M6 Rewind Crank Position

[darkness2505]

Hi all,

I just started using the M6 recently, and today as I was changing my film, I notice that my rewind crank sits quite high. I searched through flickr for Leica M6 and I see that some of the rewind cranks sits high like mine, while others are quite flush to the body. Is this supposed to be normal? Mechanically, it rewinds film alright.

Here are two pics of it. Should I get this checked or something?

Thanks!
Dom

 

[Damaso]

There is a VERY small screw that sits in the space where the rewind crank lever is when put away. Check and see if that is flush and tight. If it is not or if it is gone then your crank might be loose....

You don't want it to come off and get lost, been there, done that!

 

[Leigh Youdale]

There is a VERY small screw that sits in the space where the rewind crank lever is when put away. Check and see if that is flush and tight. If it is not or if it is gone then your crank might be loose....

You don't want it to come off and get lost, been there, done that!

Yep. My M6 rewind is flush and I've just checked the screw is as described. Likely yours has started to come undone but if you're lucky it may not yet be lost.

 

[Damaso]

If it is indeed loose you can literally just push it back down and tighten that tiny screw though you also need to find a tiny screwdriver

 

[darkness2505]

Thanks,

I tried pushing it down, and tightening the tiny screw, but it wont budge. I am almost using an uncomfortable amount of force to the point I am scared I might break it.

 

[ferider]

You cann't just push it in. You have to screw it in (with lock screw loose, and holding the "film fork" inside the camera). Once it's all the way in, tighten the lock screw.

Probably the M6 part the most prone to fail (aluminum, bends easily). I can recommend replacing it with a brass M4 or SL2 rewind, as available from Don/DAG.

Roland.

 

[ampguy]

also

also

in that mechanism somewhere is a screw that goes backwards (i.e. lefty tighty, righty loosy).

You cann't just push it in. You have to screw it in (with lock screw loose, and holding the "film fork" inside the camera). Once it's all the way in, tighten the lock screw.

Probably the M6 part the most prone to fail (aluminum, bends easily). I can recommend replacing it with a brass M4 or SL2 rewind, as available from Don/DAG.

Roland.

 

[ferider]

Have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQGNcJEdDk, starting at 0:40.

 

[darkness2505]

From what I gather, after reading some more on this forum. The M6's crank is the same as the M4's. So I am supposed to loosen the smaller screw on the side, not the "bigger" one under the lever, which I was doing previously. I shall try it once I get home.

Thanks!

 

[ferider]

That's right. Except the M4 crank being brass. Have a look at the movie above.

 

[darkness2505]

Oh, thanks for the video, I will watch it after work!