AE-1 Program aperture setting problem

[Xbassman]

Got this AE-1 Program at auction. Am a retired Professional Photog. Studio owner. Got feeling the aperture lever on the body or on 50mm FD 1.8 lens are stuck or is it due to low battery. I would love a phone call if possible 254-426-0828 in Texas. # also offers text.

 

[Peeb59]

Found this quote on Reddit (don't know whether it helps or hurts):

The aperture lever has a similar mechanism to the shutter, so you can look up the squeaky shutter fix and consider it on the opposite side of the mirror housing.
I actually did this myself this weekend with a Program, I made the mistake of swapping lenses without canceling aperture preview. Just remove the lens, make sure aperture preview is disabled and push the lever down gently. Re-mount the lens and all should be well again.

Is your lever capable of moving?

 

[cgw105]

Try fresh batteries first. Past that, all else is mechanical. If the aperture lever on the lens doesn't snap back, a busted spring is to blame. If the body's aperture lever is stuck or inoperative, then you've got a repair cost that may exceed the camera's worth.

 

[Xbassman]

The lever on lens does NOT move when lens is removed as in photo. Also in pix of camera body, the lever pointed to does not move when lens is removed. Note...I removed bad battery (new one ordered), so does this have any effect on non moving lever on body?

 

[cgw105]

The AE-1 was a best-seller, some say the top selling SLR camera ever. Try searching thru what Google turns up re: AE-1 repairs, malfunctions, quirks. Do you have the manual? Available online at butkus.org

 

[Xbassman]

Got orig manual. Some help but not what I am experiencing. Will muddle thru, trial n error.

 

[cgw105]

Got orig manual. Some help but not what I am experiencing. Will muddle thru, trial n error.

With the lens mounted, open the back, cock the advance lever, and see if the lens stops down to the set aperture and returns to wide open. Tried that from f/16 up to f/1.8? Just asking...

 

[Xbassman]

Will try soon. Battery was about shot, got one ordered n will try then. Heard need hot battery before lens will stop down when back is open. Tnx 4 reply

 

[Peeb59]

Keep us posted