M6 Film Advance Lever Issue

[raydm6]

Question on my M6 film advance lever:

I was just dry firing the camera to exercise the shutter and noticed the film advance lever catches/stops about half-way (it will not travel further), then when I relieve pressure, I can complete the advance lever stroke to the end and fire the shutter.

This has never happened before and am curious if anyone has experienced this behavior. The camera has been sitting for awhile.

 

[Rob-F]

Shouldn't be happening. The camera probably needs attention from a professional.

 

[TenEleven]

Without knowing the specifics of the M6 - just judging from how most of those advances work in my experience it very much sounds like an issue caused by a broken (or gummed up) ratchet tooth in the advance.

Seconding that the camera needs professional attention.

 

[Freakscene]

Is it a ‘new’ or an older M6? Either way it is likely that the slotted washer under the rewind knob is coming loose. The only ways it can catch unloaded is if the slotted washer is bearing up on the rewind knob or if something is caught or loose in the wind mechanism. In my experience the latter causes a total lock up, but it is possible That is a cause too.

rewind mechanism transport problem

Every Leica M I have owned with an angled rewind (I have personally owned more than 10 M4, M4-P, M6, M7 cameras) has done this at some stage until I locked the slotted washer down with non-permanent Loctite.

Also if the whole top plate is loose this can happen, but usually the user notices this.

 

[TenEleven]

Apologies, but how can the slotted washer of the rewind section be causing this issue if he is dry firing it?
They are not mechanically connected on any 35mm film camera I have ever taken apart. Including the Leicas M2 and M4..

 

[Freakscene]

Apologies, but how can the slotted washer of the rewind section be causing this issue if he is dry firing it?
They are not mechanically connected on any 35mm film camera I have ever taken apart. Including the Leicas M2 and M4..

Sorry, did not read dry firing. One of your ratchet teeth is broken or the top plate is loose.

 

[TenEleven]

Yeah that was my read as well, well the top plate bit is useful information.
I did not know that it could cause that as well.. strange

 

[raydm6]

Thanks all.

It's an early 1985 M6. It had been sitting for awhile an not heavily used. Never had this problem. I am in the Boston area. I may contact Youxin as he is within driving distance and drop it off at his house when I have time. He may be able to diagnose. He does work on M6's according to his web site.

 

[raydm6]

This may be what's going on with mine. Fascinating look into the top-plate removal and gear adjustment of this M4-2.

(Top plate comes off about the 7:20 mark)

The shutter and advance mechanism in LEICA M4-2 (Made in Canada) was stuck, so nothing was working. The problem was solved by lifting the little gear wheel between the advance gear and the film reel. But they has to sit correct so the syncronization in the whole film advance sequence is correct.FIRST: lift up the little spring loaded gear wheel and then be sure that the film advance is in the correct position so the shutter button can be push all the way down.NEXT: then move the film uptake reel so it stop's, then let the small gear wheel go down so it click's in the other gear's, then try to advance the film, if it's not correct, then you have to move 1 theeth and then try again.