Help!!! Leica III (F) Hurt Real Bad!!!

[CosmicCharlie]

Help,
I dropped my camera from about 3 feet onto a floor, while loading film, It seems some kind of plate has popped back into the film cavity prohibiting the loading of film. Everything else is functioning fine shutter fires etc. Any advice greatly appreciated.🙁

 

[erikhaugsby]

ouch!

might the pressure plate have been jostled enough to disconnect from the back of the camera? That is the most likely happening, as far as I know.
And I would check to make sure that the RF window is still properly aligned--a fall like that can be terrible for any RF.

 

[CosmicCharlie]

Thank you erik

 

[clintock]

perhaps the pressure plate bumped loose? that's about all that can fall off between the shutter and the shell.. It's just held on by the pressure of flat springs holding it in place, with milled grooves for the flat springs.
It's really easy to take the shell off, but I don't know right now where the instructions are.

 

[nzeeman]

here is info for zorki 1 disassembly http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-101.html
maybe you can use that.

 

[clintock]

Maybe this will help too-
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00C297

 

[CosmicCharlie]

It is the pressure plate, I was thinking of sending to Golden touch/Sherry
I am not mechanical in the least. Any opinions?
I thank you all for your help.

 

[erikhaugsby]

It wouldn't be very difficult to remove the shutter assembly from the body shell, though if you don't feel mechanically competent sending the camera out wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Alfred Rugel]

I do not think you can beat Oleg Khalyavin at okvintagecamera.com

for price and top quality of repairs. He just CLA'd my IIIA and IIIC

and they are like new!!

 

[reagan]

Hey Charlie. Amen on the "ouch!" The strap broke on my half-case letting one of my IIIFs hit the cement. Luckily it landed on the lens hood and half-case, so no damage occurred. (Besides my dear old mother's ears being burned from the horrendous high speed cursing. 😱 )

Be sure to keep track of the (2) pressure plate springs. They are small and flat and attached to nothing, so they could work their way out the bottom or possibly into the shutter curtain since the plate has been moved. Re-installing the pressure plate is no biggie. I'm sure you could do it. But if you'd rather not, expense and turn-around should be minimal. These old Leicas are pretty tough... thank God, ay?

 

[CosmicCharlie]

Thanks Everyone, I am going with Oleg.
I have just read some real heart felt praise for him..

 

[Paul Connet]

Thanks Everyone, I am going with Oleg.
I have just read some real heart felt praise for him..

You live in Maine and Oleg is way far away across the sea. The fix for your camera is very simple and quick if only the pressure plate is adrift. Call Yoxin Yee in New York, he can probably fix it for less than the shipping fees to Oleg, and have it back to you in a few days.

Regards, Paul C.