M6 film advance lever problem after a snowstorm.

[tanel]

Did a quick search, maybe I missed something, but didn't find what I was looking for.

Few days back we had a pretty bad snowstorm here. It wasn't as much as cold as it was windy. Blizzard was so bad that for a while most of the countries roads were undrivable or closed. Some 600 people were stuck on a highway, most of the transportation didn't work at all.
Being stuck in a storm myself, I went out to the neibhourhood and documented what was going on. Took my M6 with me.
Worked like a charm, nothing jammed. The camera resisted cold much better than I was.

While shooting in the storm, I protected the camera with my hands, it didn't fall down, it didn't get that much snow on it but due to the wind and cold, it did freeze on the outside a bit.
I got back home, let the camera slowly and carefully warm up and.. the film advance lever seems now to be a bit "stiky".
It works fine when advancing, but letting it go and falling back to it's normal position it feels like someone put their bubblegum in the mechanism.

So, to cut the already long story short- how to fix this "sticky" film advance lever problem?
Have anyone had some similar experiences shooting in snow/cold weather?
I don't have the nessecary tools to take it apart myself, but I'd hate to send it out for the cla.
I'll be needing the camera in the upcoming days.

 

[hexiplex]

If you can advance the film even though it's sticky, why not wait with the CLA until you can spare the camera? Also, perhaps try giving the advance some "exercise" (trip the shutter, advance without film several times) and see if that makes it any better?

Also, be sure to show us some of those photographs!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

My M4-2 has that at times. The lever does advance the film, but it doesn't work as smoothly as my M3 or my M5 or any of my M6TTL bodies. However, if I work it a few times it goes back to a reasonable ease.

In your case, the cold must have done something to one of the many types of oils that the camera needs. Give it more time... and exercise.

 

[tanel]

I've still got an unfinished roll in it, but will give it a proper exercise tomorrow and see how it reacts.
I know the lever changing for M6 isn't that difficult, so if the problem stays.. I have a plan to swich to MP style lever anyway.

As for the photos, I'll be shooting the storm and it's effects for a few days more. Since there might be another one coming in, it might take a form of a new project. We'll see. (-: