Nikkormat FT with uncoupled meter

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

Today I received a Nikkormat FT purchased from an auction. The camera is cosmetically in even better shape than I expected. The viewfinder is clean, the mirror foam is still spongy, and quick testing of the shutter speeds indicates that they definitely change.

I added a fresh 625 alkaline battery and the meter responds to light. Unfortunately, as you will see in the pictures, what it doesn't do is couple to the lens.

As you view the camera head on, the coupling pin is stuck on the far left of the prism. I can see a sliding tab hanging down that looks just like the sliding tab on a Nikkormat FT2 that I have with the exception that I cannot get it to move so that I can get the lens to couple.

My question to the board is this, can this be fixed easily by a ham handed mutton head like myself, or would it be best to send it away?

If send it away is the answer I'd appreciate suggestions for possible repairs here in the USA. I've heard good things about Garry's Cameras, would he be a good choice?

Nikkormat FT 003 by Tim Murphy, on Flickr

Nikkormat FT 002 by Tim Murphy, on Flickr

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[Steve M.]

You have to do the Nikon shuffle.

Take the lens off and turn the indexing prong on the front of the camera all the way to the other side. Then mount the lens, making sure the prong on it engages with the prong on the camera, and turn the aperture all the way to the left (counter clockwise when looking at the front of the camera). Then turn it all the way back clock wise. You have now properly indexed the meter.

Wait till you try to set the ISO. That is always a lot of fun.

 

[Tim Murphy]

That's the problem, the indexing pin won't move

That's the problem, the indexing pin won't move

Dear Steve,

I did as you suggested and try as I might unless I force the indexing pin it won't move past 10:00 o'clock. There is a tab hanging down from the bottom of the prism between the letters N and i on the camera prism that is stopping it's progress.

I double checked my FT2 and I can swing the indexing pin from 10:00 o'clock to 3:00 o'clock without any trouble. You can move the indexing pin counter-clockwise on the the FT2 all the way to the far left. As you bring it back towards the right that little hanging tab just clicks out of the way.

On the FT the indexing pin seems to be stuck on the far left, as it won't move past the letters N and i on the prism because of that goofy hanging down tab.

I'm sure I'll get this figured out. Thank you for trying to help.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[Livesteamer]

You actually have a late model Nikkormat FTn. Try removing the two screws that hold on the name plate and look underneath. The problem may lie there. Good Luck. Joe

 

[Spavinaw]

Yes, remove the nameplate to expose a complex of levers. Take care as the screw nearest the "T" has a spacer on it. The other screw does not need one. Perhaps you can get these levers loosened up and solve your problem. Best of luck.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Aw hell, I was afraid of that!

Aw hell, I was afraid of that!

Dear livesteamer and Spavinaw,

I suspected the answer laid under the face plate.

I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[farlymac]

Okay, just looked at my "Apollo" version like yours, Tim (winding and delay timing levers from F2, and A focus screen, but had nothing to do with the moon landing program as it is not an official Nikon designation).

That is definitely a lever from the auto indexing mechanism in the prism housing. Try lifting it up with a small screwdriver so the pin on the aperture ring will clear it. It could be a spring has popped loose, letting it fall down into the path of the aperture ring drive pin, or has been bumped past its stop.

It normally hangs down just a little bit, until the aperture ring goes past it, then it locks up into the prism housing.

PF

 

[Coconut_Head]

7 years later and I am also experiencing this issue, except the issue is on my FT2 whereas on my FT this aperture ring+pin rotate correctly around, past that thing that is dropped down (same problem as you but the other camera).

Did you ever figure this out? Hopefully you did and that it didn’t require you to take anything apart.
I also got both of these from an auction, very recently. I’d be happy with jjst the working FT but the FT2 has a hot shoe, an invaluable tool for me

 

[Coconut_Head]

7 years later and I am also experiencing this issue, except the issue is on my FT2 whereas on my FT this aperture ring+pin rotate correctly around, past that thing that is dropped down (same problem as you but the other camera).

Did you ever figure this out? Hopefully you did and that it didn’t require you to take anything apart.
I also got both of these from an auction, very recently. I’d be happy with jjst the working FT but the FT2 has a hot shoe, an invaluable tool for me

Also I cannot physically leverage that dropped doen thing out of the way - just way too tight in there!

 

[Coconut_Head]

I FIXED IT. Simply just unscrew the nameplate, confirmed the mechanics worked and that it’s only getting stuck because the plate was bent. Tried my best to bend it back. But everything back on and would still get stuck, but then I could lift the ring a bit and get it over. But after enough twisting back and forth is all works perfectly smoothly now without having to lift. A lot easier than expected and never ran into certain things under there that others said I might

 

[Tim Murphy]

I FIXED IT. Simply just unscrew the nameplate, confirmed the mechanics worked and that it’s only getting stuck because the plate was bent. Tried my best to bend it back. But everything back on and would still get stuck, but then I could lift the ring a bit and get it over. But after enough twisting back and forth is all works perfectly smoothly now without having to lift. A lot easier than expected and never ran into certain things under there that others said I might

Dear Coconut_Head,

That's what I finally did too. I had to do it a couple of times before everything settled down but it's been working for a couple of years now.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[Coconut_Head]

Dear Coconut_Head,

That's what I finally did too. I had to do it a couple of times before everything settled down but it's been working for a couple of years now.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

That's awesome! Hopefully anyone else who runs into this problem sees this thread because the issue is a lot simpler than one may assume.