header

Canon AE-1 Top Cover Removal

1 / 29
2 / 29
3 / 29
4 / 29
5 / 29
6 / 29
7 / 29
8 / 29
9 / 29
10 / 29
11 / 29
12 / 29
13 / 29
14 / 29
15 / 29
16 / 29
17 / 29
18 / 29
19 / 29
20 / 29
21 / 29
22 / 29
23 / 29
24 / 29
25 / 29
26 / 29
27 / 29
28 / 29
29 / 29

Remove the screw at the bottom of the lens mount trim ring.
Remove the screws on either side of the lens mount trim ring.
Remove the screw at the top of the lens mount trim ring. Remove trim ring.
IMPORTANT: set film speed to 3200 and shutter speed dial to bulb. If you do not do this you may break the tungsten wire! Do this now, so you don't forget.
With film door open, insert the shaft of a screwdriver in the film rewind fork, and unscrew rewind knob.
Remove the circlip that retains rewind knob trim ring.
Remove rewind knob trim ring.
All done here.
Remove the film advance lever cap screw.
Spring washer.
Plastic washer.
Remove the film advance lever.
Remove film advance coupler.
Using a spanner wrench (or similar tool), remove shutter dial nut. Remember: film speed dial set to 3200, shutter speed set to bulb. If you have not done this yet, do so NOW!
Brass washer.
Last chance: shutter speed set to Bulb, film speed (ASA) set to 3200.
Carefully lift shutter dial a few millimeters and turn clockwise to position shown. You will feel spring tension lessen as you do this. Once in this position, the dial can removed.
OK, all done here.
Remove the two top cover screws that were hidden behind the lens mount trim ring.
Remove the two screws on either side of the viewfinder.
Remove screw at advance side.
Remove screw at rewind knob side.
Canon AE-1 with top cover removed.
Since you have gone this far, you might as well clean the viewfinder and pentaprism glass.
Remove the two screws retaining viewfinder and remove. Be carefull not to break the tungsten wire!
A blast of compressed air is usually all that is necessary to remove dust from pentaprism glass.
Close-up view of AE-1 inards.
Another close-up view.
Yet another close-up. If your camera has the infamous "shutter squeak," see our tutorial for curing this ailment before you replace the top cover. Re-assemble in reverse order.
Report broken links HERE.
This tutorial was prepared by a camera repair hobbyist as an aid to other camera repair hobbyists. It was prepared without any information from any camera manufacturer, and is provided without any guarantee as to completeness or accuracy. This tutorial is for reference and historical purposes only, all rights reserved.
This tutorial are produced and copyrighted© by wilsonwerks, llc. (dba: looscanons.com). This page content may not be sold or distributed without the expressed permission of the producer.

If you find these tutorials useful, please consider making a small donation via PayPal by clicking on the button below:

This will help defray costs for web hosting and production of the images and slideshows.
You can also mail your donation to (make check or money order payable to D. Wilson):
wilsonwerks llc, (dba: looscanons.com)
3817 Conestoga Rd.
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Prefer to use Venmo? Click HERE.
footer