FED2 Winding issue

[philcoolman]

Hi everybody, I'm new to these parts, and to RF photography in general. Just got a FED2 (late model) off ebay a few weeks ago and have been playing around with it, trying to get the hang etc but there seems to be a problem.
When I wind on the film advance knob, more often than not the shutter doesn't cock. It's very erratic. Occasionally it works perfectly, sometimes it takes two turns of the film advance knob to turn the shutter speed knob, and alot of the time I'm just spinning the thing 'round and 'round aimlessly. Can anybody give me some advice on this issue?
Apologies if this is a question that's been asked to death, but I did a search and couldn't seem to find what I was looking for.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Phil

 

[wolves3012]

First of all, welcome to RFF!

The FED 2 is generally a reliable camera so you're perhaps unlucky but a few checks may identify the problem. First, take the back off and have a look just below the film sprocket on the right hand side. Underneath it there's a small pin, that pin drives another one on the shutter mechanism. Watch the two pins as you wind and fire the shutter and firstly make sure the camera is not partially set to "rewind" (the collar around the shutter button). Also, see what happens to those pins when you work the camera between "advance" and "rewind".

What SHOULD happen is that the pins are engaged against each other as you wind but they are released when you fire the shutter or engage the "rewind". What results do you get?

 

[rbiemer]

There are much more expert folks than I am around here so I'll start with a basic idea about your problem: is the re-wind switch set to re-wind or to advance? This is the collar under the shutter button. It will press down and turn to the left--as you hold the camera with lens away from you--aligns with a letter that sort of looks like an upside down "U" and stays there as you re-wind. After re-winding, you turn it back towards the right and it should pop back up to its advance position. If it is partly turned and or depressed, it can cause what you're describing.
The real experts will hopefully be along to tell you how to fix that if it is the problem.
And, in case you don't have one, here is a link to a manual for the FED2:
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/fed_2/fed_2.htm
Good luck with it.
And, welcome aboard, Phil!
Rob
EDIT: I type too slowly and one of the real experst has beaten me to the post!😀

 

[wolves3012]

EDIT: I type too slowly and one of the real experst has beaten me to the post!😀

Not sure I'd call myself "expert" but I'll take that as a compliment, thank you!

 

[philcoolman]

Wow thanks for the quick replies guys!
Hi rbeimer, the re-wind switch is definitely in the advance position right now, although there seems to be a problem with that sometimes too (getting the feeling I may have been sold a cereal box with "camera" written on the front..).
Wolves, looking at the two pins I see the upper one driving the lower as I turn the knob but this has no effect whatsoever on the shutter. The sprocket the lower pin is part of seems to be crooked. I managed, by chance, to cock the shutter and when the shutter is released the pins disengage as you described. The same goes for when it's set to rewind.
Thanks again for the replies, any further insights?

P.s. Thanks for the warm welcome! 🙂

 

[Livesteamer]

Welcome to RFF and Russian cameras. I own a number of Russian cameras and the Fed 2 is my favorite but buying them is a gamble. It sounds like yours will need a sorting out either by you or a professional but once done you should have a good camera. In the future consider buying from someone like Fedka. You will pay a little more but he will sell a good product. Good Luck and have fun. Joe

 

[philcoolman]

Thanks Joe!
I've spent the morning doing a lot of fiddling and I've noticed something. On the very bottom of the camera, when open, directly under the film sprocket is a black disc about the size of a small coin. I can see the teeth of a cog inside it. When I wind the film on most of the time it seems that the cog at the bottom of the film sprocket isn't catching the cog beneath it. On the lucky occasion when I'm able to wind the shutter, they connect and wind on the shutter. Hopefully this little bit of extra info helps identify the problem.

Phil

 

[wolves3012]

I have a fair idea now. Is the sprocket wobbly at the bottom? I'm betting it is, in which case the bottom bearing is severely worn. I've seen that on a couple of cameras but never so bad they wouldn't wind on.

If I'm right then the only solution is to make a bush and strip the whole camera to fit it. Basically, it's worn out. I've bushed a Zorki 1 and it's not fun. I'd not have bothered but it was the first FSU I bought and is otherwise very nice. I wasn't going to let it die.

 

[philcoolman]

Thanks Wolves, but what exactly do you mean by bush? And the sprocket isn't quite wobbly but very crooked/lop-sided. It makes contact with the other gear if I put a small amount of pressure on the shutter release knob, that's the only way to get it to work consistently. I've taken a few rolls where the mechanism has worked like a dream without any interference from me and others where it's just totally erratic. Sorry for unloading my headache onto you guys but I really appreciate all the help you've given so far 🙂

 

[wolves3012]

A bush is a kind of bearing. Imagine a stubby piece of metal rod with a hole made in it.

If you look directly under the shutter button, on the bottom of the crate, you'll see a flat spring (and there may be a cover over it to remove first). Hold the shutter button down and look underneath the spring (which will now be bent by the shutter release shaft). There you'll see a shaft poking through a hole drilled in the crate, it's that hole that I suspect is worn. If, whilst holding the shutter button, you try wobbling the bottom of the sprocket sideways, you'll be able to see if the shaft is a loose fit due to the wear.

Bushing it would involve stripping the camera almost totally to remove the shaft, then drilling out the hole to a larger size. Next you need a suitable bush which you press-fit into the enlarged hole. Finally you drill the bush out to the correct size to fit the shaft. Not for the faint-hearted! It requires some care and some small tools and a selection of bushes to find a suitable sized one.

First you need to confirm my "diagnosis" is correct though...

 

[philcoolman]

Thanks Wolves, I'm going to see if I can track down a camera repair shop around here and see if they can do anything about it.
Cheers,
Phil