Issues with a Leotax Elite

[Darinwc]

I recently purchased a Leotax Elite from a Tokyo seller.

Unfortunately, after running a roll through it, I found out that the rewind fork is missing! Wound and wound.. eventually opened the bottom to see the film still all wound on. Argh!

So first question.. I'm not missing anything am I? a/r lever is set to r..

Also, interesting that the re-wind knob has a folding lever, but that lever sticks out a bit and would hinder the action during wind I think.

Second question.. anyone have a parts body or just the rewind assembly?

Third.. the Leotax is a bit 'grindy' compared to a Canon when winding.. is this normal? all my Canon barnaks are super smooth when winding.

Thanks all!

 

[eckhardf]

I have an Elite that mostly sits on my shelf these days🙁 It's a nice camera to be sure but the shutter sounds a bit "clumpy" to me and the advance is much more "grindy" than my Canon Barnacks as well. I think it might be a lubrication issue (the oil becoming gummy) and probably the biggest reason I don't use it more often.

Mine has the rewind fork still intact. The rewind lever definitely protrudes over the side of the knob and looks like it would hinder wind-on by hitting the camera body (I never really noticed that before!). I took the bottom plate off and placed my finger on the rewind fork and then turned the rewind lever (unlike the Canon RF's you don't raise the rewind knob in order to rewind the film). After some experimentation I realise that the Leotax has a simple but elegant rewind mechanism! Essentially when the rewind lever is in the folded or closed position the rewind fork freely rotates in either direction and film can be advanced without the rewind knob turning. Lifting or opening the rewind lever locks the fork in position and film can then be rewound normally.

I'm happy to part with my Leotax for a fair working camera price if you really want to buy another one and cannot locate a parts body or the rewind mechanism if that helps you; however postage from Australia can be expensive.

Regards and good luck in your search.

 

[xayraa33]

Find a good camera tech and get the camera CLAed and have the rewind fork installed..this part does not have to be a Leotax part to that specific model , as a seasoned camera tech could have a similar part that will work in their parts boxes...just let him or her know that your camera is missing this part before you contract out the repair work.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLbp3GQ1Vgo

 

[mconnealy]

That's helpful information about the operation of the rewind crank. The one good disassembly video I have seen omits the details of that feature. I've been wanting to take the top off mine to clean the viewfinder. Except for that issue the shutter and advance are very smooth on my example.

 

[bluesun267]

These are wonderful cameras being just about the only brightline finder available in a Barnack-style package. I agree that some sort of rewind fork could be found in a repair person's junk drawer, or could even be fashioned by yourself with the proper (most likely metric) size screw and a dremel tool

 

[xayraa33]

These are wonderful cameras being just about the only brightline finder available in a Barnack-style package. I agree that some sort of rewind fork could be found in a repair person's junk drawer, or could even be fashioned by yourself with the proper (most likely metric) size screw and a dremel tool

If the owner of the camera is not too concerned about aesthetics and only cares for functionality.. a wind knob to fork assembly can be fitted from say a Zorki 1 camera or a Tower/Nicca camera. Something like this would not be out of the ordinary for camera techs like Oleg of OK cameras.

 

[Darinwc]

Thank you for all your information!
If I cannot find a downer, I may take you up on your offer.

 

[hilltime]

Just noticed your message about your Leotax Elite. I have a Leotax DIV that I got for a parts camera and have the rewind fork removed. The actual rewind knob of the DIV and earlier Leotax's is different than the later, TV2, FV, and Elites, but the bottom portion which is the rewind fork held in by what looks like three screws from the top, appears to be the same, although I could not guarantee it will work the same. The earlier Leotax's have a rewind knob which pulls up so I'm not sure if it will mount the same or not?

Kindest Regards,
Gary