I finally tried using a hair dryer to fix a sticky shutter

For months my old Pentax Spotmatic had a shutter that would hang open at slow speeds. I read online that some folks use a hair dryer to warm up the lubricant, but I figured that was just asking for melted parts. Last week I got desperate after missing shots at a family reunion. I set my wife's hair dryer on low heat and pointed it at the shutter mechanism for about two minutes. The camera worked perfectly for three rolls after that. I still don't fully trust the method, but it sure beat paying $80 for a CLA. Has anyone else tried this trick, or did I just get lucky?

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sage_perry5h ago

Have you checked if the old lubricant is actually gumming up again in cold weather though? That fix might only last until the first chilly morning.