Olympus 35RC completely jammed - anybody have a fix?

[SCLim]

Hi

my 35RC completely jammed up on me. Shooting shooting fine then the film advance locks up. Shutter release is useless since shutter can't be cocked and even the self timer is stuck. I am not using a battery.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

sc

 

[TXForester]

Wild guess here, but could dirt have worked its way into the slot where the advance lever sits? Look around the pivot/mount point of the lever.

 

[kuzano]

Did you attempt to use the self timer...

Did you attempt to use the self timer...

Hi

my 35RC completely jammed up on me. Shooting shooting fine then the film advance locks up. Shutter release is useless since shutter can't be cocked and even the self timer is stuck. I am not using a battery.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

sc

Selftimers on old shutters are often the reason many old shutter lock up.

If you want to fix it, I'd contact Jon Hermanson at Zuiko.com. He has a repair list and models he still works with. I've spoken with him a couple of times. Informative.

Although the temptation to test selftimers is overwhelming, I keep having to tell myself. "You never use selftimers....DON'T crank that lever"

When a self timer does not complete it's cycle, the symptom you describe is often the result.

 

[wallace]

if you want to try a DIY, then the following pages might be helpful:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/Oly_RC.html

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-134.html



wallace

 

[Brian Legge]

I had one with a similar issue. Having worked on a bunch of fixed lens rangefinders I opened it up. No luck fixing it but I have spare parts now.

I removed the lens from the body eventually but was never able to find and clear it.

Its a really interesting design, unlike anything I'd seen in a camera. Sort of like opening up an OM1 and realizing how it worked. Olympus had some creative people working for them.

 

[Tiger 68]

Unfortunately, John Hermanson is no longer working on most Olympus rangefinders.

It might be worth contacting him for some hints, however.

 

[charjohncarter]

I just got under the wire with Jon and my 35RC. But I recently got a different kind of lock up. I removed the top as shown on the above post and I was able to figure out what was wrong. Also, it is much easier to remove the base plate. You could do that first and see if something is jammed up down there.

By the way, someone above mentioned dirt. And I think that was what mine had in a spring loaded lever pivot.

 

[SCLim]

Thanks, everyone.

It sure is a complicated camera. I won't be able to DIY cos I don't have any of the necessary tools.

I tried the self timer only after it jammed so the self timer is most likely not the cause here. There is also no dirt that I can see jamming anything...

I might just buy one off of eBay. I only paid $15 for the jammed one at a flea market and it came with a vintage Leica lens cap.

sc

 

[Tiger 68]

Since you have only $15 invested, maybe it's best to find another.

They're really great cameras, mine has been going strong for nearly 40 years! I hope you can find a good one.

Regards,
BV

 

[sleepyhead]

I'm not familiar with the 35RC, but if it's like the Olympus 35SP, then simply try to turn the shutter speed ring on the lens back and forth from B to highest speed a few times.

That may free up the jam.

Good luck!

 

[sleepyhead]

Uhmmm... Probably forget that last suggestion - I can see now looking at photos of the 35RC that it's completely different shutter arrangement compared to the 35SP. My apologies.