MD12 winder on the FE2

[Huss]

Hello
The owner's manual for the MD12 states that once turned on, a gentle tap of the release button should activate the meter. And it should turn off after 50 seconds.
On my FE2 w/ MD12, the moment I turn on the MD12 the meter in the FE2 is activated. And it does not turn off until I turn of the MD12. It takes photos with no issue, but is this correct behaviour?

Thanks
Huss

 

[Dwig]

... the moment I turn on the MD12 the meter in the FE2 is activated. ...

Odd.

The older MD-11 worked the way you describe, but a properly working MD-12 should turn the meter off after close to a minute and turn the meter back on when you press the motor drive's release button halfway.

Check the following:
1. That it is actually an MD-12 and not an MD-11.
2. That nothing is attached to the remove cable socket on the motor other than the black plastic dust cover.

I don't remember whether turning on the drive from its rear switch initially activates the meter or not.

 

[Huss]

Odd.

The older MD-11 worked the way you describe, but a properly working MD-12 should turn the meter off after close to a minute and turn the meter back on when you press the motor drive's release button halfway.

Check the following:
1. That it is actually an MD-12 and not an MD-11.
2. That nothing is attached to the remove cable socket on the motor other than the black plastic dust cover.

I don't remember whether turning on the drive from its rear switch initially activates the meter or not.

1. Yup MD 12
2. Nothing attached apart from the plastic dust cover

When I get home I'm going to swap it with the Md12 on my FM2n and see if it behaves the same way.

 

[Huss]

So.....MD12 serial # 150xxxx is the one with the weird behaviour.
I swapped it with my other one that was on my FM2n - serial # 350xxxx - and that one works as per owner's manual. When it is turned on, the meter in the FE2 only turns on with the half press of the shutter release. And turns off after about 50 secs.

Curiosity piqued, I cleaned the contacts of 150xxxx (using a pencil eraser) and tried it on the FM2n. Same funky behaviour - when turned on it turns on the camera's meter, and the camera's meter only turns off if the motor drive is turned off.
Which makes me wonder if the early serial # MD12 had the same functionality as the MD11.
Hmm.

 

[Dwig]

...
Which makes me wonder if the early serial # MD12 had the same functionality as the MD11.
Hmm.

I don't remember that being the case. I worked for a retailer and sold Nikons during that period. The meter switching change was one of the big, new features of the MD-12.

Question, is the "casting" around the motor's release button plastic on both of your samples, or is it metal on #15... ? The MD-11 was metal and the MD-12 was plastic. Also, is there a black plastic pin, actually a switch, in the remote socket on both?

 

[Huss]

I don't remember that being the case. I worked for a retailer and sold Nikons during that period. The meter switching change was one of the big, new features of the MD-12.

Question, is the "casting" around the motor's release button plastic on both of your samples, or is it metal on #15... ? The MD-11 was metal and the MD-12 was plastic. Also, is there a black plastic pin, actually a switch, in the remote socket on both?

Both are plastic, both have two plastic pins in the remote socket.

 

[Dwig]

Both are plastic, both have two plastic pins in the remote socket.

That would indicate that both are real MD-12s and that #15... is not an 11 in 12 clothing.

I remember cases of MD-12s having issues with the switch in the remote socket sticking in the depressed position. This locks the meter on when the motor's power is one. It is a compatibility feature that allowed older remote releases to still be usable with the newer drives. Older releases would press the pin to lock the meter on while newer releases with their own compatible circuitry were notched to avoid pressing the pin.

One of the "pins" is at either the top or bottom and is an alignment pin. The other is the switch. Try pressing it in and letting it spring back out. Dirt or grit around the pin can cause it to bind stick in the pressed position. Also, improper reassembly after servicing can also cause problems.

Alternately, there could be a fault in the main release button or its circuitry.

 

[Huss]

Thanks for the info about the pins Dwig. I'll play around with it tonight and see if it makes a difference. Both drives have the dust cap covering the remote release socket (which is nice, most are missing) but maybe with age something got sticky inside there.

 

[nikon_sam]

Maybe try removing the battery in the camera and see if the drive shuts off then...
I learned the hard way about the MD-11 staying on...
All my MD-12s work as they should and turn off...

 

[Huss]

Maybe try removing the battery in the camera and see if the drive shuts off then...
I learned the hard way about the MD-11 staying on...
All my MD-12s work as they should and turn off...

I think you misunderstand the issue. Turning the drive on turns on the camera's meter, which does not turn off until the drive is turned off. Taking out the camera batteries results in the camera's meter not working. Which is correct behaviour.

 

[Huss]

...

One of the "pins" is at either the top or bottom and is an alignment pin. The other is the switch. Try pressing it in and letting it spring back out. Dirt or grit around the pin can cause it to bind stick in the pressed position...

Tried that, no difference. Ah well. Not a huge thing, I'll use this as a back up drive and I turn the things on and off only when I am about to take a pic.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

 

[nikon_sam]

I think you misunderstand the issue. Turning the drive on turns on the camera's meter, which does not turn off until the drive is turned off. Taking out the camera batteries results in the camera's meter not working. Which is correct behaviour.

Huss,
I understood the problem correctly...I worded my question wrong...and I might have screwed up my reasoning at the same time...
I'll leave it at that and not try again...😀
Hope it all gets worked out...

 

[Huss]

Thanks Sam! Yeah maybe I mis-understood too. Anyway, this one still works and it will be my 2nd string MD. I turn them off and on when I use them anyway.
🙂