Loose shutter dial on a FED-2

[ChrisCummins]

Hi,
after receiving a FED-2 with a dodgy shutter off of ebay (I won't name the seller, but he seems to have a good reputation for quality), I sent it back for a replacement only to get a FED-2 with a new problem. The camera seems in great mechanical and physical condition with very few signs of wear for such a 'cheap' old camera. However, the centre dial which indicates the shutter speed is totally loose and spins freely, meaning that, while all of the shutter speeds work as advertised, it is impossible to tell which shutter speed is selected!

The part I am talking about is the central post on the top of the camera with the red dot to indicate shutter speed. It has the rotating ring mounted around it with all the shutter speeds marked on it. So when the post with the red dot rotates, you cannot match it up with the correct marked shutter speed.

Does anyone have any ideas how to cure this? I assume it's a simple case of tightening the right screw here or there...

 

[Kim Coxon]

There should be 2 grub screws on the side of the knob.

Kim

 

[pschauss]

There should be 2 grub screws on the side of the knob.

Kim

I believe the OP was talking about the inner part of the shutter speed dial. I had a similar problem after taking the top off of a Zorki 2C. I am not sure what the proper cure is, but I removed the center post complete, applied some blue Locktite(tm) to the threads, and tightened it. I suspect that I had to remove the outer shutter dial first. At the very least, I had to loosen the grub screws in order to line the shutter speed markings with the line on the center post.

 

[ChrisCummins]

Thanks guys, and yes pschauss, you hit the nail on the head. Here's the inner part set to 1/500s:

And here I have used my nails to twist the inner part so that it no longer shows 1/500s, even though I have not touched the outer ring and the camera shutter will still operate at 1/500s:

pschauss - when you say 'remove the centre post', do you mean just removing the shutter dial, as in this post?

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8575&postcount=3

Thanks for the tips.

 

[fanshaw]

I recall that the inner part is provided with a hole through its diameter near the top so that it can be tightened with the aid of a piece of stiff wire. I used a paperclip.
Once you have tightened it replace the outer part and secure it by two grub screws. Find the 'B' setting by trial and error and line the dial up on this mark before tightening the screws.

 

[wolves3012]

If you take off the outer part by slackening off the 2 grub-screws, you'll find the centre post has a small hole in it. Put a thin screwdriver, pin etc through it and use it to tighten it up (clockwise). Then replace and adjust the outer dial. That should sort the problem out.

 

[wolves3012]

I recall that the inner part is provided with a hole through its diameter near the top so that it can be tightened with the aid of a piece of stiff wire. I used a paperclip.

You must have been typing that as I was typing mine!

 

[Kim Coxon]

Sorry, I misunderstood the question. If memory serves me correctly, the centre post is locked onto a cog at the bottom which is part of the winding gear. It is quite deep inside the camera.

 

[ChrisCummins]

Ha, it's always reassuring when two people come to the same answer totally oblivious of each other! 🙂 Anyway, I did exactly what you both said, removing the shutter speed dial and then tightening the centre post and now it works like a charm. If the problem recurs then I'll invest in some thread locking solution to fix it for good, but it seems sturdy enough now. A camera built like a tank! I do love how simple problems with these mechanical cameras can be solved with screw drivers and engine grease, yet my father's D3 would take a computer scientist just to figure out a bust exposure meter 🙂