Zorki 6 rough winding lever with film inside

[yixuan]

The Zorki6 was recently serviced by me and is my first time servicing a lever-wind zorki.

The winding mechanism is smooth without film, but if you put film inside or simply put some pressure on the film spool with your fingers, the lever becomes a lot harder to turn and is really rough.

I need to pull the lever multiple times every time, advancing the film a little bit to get it to advance without binding up.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This is what I remember from Z6 I had. I called it a tractor.

 

[Valkir1987]

Did you clean and lubricate the film spool clutch? With a wound shutter, you should be able to turn it with a little force. This is usually forgotten.

Zorki 6 cameras can be very smooth, when properly serviced. Which means removing and cleaning out all the old lubricants and applying new ones.

 

[yixuan]

Did you clean and lubricate the film spool clutch? With a wound shutter, you should be able to turn it with a little force. This is usually forgotten.

Zorki 6 cameras can be very smooth, when properly serviced. Which means removing and cleaning out all the old lubricants and applying new ones.

yes everything was cleaned and the lubricants were replaced

What do you mean by film spool clutch?

 

[Valkir1987]

What do you mean by film spool clutch?

Inside the plastic take up spool is another metal (aluminium alloy) drum. This metal drum is held in place by a spring on a shaft, with two metal rings. On the top it sits in a brass bushing. Allowing the drum and the spool to move in both directions with some force. Both the top and the end should be lubricated with some light grease. Sometimes only the top of the drum gets stuck, you can reach it by moving the plastic spool down a little bit.

This part is often overlooked when the camera is serviced. (not just Zorki and Fed cameras, but any camera really)

A droplet of oil can loosen it, but it needs some grease for proper lubrication. (and the force being applied to the parts)

 

[yixuan]

Inside the plastic take up spool is another metal (aluminium alloy) drum. This metal drum is held in place by a spring on a shaft, with two metal rings. On the top it sits in a brass bushing. Allowing the drum and the spool to move in both directions with some force. Both the top and the end should be lubricated with some light grease. Sometimes only the top of the drum gets stuck, you can reach it by moving the plastic spool down a little bit.

This part is often overlooked when the camera is serviced. (not just Zorki and Fed cameras, but any camera really)

A droplet of oil can loosen it, but it needs some grease for proper lubrication. (and the force being applied to the parts)

I fiddle around with the winding mechanism a little bit. It is not the spool clutch. I did remember to grease it.


I think it is actually the shutter button unit (specifically the area highlighted in blue), that also serves as a bearing.

If I turn it with the hand and put a little force to the side on it, I can feel it grinding.

 

[Valkir1987]

The drum part that connects to the spool apoears to be missing on the photo. But I assume it is present.

The return spring of the winding lever gets stuck often. Try if the transport works better without.

The plate holding the gears on the photo can be moved a little from side to side to adjust the play on the gears before fixing it with the screws. If a paper of 0.05mm thickness can run through it without damage, the play is right. Don’t forget the gear teeth also need a tiny bit of grease.