Advice for what to do about newly bought Pentax 6x7 with winding issue after two rolls -- videos inside

[MFstooges]

You're right! My mistake for not being more cautious with web rumors. But there are some relatively recent threads on this Forum regarding difficulty getting version II repairs due to the extra electronics.
Solenoid problems are among those cited over on the Pentax Forum. Statistically, that might not be common; but the older models remain easier to repair, it seems. The simpler, the better.

Yes this is always the case with electronics. Theoretically the parts don't go bad but heat, vibration and corrosion say otherwise. When it's gone it's gone. You can't fabricate the parts as easily as mechanical camera.

 

[Tom Taylor]

There were a number of reports of similar or same issue with P67-ii on the internet some years ago. I had the problem too after I got mine in 2002. It turned out it has nothing to do with the winding mechanism at all. It was the shutter magnet that got stock. I fixed mine with a tiny drop of ISO Alcohol (using a syringe to drop it) into the shutter magnet. I reported my fix on photo.net forum. Another p67-ii owner with the same problem contacted me asking for help. I told him everything I did in details and he had his p67-ii fixed too. My process of the fix was reproduced by a Russian guy on the internet somewhere. Ever since I haven't seen any one reporting the same issue any more.

I had the opportunity to have a good look at the winding mechanism of P67-ii when I fixed mine. In my opinion it is a very high quality high durability mechanism. You have to look at it to be impressed. I really have not seen any report of a broken winding mechanism of p67-ii. I could be wrong but I saw mine with my own eyes. It's a well built winder. You have to really abuse it to break it.

Where is the shutter magnet located and how do you access it?

 

[Tom Taylor]

I never have problem with my P67ii film winding. I do have problem with P err code, it always appears in a very wrong moment. I also had problem with jammed prism release button so I send the camera to a shop and requested to fix the buttons + fix P err code + CLA. The P err code recently reappeared, it is still a mistery to me.

Page 77 in the manual says that when you get that error to take the viewfinder out and replace it two or three times. Sometimes this will work but the real problem is that the contacts are dirty. Cleaning them with an eraser or alcohol is quicker.

 

[MFstooges]

Page 77 in the manual says that when you get that error to take the viewfinder out and replace it two or three times. Sometimes this will work but the real problem is that the contacts are dirty. Cleaning them with an eraser or alcohol is quicker.

Surely I did my own part before sending it to shop

 

[mtjade2007]

Where is the shutter magnet located and how do you access it?

It is beneath the LCD of the camera. It isn't difficult to get to it. Only a few screws to remove. Remove the winder lever then remove the right top cover. This can be seen on the P67-II service manual page 5 and 6. Then unscrew and lift up the LCD module (just get it out of the way for seeing the shutter magnet). You can re-attach the winder lever without the right top cover. If the winder is stuck you can use a pin to nudge the winder locking mechanism to release it. Very easy to do, no forcing anything. Just a very gentle push. You can then wind again. With the LCD module out of the way (cable to the LCD still connected) use a small syringe to drop a tiny drop of ISO Alcohol to the shutter magnet. The syringe needle does not need to touch anything. It will clean up the magnet and not sticky any more. It will again release the winder lock each time when the shutter is fired. You can observe how the lock is released by the lever moved by the shutter magnet causing the winder lock released. You will also realize how well the winder is built. You will believe it is a fairly durable winder.

I drilled a tiny hole on the back of the right top cover (black plastic). The hole is tiny. I can stick a pin into it to nudge the locking mechanism in case the shutter mechanism becomes sticky and fails to release the winder lock again. The pin is to nudge the winder locking mechanism, not the shutter magnet. Never mess with the shutter magnet. It has been 20 years since then. The winder has had zero occurrence of getting stuck again.

 

[mtjade2007]

If the winder of your p67-II ever gets stuck you can easily fix it by simply remove the right top cover and give the winder lock mechanism a tiny nudge. If it happens repeatedly give the shutter magnet a tiny drop of ISO Alcohol treatment. Or drill a tiny hole in the back of the right top cover. And use a metal pin to give the lock a nudge through the hole. There is no need to do anything to the winder. The problem is caused by the sticky shutter magnet. It has nothing to do with the winder mechanism.

 

[Tom Taylor]

It is beneath the LCD of the camera. It isn't difficult to get to it. Only a few screws to remove. Remove the winder lever then remove the right top cover. This can be seen on the P67-II service manual page 5 and 6. Then unscrew and lift up the LCD module (just get it out of the way for seeing the shutter magnet). You can re-attach the winder lever without the right top cover. If the winder is stuck you can use a pin to nudge the winder locking mechanism to release it. Very easy to do, no forcing anything. Just a very gentle push. You can then wind again. With the LCD module out of the way (cable to the LCD still connected) use a small syringe to drop a tiny drop of ISO Alcohol to the shutter magnet. The syringe needle does not need to touch anything. It will clean up the magnet and not sticky any more. It will again release the winder lock each time when the shutter is fired. You can observe how the lock is released by the lever moved by the shutter magnet causing the winder lock released. You will also realize how well the winder is built. You will believe it is a fairly durable winder.

I drilled a tiny hole on the back of the right top cover (black plastic). The hole is tiny. I can stick a pin into it to nudge the locking mechanism in case the shutter mechanism becomes sticky and fails to release the winder lock again. The pin is to nudge the winder locking mechanism, not the shutter magnet. Never mess with the shutter magnet. It has been 20 years since then. The winder has had zero occurrence of getting stuck again.

Thanks! I haven't had any more problems with the winder since Pentax did the repair in 2006 but if it occurs again I'll sure try the above.