Frame counter stopped working (m6ttl), any tips?

[Leica All Day]

Hello Everybody,

I’m currently in Kolkata now and the frame counter on my M6ttl stopped working. The camera still works and I’m using it a lot, but it’s a little annoying because I sometimes switch film mid rolls (ISO 100 to 400) and I can’t keep track of how many shots are on a rolll.

Ironically, my other M6ttl Millennium is being repaired at Leica NJ (faulty meter). I brought my M3 with me as a back up, but I’ve only got 2 lenses on this trip (35mm and 90mm). I’ve sort of dedicated the M3 with the 90 and the M6 with the 35.

I’m just curious if anybody has any tips on how I might get it working again. I noticed there is a small switch (shin spring ?) on the bottom that might be the thing that resets the frame counter.

Thanks in advance.

Michael

 

[Richard G]

Mine was like this in a straight M6. My recollection the frame-counter disc is just glued on and that's the level of the damage.

 

[sepiareverb]

That little protruding tongue when you remove the bottom plate should reset the counter. I had this happen on an MP recently, could not get it to spring back. DAG sorted it out in a matter of minutes, so it must not be too hard. He did not divulge the secret password however.

 

[presspass]

I had a similar problem with an M6 and it was, as reported above, the tongue that is supposed to reset the counter. In my case, the bottom plate was slightly bent and the counter would stay in the reset position. You didn't say if your counter is stopped at a specific number or if it stays at the -2 starting position. If you are very brave, you could take a pair of needle nose pliers and tug gently on the tongue to see if it will reset to -2 and if it will then function. Other than that, I can't think of a DIY solution to the problem.

 

[dave lackey]

Michael,

Hope you are enjoying your trip.

Good luck with the misbehaving M6... surely it is a minor fix.
Fingers crossed here for you!

 

[leicapixie]

Mine has been faulty a long time!
It will not reset, to zero.
When exercising the camera, always use a F^^^d roll.
The counter spring is made of "PLASTIC".
Wunderbaar! German Technology at its finest!
I believe no more circuits for M6TTL and MP.
My M3 working professionally has never failed in counting!

 

[Leica All Day]

Thanks a lot everybody for the replies. It is stuck at -2. I have no idea what the heck happened to it. I spent about 5 days shooting the burning bodies in Varanasi so maybe some kind of spirit got into my camera, because the frame line selector is a little slow too and it doesn’t snap into place like it should. I’m just trying to burn through a roll now and not change rolls mid roll like I usually do.

Cheers, michael

 

[presspass]

As I said above, when mine was stuck at -2 the problem was a slightly bent bottom plate. Would the M3 base plate fit on the M6? If so, you could try that to see if it would fix the problem temporarily.

 

[Leica All Day]

As I said above, when mine was stuck at -2 the problem was a slightly bent bottom plate. Would the M3 base plate fit on the M6? If so, you could try that to see if it would fix the problem temporarily.

That’s an excellent idea

Thanks a lot 🙏🙏