Minox 35 stiff advance normal?

[Ranchu]

I just got a 35EL, my first minox. The advance seems a bit hard to turn with or without film, but not lumpy or catchy, and is working. Is this how they are?

 

[Sid836]

My 35EL is a bit stiff on advancing the film, but only when film has been loaded properly in it. Without film it is a lot easier, not moving freely but with quite a difference.

 

[VF101]

The same with my "new" Minox 35: with film, the advance is rather stiff. The first roll (old APX 100) went through without problem though. But with my second roll, it's so stiff, the transport wheels ruined the perforation holes and it won't advance beyond the fifth image. This second roll is a cheap drug store slice film. So I hope it just has to do with the film.

 

[Rodchenko]

It varies. I've had a worryingly stiff one, but it came to no harm. Others have been smoother.

 

[Ranchu]

Many thanks! VF101, I crunched the sprocket holes on this first roll too, ultramax 400. I opened the back and it seems to work when I seated the sprocket hole fully on the little tooth on the takeup spool. I started at shot 5. I can't open it to check if this is true now, but I read somewhere that the toothed wheel doesn't advance the film as in other cameras, it's the takeup that does the pulling and the toothed wheel just spins along. If that's true it seems to me the position on the takeup would be important because it would set the distance between the held sprocket hole and the teeth on the wheel. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Ranchu]

Well, looks like the sprocket wheel is geared, so.

 

[batterytypehah!]

As politely and non-combatively as I can, still I must ask: Are you guys following the manual? Easily found at multiple sites around the net. Loading a Minox 35 is a little tricky.

I have 5 of the little things (6 if you count the dreadful Kiev clone) and I believe I've had film through all of them at one point or another, although none are daily users at the moment. They all advance smoothly and have never chewed my film.

 

[Ranchu]

I looked at the manual before I loaded it but there didn't seem to be any surprises, maybe I didn't read carefully enough... I'm not used to putting this much pressure on the advance mechanics is all, so I wanted to ask around. It does seem to be working. Thanks!

 

[Harryo1962]

Mine is stiff winding, and it gets worse as the roll progresses. To the point of tearing or skipping. Using 24 ex film instead of 36 helps.