ME question - black foamy ridge just behind the lens mount ?

I was just cleaning out the inside of my Pentax ME and I noticed some fluff caught on the thin strip of foam that you can see through the lens mount. As I gently picked it out, part of the foam just disintegrated in my fingers. It's only a small section. Will this affect the camera and anyway? And what is this foam for?

Thanks

I just checked my ME Super, and it looks as though it's there to soften the blow when the mirror raises.

Cheers

Liam

Yup,

and it's also a bit of a light seal to keep light entering through the eyepiece out of play during long or timed exposures.

This may also indicate that your other light seals are deteriorating.

The seals either go gummy or become desicated over time - and ME's are sure old enough.

There are fun kits on eBay from a surper nice guy in Dallas Texas to DYI.

Cheers

Many thanks.