Problem with FED-3 film counter

[brianlavelle]

I'm hoping someone can help me with a problem I've encountered in a new (to me) FED-3 type B I've received. The camera works very well and seems to be operating very smoothly, but the film counter and ГОСТ dials, above the wind lever, are very loose (i.e. they spin if you touch them). It seems that there's something missing from the stack of dials.

I did a search but couldn't see that anyone else had encountered this problem, which makes me think it's not common, and therefore probably related to a missing washer or spring in the film counter stack of dials etc. There just doesn't seem to be any tension in the dials. I did find a very helpful post from wolves3012 in relation to repair of the wind lever. Point 5 of that would tend to make me think I am missing at least the "spring washer" and "smaller flat washer with ears" mentioned there.

Does anyone have any idea how I can fix this? I don't think the camera needs a CLA, but if that's what it will take to sort this, I'll go for that.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm pretty new to rangefinders, but am hooked already! Thanks in advance.

Brian

 

[wolves3012]

Life is a little hectic here at the moment since I'm looking after a sick friend but, if you can give me a day or two, I'll post a photo of the parts you should have on the counter side. If there's no spring washer and no "washer with ears" that's certainly a problem. You may be able to get the missing parts from Oleg or some such source. I'll also have a look through my parts but, from memory, I don't have those spare.

 

[brianlavelle]

Thank you very much for taking the time to look, wolves3012 - I really appreciate that. Your original post certainly helped me to realise what I suspect is wrong here.

Oleg might well be an idea if all else fails, without having to go so far as having the camera CLA'd.

 

[wolves3012]

Here's a photo of the parts you should find, in order of removal (left to right). Hope this helps!

 

[brianlavelle]

Thanks very much - that's a great help. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

It looks as though I'm only missing a single washer: the slightly bent one which is shown in your picture fourth from the left. Now to try and source one!

Brian

 

[SimonK]

Thanks very much - that's a great help. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

It looks as though I'm only missing a single washer: the slightly bent one which is shown in your picture fourth from the left. Now to try and source one!

Brian

I have one of those from a FED 3 I dismantled and will certainly never get round to re-assembling. Send me your address and I will stick it in an envelope.

 

[brianlavelle]

Thanks very much for that. I'll send you a PM with my address.

Brian