Melvin
Flim Forever!
Does anyone know how to tighten the frame counter on a IIIf? It seems like it's gotten looser since I last loaded film. Is it something I could do myself without taking the camera apart? thanks
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
It is likely something you can do yourself, but you may have to take apart the wind knob. My IIIf had a screw on the knob loosen, and become jammed inside. Rendering it useless. After poking around on RFF, and the web, I found a copy of the IIIf service manual that allowed me to carefully take the wind side apart, and put it back together correctly without sending it off.
As I recall, there is a little bent washer that holds the counter against the gearing. When I first got mine back together it was a bit loose because I'd cleaned the grime off. I had to give mine slightly more bend to get it to work properly.
Most of the things I tinker with are useless to begin with, so this slight "operation" made me sweat bullets, but it went smoothly with the manual as a guide. And it really is only a guide, there aren't step by step instructions.
Best of luck!
As I recall, there is a little bent washer that holds the counter against the gearing. When I first got mine back together it was a bit loose because I'd cleaned the grime off. I had to give mine slightly more bend to get it to work properly.
Most of the things I tinker with are useless to begin with, so this slight "operation" made me sweat bullets, but it went smoothly with the manual as a guide. And it really is only a guide, there aren't step by step instructions.
Best of luck!
matt_s
Established
IIIf loose threads
IIIf loose threads
Hi Melvin,
I just went through this myself last week. There is a small set screw in the wind knob that you need to loosen- not remove- and then the wind knob will unscrew. Do not remove that set screw! It is a pain to get the knob off once that screw comes out.
Once the knob is off the film takeup spool may fall out- so try and support it from underneath at this point - look under the knob and you will see the bent washer projectbluebird talked about- this is what pushes the counter down to the top cover. Bend it a bit more, re-grease and re-assemble.
If the film takeup spool shaft falls out no big problem, just be sure to line up the little spring with the gear click as you push it back in place.
Here is a photo of the bits involved, the wind knob is upside down, exposing the blue, bent washer:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/mstott/2009-04-30/IMG_0733.jpg
Best of luck (it's not that hard),
Matt
IIIf loose threads
Hi Melvin,
I just went through this myself last week. There is a small set screw in the wind knob that you need to loosen- not remove- and then the wind knob will unscrew. Do not remove that set screw! It is a pain to get the knob off once that screw comes out.
Once the knob is off the film takeup spool may fall out- so try and support it from underneath at this point - look under the knob and you will see the bent washer projectbluebird talked about- this is what pushes the counter down to the top cover. Bend it a bit more, re-grease and re-assemble.
If the film takeup spool shaft falls out no big problem, just be sure to line up the little spring with the gear click as you push it back in place.
Here is a photo of the bits involved, the wind knob is upside down, exposing the blue, bent washer:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/mstott/2009-04-30/IMG_0733.jpg
Best of luck (it's not that hard),
Matt
