за подробное видео! По Вашему мнению - Pentax ME-Super, хорошая камера или нет? Стоит ей пользоваться? Спасибо)))

im having the issue with my pentax mg where the lever is loose and doesnt turn film. i can turn it underneath using a screwdriver but it fires instantly the fire button does nothing

I got a Pentax me super with this problem and i fixed IT thanks to this video. Only thing is after testing en winding the camera a few times the winder doesn't wind anymore it feels loose is this another issue? Can u help?

Excellent! Many thanks, my ME Super still working after 24hrs (after months of non-working)

Hi, I have a ME-Super - It just continuously winds and the shutter only 'takes' a photo after almost 20 winds on. Do you have any thoughts? Thank you

I love your videos, although on most Pentax ME Super/Pentax MG cameras, the problem will not be solved like this. Rather you have to take out the mirror box and clean gummed up mirror mechanisms and replace little rubber bumpers that deteriorate over time and always need to replaced. Everything else will not work on the long term.

hi i have the winder working moving correctly, but shutter is still not firing, any ideas on what this might be, or what i might have missed??

Thanks for the video! One question: Can you remove the bottom plate and attempt repairs without exposing any film in the camera? I am halfway through a roll of Fuji Velvia and I'd rather not waste the remainder of the roll. I was hoping I could take the plate off to see if anything was obviously jammed or misaligned without having to sacrifice the rest of my roll.

Hi, I'm having a bit of trouble with putting back the levers in order the winding mechanism to work properly. Would you be able to recommend or describe how it is supposed to work properly? Currently when putting the levers back in the mirror is down, so when rewinding the crank the camera takes a photograph?

how can i do to open the motor mirror box? im trying but i dont have success with this part, and in the video dont show the part when you open the mirror boxm thanks!

Can you do the same thing Canon AE-1

If the mirror is stuck in the up position it usually means the shutter curtains are jammed.

Hi, i have a pentax spotmatic f sps and the mirror doesn't go down, saying that, it doesn't let you look through the visor, any idea in how can i fix it?

Hi, I have a superME, stuck shutter and mirror locked up...played with the curtains there and freed up the mirror...but the winder has to be wound about 5 times before the shutter will fire...and when i does it is in slowwwwwwwwwwwwww motion....???

Will this help free the mirror from being stuck in the UP position?

How do i get the top cover off? Some screws are no problem but the one on the top next to the shutter button won't come off. In Addition to that I don't know how to take off the film rewind lever on the left.

I screwed up with the spring, it fell out, how can I remove the lens mount box and fix it?

Now I want to buy a broken ME Super.

Is there anyway you guys could show how to clean the view finder, and prism on a Superprogram? thanks!

HI, I had a red hot crack at this and I've watched this video a few times and just can't figure this out. Are there different versions of the Pentax ME Super with different internals or something? firstly, my lower advance/wind mechanism is slightly different (mine is all silver no black). Secondly, there seems to be components missing inside on mine compared to yours, when comparing mine to yours there is a whole mechanism missing! Thirdly, there's an extra lever and a wire that the lever pushes down that I can't see on yours. Fourthly, I can't for the life of me locate the mirror latch. I'm new to camera repairs (I did fix my pentax battery drain issue though) and I've worked on iphones replacing screens and various other parts too so I'm not totally new to tedious little electronic stuff. I;ve uploaded some pictures here if you dont mind taking a quick look! THank you: imgur.com/a/ixtCT40

Often by they can be got working again by setting to 1/125 and tapping at the shutter curtains or mirror so something does happen.. If you can get it to go once you need to keep going. A lot of them jam because they haven't been used for years 'like any old camera.

this us useless... why don't you show the whole process ?

The mirror/lens mount box was removed only to better show the position of the lever that needs to be addressed. If the oil is applied without exercising the lever the oil will not penetrate as readily. If the oil left to migrate as it will it might still eventually free the lever to function as it should.

I'm not sure it was this specifically, but taking the mechanism out and putting it back in certainly helped. Thanks! You saved my ass on that one.

9 years on and it's still helping. After 4 other videos, this is the one that helped me free the mirror on my ME. Thank you so much!

This seems to have fixed the issue for me where i could wind the shutter fine every time, but quite often the shutter would not fire after winding. Thanks for the guidance! There is another spring mounting that looks just like the one in question - and is much easier to access - this is the one I thought was the right one first time round. A clue is that the metal arm attached to the wrong one is brass in colour and has like a double prong in it. Anyway, once I found the correct spring (and it is seriously tucked away!) then it worked - though it did take 4 attempts to get the winding mechanism back on correctly (if you put it on and the shutter seems jammed don't worry you probably haven't broken anything just have another go at reseating, paying attention to one of the arms underneath that acts to kind of 'unlock' the windy bit at the beginning of a wind).

First of all, thank you very much for the video. It is really informative and well done, the best explanation I have found until now about accesing the winding mechanism. I've fixed the stuck up mirror thanks to your video, but now I've found that the shutter in the camera won't fire. Do you have any tips on removing the mirror box so I can access the shutter mechanism? Thanks in advance!

Yeah! Another one Pentax MG is alive! Thanks for great video, it took some time to make this lever moving but finally it works:)

I have a Pentax MG, and have been experiencing advance lever issues, and I tried to follow this, yet when i took the mechanism out, I couldn't see the lever you were talking about :( are there any tips on doing this procedure on an MG rather than an ME. Thank you so much!

Will it be possible to just add a few drops of lubricating oil from the bottom plate (hoping it will hit the latch lever)? Or is it really necessary to open up the lens mount box?

Can you make a video for Pentax MG? I try to repair it for my dad because it has windig issues and maybe more. So it would be nice if you show us how to remove the case. Sorry for the bad english i am from Germany ^^

Thank you so much for this very helpful and comprehensive video. It helped me bring my Father's old Me super back to life and saved me $150 in repair fees. Cant thank you enough for the help!

i literally subscribed to your channel just because I knew that one day you would post this vid. lol i have waited for months.

Hi! please help me where to look down or on top. The problem is this: after falling, the fast wind lever does not return back. I have to return it manually after rewinding the film

Hi, I've got a pentax ME and it got a problem with the mirror, some day one small black adjustment screw (flat head-less screw) fell and stuck the winder mechanism. I removed the back plate and the screw, I put again the cover and the camera works again. But someday every time I shoot, the all the camera works completely fine, except the mirror which stay up. I can get it down again hitting the bottom of the camera. Anyone has any idea how can I solve the problem?

Thanks for this great video. It took me a bit but I finally got it working. Now to get it all back together lol.

May sound weird but after doing everything as shown and checking all up I put the lid back under and the lever feel just free and unattached. Do you guys know why could this happen? I'm puzzled :( Thanks FOC and keep on :)

I opened it up and put it back together 20 times at least. But its working again. I have no clue what was wrong with it tho...

Thank you so much for this informative video. I think I'm almost there but just having trouble with one piece. There is a winder catch that is preventing the film advance from winding even when I seem to have done the steps in 2:58-3:20 where you put the armature back in. I'm assuming that's there to prevent film from being wound again. How do I get it to clear so the advance moves?

1st part great, might it have been a good idea on your part to show how to take the front of as well to get access to button you need otherwise the video is basically useless.

Thanks for waiting to the end of the damn video to mention what screwdriver we should and should not be using.

After poking next to the mirror box, something released and allowed the mirror back down. I imagine that was the shutter release. However, after reassembly, it just cocks and cocks without firing. What did I do wrong?

How can I get to the lever with out removing the lens box and getting to the issue I have the pentax superprogram is the inside the same concept. It looks the same as the MEI have the same issue with my super winder is stuck

I just bought one in a market. There was film in it and someone had tried to force wind on after all the film was exposed, dislocating the winding / shutter cocking mechanism. I will be trying to fix it as above so thanks for the info. I have my own ME Super since 1981. A great little film camera to learn on. I bought the broken one solely for its pristine 50mm f1.7 lens - the original kit lens and a truly excellent optic with PK mount which I use on my Sony mirrorless bodies in fully Manual mode.

I have at least 5 ME Supers and 3 needed attention - I managed to undo those 3 screws on the lower lever latch thing on ONE ONLY - they were just TOO TIGHT even with JIS Screwdriver BUT with the add of a powerful torch ( American translation : 'FlashLight' ) I could get to lubricate those small brass cogs and levers underneath and now they ALL WORK ! I used a British National Health Syringe and small needle courtesy of the District Nurse when she came to check on me after being Cut Open for the 4th time to get to my Liver Cancer Lesions and pulled up a minute amount of Oil .

I messed up the focus screen on my ME Super so badly, I feel terrible. It’s my dad’s camera originally which he handed down to me. It’s the camera from which I developed my first roll of film! If I have a spare donor body to pull from, would you be willing and able to replace the messed up screen in my camera? I’m willing to pay more than the camera is worth these days! Desperate because this camera is so sentimentally valuable to me.

I am a fan of this channel but not a fan of this video. More often than not you need to open up the camera to remove the degraded rubber bumper and any sticky residue on pivot point of Restitution Link A assembly (part B16). I lost count the number of times I encounter ME Super, MG bodies ruined by previous owner using way too much oil to fix this issue (probably after watching this video).

Hi there. I can't seem to get the motor drive coupling to budge at all. You don't like to use brute force for things like this but even force won't get it to shift. Ever experienced this?

Thank you for this detailed instruction! good job. Could you explain a bit further whtat kind of oil i should use? on 3in1 cleansing oil i find some beard and face oil.... not shure about that. maybe it would be usefull to have a reall thin needle-like application straw. may i use Ballistol for that ?

May I know how do I remove the mirror box? 1:54 Thanks in advance!

Hello there, i have got winding problem with Pentax MX and the shutter is stucked/jammed. But i couldn't find any solution on the internet. What should I do. I need help please..

How much would a camera repair professional charge to make fix this particular issue?

Thanks for the video! A bit oil and back and force: problem nearly solved. Indeed that lever slipped off by playing around but has been easy to click in again .. because of your video. Superb!

Recently bought an ME with a stuck-up mirror (but the inside lever brings it down) and a stuck advance lever. I'll have to brave this after doing all the non-invasive suggestions. Based on the condition I think someone else had a go at it, as I found a screw under the bottom plate that looks similar to the ones you took out. Interesting, considering none of those are missing.

Oh, I am so much sharing this link on every Pentax page I am subscribed to. I have similar issues with a Pentax P3, and P30 and a clean Pentax MG I found for $13.00. I hope this is the same fix for all three.

Thank you so much for this video! You saved my Pentax! Good job!

Hello. I have the exact same camera with a cocking problem. One of the interior shutters does not stay up after it has been cocked. Would this solve the problem?

Hi there! Great tutorial, I've accidentally disengaged the latch as explained in the video, just wonder if there are any tips to get it back on or tutorials to disassemble the camera to place the latch back on? Thank you.

I need help how do i take the mirror box out

Thank you so much! This has been super helpful! My ME Super's shutter works again!

Thank you, thank you, thank you so very very much. I was able to fix grandpa's old camera that still sees consistent use.

I have a problem with my super ME is that the lever has un hinged itself backwards, and also the the spring thats giving the lever tension has flicked off from it, any suggestions ??

thanks for this vid. I just found a me super in a thrift store it has this problem. Your video is the only one I found that shows how to fix it(but I stopped looking when I found yours) :) . I subscribed and like. thank you

This is a great help, thanks mate!

So my mirror is stuck upright and I can’t wind the film advance lever back so I shall definitely be trying this

Is there a video for a stuck advance lever for the Pentax ME? If so please let me know!

I got the lever down to far by slipping. Not sure if it can be fixed now without taking all apart

I love you

What if the motor drive coupling will not loosen? I have tried dripping 3-in-1 oil onto the threads but it is extremely tight. I am trying to turn it counter-clockwise to loosen.

I am wondering if this tutorial is useful in repairing my pentax super a(super program) camera. My local camera store says it can be fixed but not worth the price.I would like to have a go at fixing it myself. I live in Adelaide,South Australia. thanks Geoff.

On my camera, the mechanism that you remove isn't moving at all. When you pull the film advance lever at 0:55 or 3:23 the arms of the mechanism move. When I pull on mine, the uptake reel is being spun (I opened the back of the camera to verify), but none of the arms of the mechanism in the bottom of the camera are moving. I can force them to move by pushing/pulling on them forcefully with a small screwdriver while I pull the film advance lever, but then it gets stuck "open" even if I push the lever back to home, it has no resistance when pulling it again so it's not advancing, and the mechanisms in the bottom don't return to their home position. I hope this is making sense. I couldn't find the mirror lever you worked on in this video so I'll have to tackle that another day, but I wonder if the mechanism not moving is more of my problem. Is there anything I can do to make the arms of the mechanism move as yours do? It wasn't moving before I took the camera apart and it's not moving after I put it back together.

Thank you so much for this! However, after taking out the first three screws and proceeding to loosening the linkage part, it wouldnt do it. I tried a wrench and the part just seems to be too firmly stuck. Also, while I have an ME Super Pentax the inside looks a little different than this one. Any advice ? Thank you!!

I love your video's but i dont know where you are working, my mirrorbox isnt removed, the dial (with the teeth) underneath the motor-coupling came loose and i guess it decoupled from the hairspring underneath. Can you tell me how to fix this? I guess i bricked my camera now...

Any particular size of cross point screwdriver?

This helped me tremendously, thank you so much.

excellent!

Great video. My ME Super mirror was stuck up, film advance stuck in the closed position, and shutter release moves freely, but does nothing. From this video I was able to get some oil in the general area, though as you say it's very hard to see much, without further disassembly, and now the mirror is down, which is progress, but that's it so far. By gently disengaging the film advance pawl, the film advance arm does move and make the right sound. (I also own a working ME Super.) But with the pawl engaged, the film advance arm is stuck. I notice that with the bottom plate off, when I depress the shutter release fully, the bottom end of it captures a "U" shaped thing which connects to a linkage. That linkage stays limp. Do you service these for clients? Or only for yourself?

How to I take off my winding lever on the me super? Also when I wind it and try to push it back the shutter is firing without pressing the button can you help me resolve this.

What a nice video! I subscribed!! Can you tell me the product name of the oil you used please? What should I search for?

I am having trouble unscrewing the motodrive coupling.. do you have any suggestons?

the mirror of my camera is held up and I dont know how to keep it down to work

Is the Pentax ME Super similar to the Pentax ME? What are the differences and can I use this same way to fix the Pentax ME?

Would this be the same repair for a Pentax P3n? I have the same mirror latching issue.

Thank you for this detailed video. Could you please advise where I would get a bottle like yours with such a fine oil dispenser needle?

I just bought a used ME Super today with a 50mm, a cool strap, a bunch of lenses, cool camera bag, working flash, but with this issue for $40. I was thinking of selling the camera but after finding this, and seeing the quality of photos it takes elsewhere, I'm keeping her! Thanks for sharing this.

Any advice for when you accidentally disengage the mirror lever from its latch?