Bessa R: Rewind crank won't release

[blue_heron]

Hi All,
this is my first post here.

I just got a used Bessa R with the Color Skopar 35/2.5
My first film is just to see if everything works, but:

After loading the camera, the rewind crank on the left won't release the film! So when I try to advance the film, I get stuck because the crank still holds the spool 🙁

I've never had a Bessa R before, so I don't know how the crank shall release the spool when it is folded away. 😕

Thanks for your help,
Roland

 

[Sparrow]

Sorry I’ve no experience of the R2, but welcome anyway I’m sure someone else will know

 

[nico]

Hi Roland,
welcome on Rff.
Even though it never happened with my BessaR ( ... ehm ... never say never ...) I'd try to keep depressed the little button under the camera on the baseplate while trying to slightly rewind (without forcing if the rewind lever doesn't turn!) the film.
Hope it may help.
Good luck with it.
nico

 

[rxmd]

My Bessa R does that only when the shutter is cocked, for obvious reasons. Try firing the shutter and winding afterwards. If that doesn't work, press the little button at the bottom and try winding it, even though with mine the button doesn't make a difference.

Philipp

 

[nico]

My Bessa R does that only when the shutter is cocked, for obvious reasons. Try firing the shutter and winding afterwards. If that doesn't work, press the little button at the bottom and try winding it, even though with mine the button doesn't make a difference.

Philipp

I think you're right ...
nico

 

[blue_heron]

Thanks for your replies.

Maybe my description of the problem is a bit confusing.

What happens is this:
- I load a film (open the door by pulling the crank, insert film, close door, advance 2-3 frames)
- then I fold away the crank (as it isn´t supposed to stand out all the time, right?)
- BUT: with the crank folded away, I cannot advance the film, because the crank still holds the film cartridge spool (as if I wanted to rewind) and the crank cannot rotate when folded away.
? - shouldn´t the folded away crank release the spool?

Sorry for my weird english, 😱

Roland

 

[peterc]

When the crank is folded away it should disengage from the rewind shaft ... mine only has a tooth to engage the rewind on one side. The shaft should still turn so that you can see that film is winding on.
I've attached a couple of shots of the rewind crank on my Bessa R ... if the crank on yours is different that could be a problem.
Also, has the rewind shaft possibly been damaged? If someone used too much force in rewinding there may be a deformation of one of the pits that the tooth on the crank engages that is catching the folded-away rewind crank.

Hope this helps,
Peter

 

[BJ Bignell]

Roland,

This is a strange issue. I have found that with the Bessa, the crank sometimes does not settle all the way down as it should after loading, and that it needs to be fiddled a bit. It often appears to be seated correctly, even if it is not. If the crank is not correctly seated, this may interfere with the film advance.

To test: Pull the arm out (but don't pull the crank to open the door), slot it into the ring, and gently rewind to see if it slips down and settles correctly. This is a good practice after loading each new film, as it will tension the film; this may improve film flatness on the film plane.

If the above doesn't work, try the following:
- Remove the film from your camera, but leave the back open.

- Fold away the crank, and using a pen or your fingers, try to spin the teeth of the crank from the inside, in both directions. If this works, then the crank is not the problem.

- With the back still open, advance and fire a few times to make sure that all of the gears are turning as they should, and that the shutter is releasing.

- Using your fingers, gently try to turn the cog-toothed gear in the reverse direction. It should not move. Now press the rewind button on the bottom, and try to turn the same gear. It should spin freely.

If all of these tests pass, and you are still not able to get the film to move, you may need to send your camera for service. Or, take it to your local pro shop, and ask someone knowledgeable to take a look. Sometimes, it just needs a fresh set of eyes.

Good luck,
BJ

 

[Toby]

I've got a Bessa R which was one of the first in the Uk so may be a relatively high mileage example. I've had a similar problem a couple of times where the initial winding on of the film feels quite heavy and then the camera jams after the first one or two shots. I think it may be that I didn't wind the camera on properly the first time (ie when the back was open and I was loading the film) and when I shut the film back, the camera felt heavy when winding on. However I can't be sure its not just high mileage. The serial no. of my camera is 00101379 which makes it 6 or seven years old - I forget exactly when I bought it but if your camera has a similarly low number maybe it could just be internal wear and tear.

 

[blue_heron]

... mine only has a tooth to engage the rewind on one side. ...

Hi Peter,
the TOOTH, yes, I think that´s it: when I lift the crank and the tooth is in the air then the shaft is still attached to the crank 😡
I cannot rotate the shaft against the crank, maybe there´s some glue in it?
I´ll ask the seller....

----------------------------
EDIT: Yeah, it was simply sticky and sticked so well that I thought it was screwed together. I held the inside shaft with a screwdriver and moved the crank and suddenly it was FREE 😀

Thank you all so much, you guys are great !! 😎,

Roland

P.S.: Film is loaded, camera works 🙂