Well just in case someone else is intereted I have answered both my question all by myself. As mentioned in an earlier post the flash problem was just a question of bending a contact after having removed the top cover. As for the second question, I came by another MG on eBay which is a REAL parts camera, basically nothing works, including the shutter which had several blades out of place. On disassembling it I found the little spacers are on the 2 posts on the left side that the screws that hold the shutter box together screw into. Will now try reassembling the MG... If it works after all this it will replace my MX as my favourite camera, but the MX does not look too worried yet, I wonder why. Grant
Original message --------------------------------------------------- Hello all, I have 2 MGs, the first works fine except the flash. Before taking the top off to check the contacts etc. I am curious to know how exactly the hot shoe works and how to trouble shoot it. Am I right in assuming that it is a simple on off switch that trips the flash by closing a circuit, likely very briefly? My continuity tester doesn't see anything on a working camera. Any suggestions would be appreciated. The second MG has been disassembled to get at the shutter box because the blades were blocked. I took off the rear plate or the shutter box and found a blade that had some how gotten on the wrong side of the frame separating it from the forward shutter. I was able to replace everything the way it should be and put the plate back on... and discovered a little bushing or spacer laying on my work space. I think it came from the shutter, I was being careful with the bits as I took the camera apart. Can anyone tell me where the offending piece goes in the shutter, or if not, any suggestions where it goes in the camera? Picture at: <http://pages.videotron.com/granth/MGshuttertemp.html> http://pages.videotron.com/granth/MGshuttertemp.html Thanks in advance, Grant H
