Nikon F3 meter/film advance issue

[jszokoli]

I gave my son a fully functioning F3, and he's now having an issue with it. With the F3, when in auto, till the counter reaches 0 the shutter is supposed to fire at 1/80. Well now the camera won't disengage the feature till frame 5 or so. I've looked at the repair manual and I'm just not sure what could have gone wrong. I did a Google search and this seems this is not an unheard of issue.

Does anyone know how to put this right?

Joe
PS
My theory how this might have gotten messed up is that my son when loading film was winding the take-up spool the wrong way. He's used my Cannon F1 so that's the way he's used to doing it.

 

[Huss]

How does it behave if you have it in manual, then switch to AE when you get to #1?

 

[jszokoli]

How does it behave if you have it in manual, then switch to AE when you get to #1?

Not sure I'll have him check...
Joe

 

[shimokita]

The "F3 Repair Manual" M6 1-2-2 "Counter Switch Mechanism" explains the working including diagram. Since it works around frame #5, it sounds like something has gone out of sync. The two suspects are the ratchet or insulator. When you open the camera back does the counter revert to -2 and does it advance to -1 on the first 'film advance' after the back door is closed?

Sounds like a trip to the repair shop unless you are comfortable opening it up...

.

 

[jszokoli]

The "F3 Repair Manual" M6 1-2-2 "Counter Switch Mechanism" explains the working including diagram. Since it works around frame #5, it sounds like something has gone out of sync. The two suspects are the ratchet or insulator. When you open the camera back does the counter revert to -2 and does it advance to -1 on the first 'film advance' after the back door is closed?

Sounds like a trip to the repair shop unless you are comfortable opening it up...

I've looked at that diagram and it does seem that the 'top' part, the film counter is in sync, returning to it's correct position when the back is opened. I'm even thinking that simply jumping out that contact would be a possible solution. (Except for the long exposures you would get if firing the camera in auto with the lens cap on)

Joe

 

[shimokita]

I've looked at that diagram and it does seem that the 'top' part, the film counter is in sync, returning to it's correct position when the back is opened. I'm even thinking that simply jumping out that contact would be a possible solution. (Except for the long exposures you would get if firing the camera in auto with the lens cap on)

The F3P allows automatic exposure setting from counter position -2... you can shoot auto from any counter position. One difference between the F3 and F3P is that "the frame counter switch, power lock switch and four lead wires are eliminated". You might want to look at the F3P repair manual / parts list compared to the F3 repair manual / parts list to confirm the details.

 

[jszokoli]

I just was reminded that I had started this thread, and had figured out what was going on and how to 'fix' it.

I the digram several post ago there is a little disk with the label 2 and 3. The disk itself is plastic and has a short metal contact at one part of its circumference. That metal had come loose and was not at the right point. I simply removed the little metal contact that was no longer attached as it should have been, and unceremoniously removed the contact arms 4 and 5.

Everything works except that if you are loading film with a lens cap on and on automatic you will get the long exposure this little feature prevents.
Joe