Hello everyone,

​I’m reaching out for help with a Canon AE-1 Program I just purchased. The camera appears to be in good cosmetic condition, but I’m experiencing a recurring freezing issue.

Here is the current diagnosis:

Electronics: The battery (4LR44) is new. The camera beeps when tested with a battery tester, and the exposure meter displays correctly in the viewfinder (the number 32 lights up).

Problem: The winding lever jams every time. The shutter does not fire when the shutter button is pressed.

​Observations after opening the baseplate: I identified the shutter release magnet (MG2). When I press the shutter release button, the magnet arm vibrates but remains “stuck.” If I manually assist it with a pin, the cycle completes (CLACK!), the mirror drops back down, and the cocking lever is released. However, as soon as I re-cocking, the magnet gets stuck again.

​My questions:

​Can you confirm that this is the well-known “Magnet Gunk” (hardened grease) issue?

​What product do you recommend for a thorough cleaning (Isopropanol? Benzine F?) and is there a trick to prevent this from happening again?

The mirror seems to be working normally, but I hear a slight clicking sound when I handle the housing without its strap—is this normal for this model?

I’m attaching a photo and a video of the mechanism in action to illustrate the jamming.

Thank you in advance for your expert advice!

Stuck lever on Canon AE-1 Program