Disassembling a Fujica Half 1.9

[cmedin]

Hello!

Hoping someone here has some suggestions. Bought a pile of misc/broken gear, including a very pretty Fujica Half 1.9. Now, I've always wanted a half frame and with this one being cosmetically sound with a bright, clear viewfinder, I think it would be nice to attempt a rescue mission...

The issues:

Winding makes a slightly grating sound. Putting some pressure (lightly!) on the take up spool causes the winding to slip. I figure it's either a worn out gear or a misaligned one. Since the camera looks very lightly used overall I am hoping it's just something that has come loose. Or could it be old grease that has dried out and causing things to skip a bit?

Shutter does not work. I woke up an old Fujica rangefinder recently by dabbing the shutter blades lightly with some alcohol on a q-tip and it's been working great since, so hoping I can perform a similar "repair" here.

Obviously a full CLA would be nice but I am not sure where I could even find someone to attempt service, and being in Sweden it would likely cost multiple times the value of the camera to have it done.

So I'd like to at least make an attempt at it myself. If you peel back the leatherette(?) there are a few screws beneath, and I know on some models the front casing can be removed this way. Not sure about this particular one though.

Any suggestions/advice?

 

[VictorM.]

Here's a Half 2.8 somewhat disassembled: http://blog.livedoor.jp/camera_repair_minoha/tag/HALF

 

[cmedin]

Here's a Half 2.8 somewhat disassembled: http://blog.livedoor.jp/camera_repair_minoha/tag/HALF

Thanks. I found a Youtube video of a Fujica S being disassembled and it was really quite similar, to the point where I could use it to take mine apart.

At this point it looks like there's an issue with the take up spool. Does it contain some sort of ratcheting mechanism? As far as I can tell there's a shaft connecting the winding lever through the spool down to the bottom of the camera where the shutter cocking and frame counter mechanism resides.

 

[ACullen]

I’d encourage you in your endeavour to fix it up. I’ve had a Fujica Half 1.9 for a few years and it’s a lovely camera. As you say it’s very pretty and has great handling. The lens is a stunner

 

[Doug]

Takeup spools typically have a slip-clutch, as the main film-transport duty is done by the sprocket nearby. Thus a consistent length of film is advanced each time you wind-on. So the takeup spool's job is simply to wrap the film somewhat snugly around it. The wrap will get larger in diameter as more film gets wrapped, so the slip-clutch slips a bit as things proceed, to handle the difference. When you use the rewind button or lever, this releases the clutch (and sprockets) completely to let the film unwrap as you wind it back into the cartridge.