Bronica C advancing problem

[gsbene]

I have an intermittent problem with my Bronica C. I thought it occurred only in cold temperatures, but today it occurred in comfortable temps. Somewhere in mid-roll, as I trigger the shutter, the mirror doesn't return down, and the aperture blades stay closed down. After trying to remove the lens and the helicoid mount, the shutter/or mirror completed its cycle and the aperture re-opened. But then as I advanced the film, I could see that the mirror was flipping up, and the crank would not stop with its typical firm click. Rather, it wouldn't take another shot, but would allow another turn of the film advance crank. Before I knew it, I'd rolled the rest of the roll through the camera. Anyone else have this problem? I've now had two model Cs with this problem.
Gillis

 

[Trond]

Sound like it may need a CLA. The mechanism in these cameras is incredibly complex, so if the old lubricants are getting dry and sticky I suppose strange things can happen.

Trond (happy Bronica S2A user)

 

[Luseboy]

I had a similar problem with my s2a, but it was only with a broken back on. Your problem may have to do with the back, perhaps you should start there.
-Austin (happy s2a owner as well!)

 

[revdocjim]

I had a similar problem with my s2a, but it was only with a broken back on. Your problem may have to do with the back, perhaps you should start there.
-Austin (happy s2a owner as well!)

Well that would be a bummer since the C doesn't have a removable back...

 

[CGW]

I'm guessing old age and/or smoked film advance/shutter gear train. My ancient, high-mileage Bronica S died that way. I figured for the $50 it cost it really wasn't worth fixing after a few years of infrequent use. Got a NOS Bronica SQ-B for 6x6 and never looked back.

Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz in Harrisonburg, VA. is the acknowledged maestro of elderly Bronica repair.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Sounds like it needs a CLA. I had a parts body that let me see how complex the shutter mechanism is, and it is easy to imagine a few things that could cause the shutter to hang up. For instance, there is a shutter blind to cover the viewfinder during the exposure, and if that got gummed up, it could cause the whole mechanism to get stuck mid-exposure.

 

[Luseboy]

I'd say send it to Koh's. My s2a is en route there at the moment... Turned out to be a bigger problem than i thought.