Leica IIIf reversing lever won't go all the way to "A"

[MJKauz]

Hello Everyone,

I promise I did my due diligence in searching the forums here, as it is my first time posting, but found no answer.

My grandfather passed away in November and I always marveled at his two Leicas, a IIf and IIIf. Now, I'm a professional photojournalist so when I visited my grandmother she said I could pick one and my uncle would get the other. I thought the IIIf looked to be in better shape and had a nice 50mm Summitar that had been paired with it for decades.

It could probably use a CLA at least (which I'm looking for the best place to do that in the US, if anyone has a recommendation) but it does have one issue as far as I can tell right now.

I can not wind the film at all without forcing the R/A reversing lever toward A and holding it there. It goes to about 2mm from the post there, and freely swings toward R, but won't go to A enough for me to wind. I need to push with some effort toward A while simultaneously winding.

I can't imagine it's normal (I don't recall it being so when I was growing up). Does anyone know what the fix is, if its worth attempting myself? Otherwise somewhere to send it would be appreciated.

Thank you all.

 

[Chris Bail]

That does not sound normal. I'd send it all off for a CLA. There's a nice list of repair shops on the forum
HERE. Good Luck!

 

[Vickko]

You need to remove the top deck to get at the rewind lever mechanism. Sure, you could do it yourself if you want to spend the time and buy the tools to remove the top plate. It is a pretty straightforward mechanism. Probably some old dried gunk/grease that is preventing full engagement.

 

[colyn]

You need to remove the top deck to get at the rewind lever mechanism. Sure, you could do it yourself if you want to spend the time and buy the tools to remove the top plate. It is a pretty straightforward mechanism. Probably some old dried gunk/grease that is preventing full engagement.

Removing the top cover will not access what you need to access. The crate will have to be removed from the shell.
I would advise sending it to a repairman instead..

 

[mortalenema]

Removing the shell is really very simple. Using Rick's notes makes it that much easier. http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-154.html

Might just be worth it to carefully open it up and look for anything obvious. Could save you a couple hundred bux if you remove the shell and an old piece of film leader falls out, freeing up the mechanism.

Unless your shutter curtains are deteriorating or you need a new beam splitter in the RF. Then, you might as well send it in and have it all sorted in one shot.

 

[Robert Lai]

Have you checked to see if the screw on the A/R lever is tight? A similar thing happened to me after an overhaul of a IIF by DAG. Unless the screw is tight, the lever won't stay in its designated position. Use a sharpened screwdriver of the correct width if you attempt this, and be sure you don't slip and scratch the chrome surface.