FED-2D (Export) Test

[farlymac]

It didn't go well. There is a major film transport problem.

With the Industar-26m 2.8/50 on Kodak ProFoto XL 100, straight scans, no crop

0001_1A000012870001 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Rich Patch Church

On my way to Covington, VA heading for Hays Gap, there is a wide spot in the road at the base of Porter Mountain called Rich Patch. The name referred to the iron ore veins that run through the Appalachians, and were especially concentrated in this area.

This is one of two structures that comprise what's left of Rich Patch, the other being a run down abandoned house across the road from the church. Unfortunately, none of those frames on the roll came out. This one is damaged somewhat, with gouges in the emulsion (those vertical streaks you see).



0002_2A000012870002 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Steeple

One of only two good frames, with just a couple of dust spots. Exposures on these first two look good, so at least the 1/125 speed is good.



0003_3A000012870003 by br1078phot, on Flickr
20 Plus Exposures

That's what I figure, according to the counter. But then the winder stopped at 30, which was kind of odd.



0004_4000012870004 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Partial

This is the second from last exposure I took that day, a little Presbyterian church and graveyard in Covington, VA. Even with the hood, it looks like I got a bit of flare.

Right next to the church is a parking lot which sits where the Virginia Central Railroad depot used to be.



0005_5000012870005 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Marker

Best shot on the roll, it was also the last one. Even though I had actually only taken six frames (the first was with the lens cap on a dry fire while loading), there was still plenty of film to shoot. But the winder just locked up, like I was at the end of the roll, so I rewound the film. It didn't take long to get it back in the canister, so I knew something was wrong.

I'm trying to remember how I lined this up, whether it was centered in the viewfinder, or I was trying to make sure the shadow was in the frame. I'm thinking the latter, with plans of cropping the power lines out of the frame.

Gonna take some work to get this ready for ICCD.

PF

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Well it seems the camera is still light tight, the shutter working correctly at least at the speeds you used and the lens is very good. These camera's are quite easy to work on and not many have problems with the wind-system since it is uncomplicated. Since you mention that the winding knob can be turned around and backwards, your camera probably is missing the stop-hook/spring (don't know how it is called) which is held by a tiny screw just near the big gear which is mounted upon the film spindle. You could check first if that screw and tiny stop-hook/spring are still in place (I'll try to make a picture of it, since I still have a FED2 laying around.

Here at the right side of the spindle you see this stop-hook/spring thing (this thing makes that the gear can only turn one way):

Here's what I normally do when servicing a FED or comparable camera > I fully disassemble it so it is much easier to clean the whole thing and see if anything is wrong:

 

[farlymac]

Thanks, Ron. I suspected that might be one of the problems. It's in there, but obviously not catching. I couldn't pull the take-up spool out, so that's probably glued in. I'll loosen the screw first to see if that helps on the removal.

PF

 

[nongfuspring]

I had some pretty similar issues with my Fed 2 (also scratching, tearing film, reaching the "end" too soon etc.). I ended up giving it a CLA at home, replacing the grease in the film transport mechanism and now it's much much nicer to use and probably fairly reliable. I didn't have the issue with the take up spool being glued in, but considering how hardened the grease was in my camera I wouldn't be surprised if it might actually just be old grease holding it in place.

 

[farlymac]

There's always that possibility.

PF

 

[mburns]

Of course, the stuck take-up spool will cause serious problems with no additional help.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I guess in this case the spool is not stuck but is slipping, since only about 5 picture where taken and the hook-thing doesn't catch the gear, at least not always.....

 

[farlymac]

Another issue is that the pointer on the shutter speed setting dial moves around on it's own. I can put it on 1/125, and ten frames later, it's at 1/500. But somehow, it doesn't affect the actual shutter speed, as shown by the example photos.

PF

 

[rfaspen]

There's a few issues popping up. I think a full service might catch them all.

First, the film advance issue has me wondering....from what you've told us so far. If someone glued the film takeup spool in place, or it seized from old gunk, that would be a problem there. The film takeup spool is supposed to slip slightly on the wind shaft to account for the thickness of wound-on film. My guess is the wound-on film would reach critical thickness around 5 frames on, then something has to break -- Possibly the tooth on the ratchet gear at that position, or something else. Regardless, that spool is supposed to come out and supposed to slip on the wind shaft (but not sloppily).

The free spinning shutter speed dial sounds like the grub screws have backed out or stripped a groove on the disk underneath. Its worth removing the shutter speed dial to see what things look like underneath.

Let's hope there aren't any other surprises in wait.

 

[rfaspen]

Er, about that shutter speed dial.... you do know that you have to set the shutter speed after winding on most FSU cameras (someone will chime in and tell us if the Fed 2 is not one of them).

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

It sounds like it's been badly neglected and so the seller should be blamed. A service etc should cure everything and you'll have a very pleasant to use camera.

Regards, David

 

[farlymac]

Er, about that shutter speed dial.... you do know that you have to set the shutter speed after winding on most FSU cameras (someone will chime in and tell us if the Fed 2 is not one of them).

Yes, very cognizant of that procedure, having been the owner of a Zorki 1D/B. And to clarify the shutter setting issue, it's not the dial that is rotating, but the shaft with the pointer spot. I can set a speed once I have rotated the dial to the point where the shaft quits rotating. But when winding on, the shaft starts rotating again, with the pointer ending up moving the the higher speeds. It takes about ten frames to go from 1/125 to 1/500, but judging from exposures, does not affect actual shutter speed.

PF

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Er, about that shutter speed dial.... you do know that you have to set the shutter speed after winding on most FSU cameras (someone will chime in and tell us if the Fed 2 is not one of them).

No it is not one of them, you may select another speed whenever you want (there is no intrusion from the flash mechanism)

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

it's not the dial that is rotating, but the shaft with the pointer spot. I can set a speed once I have rotated the dial to the point where the shaft quits rotating. But when winding on, the shaft starts rotating again, with the pointer ending up moving the the higher speeds. It takes about ten frames to go from 1/125 to 1/500, but judging from exposures, does not affect actual shutter speed.
PF

Its a later type FED2, since the early ones don't have that shaft and spot, but only a speed selector dial. The shaft with spot is actually a tiny screw which apparently sits loose on your fed: to cure that act as follows:
1. take off the speed selector dial (some grub screws to loosen first);
2. the shaft with pointer might have a small hole in its side in which you can stick a small screwdriver, next you can fasten it with that screwdriver. If it has no hole, you have to fasten the shaft with a tiny plier or something comparable.

Here you go:

good luck
Ron

 

[rfaspen]

Yep, just pulled my Fed 2 out of the closet to confirm. You can change the shutter speed any time you like with this model. I tend to think only Zorki's (of certain models) have this feature. Not so.

I think Ron has the right approach to the creeping shutter speed indicator.

Let us know if you get the film take-up spool off, or at least get it to rotate-slip on its shaft with light/moderate twist. If its indeed stuck, I'm fairly certain its somehow part of your film advance problems.

 

[farlymac]

Will give that a shot, Ron. I might do some work on it tomorrow, rfaspen, after I run the film from the Zarya down to the lab. So many irons in the fire right now, the last thing I needed was another camera to repair.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Too nice today to be hammering away on an FSU camera. I'm going out to shoot some film!

PF

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Too nice today to be hammering away on an FSU camera. I'm going out to shoot some film!

PF

Lucky you! I had to go to a long day in office :bang:

 

[farlymac]

Being retired helps in that department.😀

PF

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ Never a truer word was spoke ! Peter