Slightly tilted winding knobs on Leica LTMs

[Bart Bart]

I know that this doesn't matter but it still bugs my Felix (or was it Oscar?) side. It seems that half the LTMs I look at have winding knobs and their attached film counter "flying saucer" part ever so slightly canted so that they aren't parallel with the camera's top plate. The design amplifies this misalignment because the circular counter extends out from the center shaft, it must be hard to keep things straight.

So how is this adjusted or fixed? Is the shaft slightly bent? In which a slow but firm push from the opposite direction is the key to straightening things out? Can a typical Youxin or Don CLA fix this easily or are "the parts unavailable"?

Sorry, first post in ten years and it's petty and anal retentive. But it is a Leica photography forum ;-p

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, but when there is film in the camera the knobs are steady. There is a little play so the spool goes in and out more easily.


Erik.

 

[mothertrucker]

Slightly tilted winding knobs on Leica LTMs

The film wind on knob is screwed onto the film take up spindle which protrudes from the inside of the camera through the top plate. I have also seen some cameras which seemed a little cocked to one side. I wonder if the spindle has been bent a little? Hard to say unless you have it out and look at it.

At any rate, I don't think it will affect the functionality of the camera unless the film counter or something binds while winding.

 

[Shac]

I just checked 2 of my perfectly functioning LTM's and the film counters on each are very slightly loose (i.e. not firmly attached to the wind-on spindle). Press on on side and the "flying saucer" counter goes down, etc.
I very much doubt there is anything to worry about.
Go take pictures

 

[B-9]

Perfectly normal. As Erik said it is by design.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

'course the knob is threaded to the take-up shaft and secured by a set-screw. You can loosen the set-screw and screw the knob down until all the clearance that allows the shaft to turn is taken up. Then you can loosen the knob until the shaft turns properly, but not too loose, and tighten the set-screw.
Or... you can let well-enough alone.

 

[dxq.canada]

The only thing that is securing the take-up spool and exposure dial is the knob with a spring washer underneath ... so it will wobble a bit. The hole through the body has a lot of gap for the spool to move freely. I have taken apart about three Barnack Leicas and a couple of Canon, and they are all made like that.



If stuff gets under the exposure dial, or the knob has not been tightened enough (as noted before), it will not sit as flat.

 

[dxq.canada]

If you happen to have it apart ... like I do, it is very easy to see this.




leica by Dennis, on Flickr

 

[Bart Bart]

Thanks! Hope I helped everyone feel better ��

 

[VictorM.]

Don't screw the wind knob down too tight-it will cause the shutter release too feel too tight and eventually need a lot of pressure to operate.