Mamiya 6 with stuck film advance lever

[vdonovan]

I ran one successful roll through my new Mamiya 6. While loading a second roll, the film advance lever has become stuck in the forward position. I've tried chancing the battery and pushing the little shutter release button with paper clip but nothing has changed. Any suggestions before I send it in for repair?

 

[jan normandale]

ummm , stick the camera into a dark / changing bag to remove the roll of film and save it, if you want to use the balance of the roll. Otherwise remove the film and load a new roll to see if this problem recurs. If it does.. probably the camera needs to be looked at. I've a M6 that has film advance issues but your sound more like something to do with the film or the shutter release.

 

[vdonovan]

Thanks. I took the film out already but it's still stuck.

 

[john_s]

Maybe it's like this problem with one of my Mamiya bodies:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008QDh

I haven't had it fixed, since the other body is fine. I will have it fixed if possible when I need to, at great expense if necessary. In the case of my faulty body, it is useable, but the film can be wound on only after the lens mount is released (as if I were going to retract the lens). There is a click, and it's ok to wind on.

 

[vdonovan]

Hi John, thanks for the linke. This could be the problem though my symptoms are quite the same. There is definitely some kind of locking going on. In its current frozen state I can retract the lens mount but I can't remove the lens!

 

[jan normandale]

Vince, it may be what you suspect. The film advance mechanism is in need of repair. For some reason the symptoms you list make me think it's something else. It's hard to diagnose over the internet. I would get the owners manual and give it a long close read to see if there is a clue to this operational issue. For no other reason than if it is something simple you have saved a lot of time by not packing, posting and waiting.

Good luck!

 

[john_s]

........... In its current frozen state I can retract the lens mount but I can't remove the lens!

You have closed the curtain before trying to remove the lens, I hope!

With a shutter in the lens, the film must be protected from light when lens changing.

 

[smiling gecko]

worth a try?

worth a try?

...maybe this is worth a try: from your initial post you said the advance lever was stuck in the forward position...maybe the advance lever needs a further - though gentle - push farther out. this is a simple idea - i'm big on simple...or am i just big & simple? 😛

seriously, you might try that if you haven't already done so. while i'm out on this limb...try - gently - alternately nudging the take-up spool, the film spool, and the advance lever - it might help if you had three hands.

you might try nudging the various interlock controls as well. it sounds like a mechanical problem, but since it is battery operated maybe try new batteries and/or check installation of current batteries. also maybe try te re-set again...then let it sit for a day. occasionally when i do this and go back to whatever i was trying "fix" the next day - the problem is resolved either by the previously applied trouble shooting approach again & the "fix" takes OR by elves OR with pure dumb luck.

i hope you get your camera working again...they are much, much more durable than "reports" indicate. i've had my present mamiya6 for over ten years and had zero -other than operator error (hah!) - problems. just recently got a second one -beyond mint condition- at a very, very good price - from pablito (muchos muchisimos gracias) and look forward to the added versitility of a second body.

hopefully some of my basic, simple and obvious ideas may be helpful.

take care,
kenneth
NEVER FORGET BESLAN
www.neverforgetbeslan.org

 

[vdonovan]

Thanks, all. I'll try some nudging and three-handed jiggling. I have read through the manual pretty thoroughly and nothing jumped out that I haven't already tried.

 

[andrew moxom]

without seeing the camera, this appears to be the infamous mamiya 6 winding problem. Once locked, the camera needs a new winder, of which there are no spares. I'd send it to MAC to see what they say.

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

I would get it in as soon as possible. Just yesterday I talked on the phone to MAC in NY, and they said they're almost out of parts for the Mamiya 6.

 

[vdonovan]

Thanks for the tip. My problem turned out not to be the infamous Mamiya 6 film advance problem. In the infamous problem, the film advance lever turns and turns. In my problem everything on the camera locked up: the advance lever was stuck halfway, the shutter wouldn't fire, I couldn't remove the lens, and the emergency shutter release button didn't work.

I took the camera to Fred at ICT Camera in Mountain View, California. (www.ictcamera.com). Fred is an old school camera repairman, right down to the European accent. Anyway, he found that the mechanical was okay but many of the solder joints connecting the various electronic bits were in poor shape and some were broken. He re-soldered the electronics and so far it works like a dream. Cost: $350, with a 6 month warranty on the repairs.

Thanks again to the folks on this forum for trying to help me out with my problem.