The rewind crank broke on my R2A

[luketrash]

Just like in this thread:

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00GfkY

Do any of you know if there's an updated fix for this or where to buy the part? Can you put some other type of crank on there that won't break? My friend was borrowing my camera and it mysteriously broke and the end piece disappeared, never to be found.

As any of you know who own this camera, you can't rewind the film unless you flip out the crank lever, so you have to use a safety pin or something to pry up what tiny bit of crank is left in order to engage the rewind.

Thanks for any leads on the fix!

 

[KenR]

The rewind crank on my R4A (the same or similar crank to that on the R2A) seems kind of flimsy, so on the last few turns, where there is a lot of tension on the film, I try to also hold and turn the knob itself as well as the tiny crank. You'll probably have to send it back for repair.

 

[luketrash]

I bought it on ebay 2nd hand, so I won't be able to send it back to anywhere. The whole mechanism is fairly overcomplicated to be sure.

 

[nikon_sam]

That is a very poor design...some engineer was looking to be cute...probably not a photographer either...

 

[luketrash]

After calling around, apparently nobody in the USA has this part and Camera Quest can fix it, but it costs 125 dollars 🙁

Does anybody know of a suitable replacement part, or how this knob comes off? There's a flathead screw in the top center (obviously) and I would like to take the aluminum knob off of the top if it'll come off in one piece. I know several machinists who may be able to use it as a model to make me something much cheaper.

Or I may be able to turn something down on a lathe as well.

The main issue is that there's a cam that flips down to lock the knob with the shaft. When the cam isn't pressing down on some sort of lock ring the knob spins freely on the shaft.

So have any of you taken these apart? I noticed a bunch of tiny phillips head screws on the bottom of the knob itself which most likely contains the spring and ratchet system internally.

 

[laoyou]

Hopefully, the guy who designed this mechanism has been sacked.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

speaking from my own experience: the servants in ironmongeries often can help -- if you are polite, they WILL.
At least, you should visit the hardware shop you are patronising.

 

[Bill58]

There used to be some Japanese firm that, somewhat embarassingly, sold beefed-up VC body parts on the 'net. I don't know if they still sell them or not. I'd be mad as hell if that happened to me. $125? is crazy.

 

[Bill58]

Hopefully, the guy who designed this mechanism has been sacked.

He was and is designing Toyota gas/brake pedal assemblies now.

 

[Spleenrippa]

He was and is designing Toyota gas/brake pedal assemblies now.

Hey, somebody had to do something to make their cars exciting at all 😛
Anyway, is this also an issue on the R3x? My R3A's crank seems solid enough, but should I be keeping an eye on it?

 

[nimcod]

I had the same thing happen to my r2a rewind crank, ive got just enough left that i can lever it up with my nail and then roll it using the side of the rewind knob.

ive been tempted to see if i can get somone just to put a solid non foldaway handle on the damn thing and just live with an ugly sticking out rewind handle

 

[KenR]

Maybe we can write our Congressmen and get them to hold a hearing on this issue. Seriously, I hope that the powers that be that monitor the forum are taking note of the crank problems and letting the people in Japan know about this. A redesign seems in order.

 

[joeswe]

A redesign seems in order.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that the crank has indeed be redesigned some years ago and that broken cranks are no longer a problem with the newer Bessas.

John

 

[heespharm]

yes the newer bessa have an upgraded rewind knob per steve gandy