Exakta VX 1000

[santino]

I‘m new to this camera and it doesn’t stop to amaze me with its features (quirks?) and aesthetics. But here is my problem:
The frame counter doesn’t work. I understand that it should count down (or better: show the yet unexposed frames left). When I cock the shutter the frame disc changes the value from eg. 36 to 35 but when I release the shutter it springs back to 36. I‘ve also noticed that the advance lever feels kinda loose, it doesn’t sit firmly in place. There is no play back and forth but up and down.
Is it possible to tighten something in order to make the frame counter work?
I also have the feeling that when I rewound the film the advance lever got more loose as it would unscrew a bit.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Muggins]

I don't know but I will poke someone who might and get back to you.

 

[johnf04]

Hi there - I'm the person Muggins poked. I have worked on a VXIIb, replacing one of the shutter curtains, but I didn't delve into the winding mechanism or frame counter. I found this page useful

https://rickoleson-brightscreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Exakta-VXIIa-VXIIb.pdf

 

[santino]

Thanks a lot! Now I have to decide whether to live with a broken counter or to possibly risk further damage to the camera by a repair attempt. I think I still have a VX 500 with a broken shutter somewhere lying around… might be a donor for the frame counter.
I guess there is something wrong with the „ratchet“ that doesn’t lock the disc from rotating when the shutter fires.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Thank goodness it's turning to winter , lotsa time to tinker , and take lots of pics with your cell phone as you progress . Peter

 

[santino]

Ok, so I took it apart and the right pawl is broken, the left one has a broken spring (both can be seen on the last page of Rick Oleson‘s manual you guys suggested). I removed the damaged pawl and the counter is still dead but the advance lever no longer loosens its self. I forgot to take pictures because I was kinda confused by how one can so much overengineer a non self resetting frame counter.

 

[Moto-Uno]

You should see examples of grossly under engineered cameras ! Kowa 66 comes to mind , and yeah I own
2 of them and wouldn't trade them for the world .Why ? Because they drove me down the rabbit hole of camera
repair . Carbide saw tips , brazing rod and an acetylene torch kit and they work fine 🙂 . Peter

 

[Muggins]

Ok, so I took it apart and the right pawl is broken, the left one has a broken spring (both can be seen on the last page of Rick Oleson‘s manual you guys suggested). I removed the damaged pawl and the counter is still dead but the advance lever no longer loosens its self. I forgot to take pictures because I was kinda confused by how one can so much overengineer a non self resetting frame counter.

Because you are a German engineering firm? (In case that comes across as being a little unfair on our European friends, I must point out that I once worked with someone from Marburg who stomped into the lab one day and loudly cried "God, why are some people so ****ing" German?!). If you doubt this, just look up the Werra and it's Prestor shutter. Great when it works but very definitely solution in need of a problem.