M3 rewind knob difficult to turn?

[Passaloutre]

Yes I'm a Leica newbie, and didn't know where else to ask...

So I bought my first Leica, an M3, this week. My lens hasn't arrived yet, but the camera has, so I thought I'd try loading/unloading film a few times just to get the hang of it. I have a couple old rolls of Kodachrome I keep around for things like this.

Now don't get me wrong, I've read enough about this camera to know that rewinding the film is a chore. I expected to be turning the knob for a long time to rewind, that's fine, but I didn't expect it to be hard to turn.

It doesn't feel broken or jammed or anything, just more resistance in the rotation than I'm used to with other cameras. Once the film leader releases from the take-up spool, the resistance goes away, so I don't think it's anything wrong with the rewind knob itself.

If this is the way it's supposed to be, that's fine, I'll get used to it. I've just never used a Leica before so I didn't know *what* to expect.

 

[Steinberg2010]

I'm not sure if you're meant to keep winding until it releases the leader (I feel that would require excessive force). On my M3 I rewind until I feel the resistance as all the exposed film has been rewound and then I open the back to remove the canister and spool to reload.

~S

 

[Passaloutre]

It doesn't take much force to release the leader, not really any more than rewinding the rest of the roll. This is what I'm trying to find out. How much resistance is there when you're rewinding?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Old kodakchome? Perhaps it accomulated some humidity?
Also I was wondering who really needs those additional bottom rewind gizmos sold of premium price?

 

[oldwino]

It doesn't take much force to release the leader, not really any more than rewinding the rest of the roll. This is what I'm trying to find out. How much resistance is there when you're rewinding?

Shouldn’t be a lot of resistance. It’s not as quick as the newer rewind systems, but shouldn’t be any more “difficult”. At least on my M2 and my earlier MP.

 

[Huss]

Old kodakchome? Perhaps it accomulated some humidity?
Also I was wondering who really needs those additional bottom rewind gizmos sold of premium price?

Kostya makes a very good point. I have a few rolls of old Kodachrome that I use to test camera loading etc, and they now have become quite difficult to wind and rewind.
If the rewind knob on your M3 spins easily/freely with no film in your camera, it is fine. Twisting that small knob is much harder than using a regular 35mm camera with a rewind crank. This is why most cameras after the Leica M3 have cranks! (and why Leica added it to the M4 and later).
Of course they got rid of the crank when they brought back the M-A, cuz peeps wanted blisters..

 

[Mute-on]

There will be a proper resistance to rewinding the film that decreases towards the end of the roll. This assumes the rewind lever is disengaging the clutch in the advance mechanism as it is supposed to. If it is noticeably tight and difficult to turn, there is likely a problem.
I have an M2 that I do not think is properly releasing the clutch, as the resistance is greater than it should be. But I have two other Leica M to compare.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

No issue here with mine - just a bit more turning than a lever system, but smooth until the leader removes itself from the spool, when just a bit more resistance is felt.

Try it with a new film, same problems then its the camera with the issue.

I don't find using it a chore at all - the M3 gives me joy beyond any other camera!

 

[LCSmith]

I quite agree with Charles. Try it with new film.

It may also be that the camera will benefit from "exercising". This is something I have heard people far more knowledgeable than myself say, but I am not sure I believe it. The process is something like this. Put a strap on the M3 and try doing a sun salutation or a few pushups. If you are a little more limber, take a jog around the block -- WHILE WEARING THE M3. Apparently this exercise is an elixir to old crotchety M3 ills.

 

[Rob-F]

I have an M2 and an MP with rewind knobs rather than cranks. The amount of force needed to rewind the film should not be uncomfortable. The knob doesn't spin freely--you should feel some drag from the film moving--but it shouldn't feel like you have to force it. Releasing from the clip does take more effort. After all, it takes some tension in order for the clip to hold the film. When I rewind, I can feel the film come to a stop at the end of the roll. Then a little extra force is needed to pull it free from the spool.

 

[AlexBG]

Mine is exactly the same as you are describing yours. Resistance when turning the knob and then I keep going until all of the film is back in the canister. When I first got the camera 5 years or so ago it felt a bit strange but I'm used to it now and never had a film snap. Don't forget these are 60+ years old now so still work great but are definitely not modern.

 

[splitimageview]

There is a metal ‘fork’ piece in the rewind assembly of these cameras. I can’t recall the actual technical name, maybe DAG could help with that. 🙂

Anyway that component if damaged can make for very tight/difficult rewinding.

When I worked on Ms for painting I would often replace this part as a matter of course.

Might want to send your camera off to one of the usual techs to be checked.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

A rewind shaft that is "dry" may feel as if it is turning freely with no load, but will be harder to turn under load. It doesn't take much to lubricate it, just don't over-do it.

 

[KoNickon]

I quite agree with Charles. Try it with new film.

It may also be that the camera will benefit from "exercising". This is something I have heard people far more knowledgeable than myself say, but I am not sure I believe it. The process is something like this. Put a strap on the M3 and try doing a sun salutation or a few pushups. If you are a little more limber, take a jog around the block -- WHILE WEARING THE M3. Apparently this exercise is an elixir to old crotchety M3 ills.

I think people will take you seriously.

 

[punkzter]

Just out of curiosity, you do have the rewind switch turned to reverse...right?