Bronica S2 Shutter issue with the back

[esp1126]

Hello!
I just got a bronica S2, the shutter works only when the back is off, once the back is on the shutter doesn't load the knob doesn't stop it just keep being able to spin, I have to retire the back for the shutter to load (when I do this the knob does stop and the shutter is ready )
Should I waste my time looking for someone to repair it?

 

[reddesert]

Did you put film in it? You can test it by winding a roll of just backing paper, so as not to waste film. The normal behavior is that with the back on, it needs to wind film forward to reach the wind stop for the back, and then you feel extra resistance in the wind knob as it cocks the shutter. Also you can't fire the shutter until you remove the darkslide.

If you do try it with film and the shutter doesn't cock with the back mounted, then the problem could be in the back, not the body. But first, read the manual and try it with the test roll.

 

[esp1126]

Yes I have tried putting backing paper and film also, but it doesn't work the knob just keeps spinning and there is no resistance , I can go through all the film and the shutter never loads, the only way I can get it to load and shoot is if put out the back wind the shutter , put the back on, remove the dark slide and shoot
But with the back on , the shutter never loads , there is no resistance in the knob, the film count never moves, but the film does

 

[reddesert]

If the film winds but the counter doesn't advance, then the problem is likely in the back. Can you find another back to try?

The problem of "film counter fails to engage and register the number of frames" is covered on pages 93 and 94 of the Bronica S2/C service manual that you can find on learncamerarepair.com. The backs have some relatively complex mechanics (the cameras even more so) so I wouldn't necessarily recommend opening it yourself unless you're very confident or willing to risk not getting it reassembled. However, an extra back for this system usually costs a lot less than the camera, so if you can get a good working one then that may solve the problem.

 

[ags2mikon]

This problem also happens with the EC / ECTL cameras too. There is a one way clutch that gets gummy with old grease and wont allow the shutter to charge. It is fixable and I have done a few of mine years ago. May be faster to buy another film back or 2 and go from there. This was why with the Bronica you don't have to make sure the dots on the magazine and body have to match. Red to red or white to white like Hasselblad. But then Hasselblad backs tend to leak light at the dark slide. None of my Bronica's have done that.

 

[esp1126]

This problem also happens with the EC / ECTL cameras too. There is a one way clutch that gets gummy with old grease and wont allow the shutter to charge. It is fixable and I have done a few of mine years ago. May be faster to buy another film back or 2 and go from there. This was why with the Bronica you don't have to make sure the dots on the magazine and body have to match. Red to red or white to white like Hasselblad. But then Hasselblad backs tend to leak light at the dark slide. None of my Bronica's have done that.

How can I fix it? Im going to look for a new back to see if the problems solves
Once I have it, im going to post if it actually solved the problem

 

[ags2mikon]

I do not know how to fix the s2 backs. My first EC back failure happened many years ago and I just bought another couple of backs and put that one in the file cabinet and moved on. A few months later I walked into a camera store and they had 3 EC backs for sale 2 worked 1 didn't and if I bought 2 the other one was free so now I had 2 that were bad so I gave it a go. The needed access was under the right (as the camera is pointing away from you) side of the back. The resources listed above by reddesert might be all you need. Also tools and patience. Lots of patience.

 

[reddesert]

Service manual for Bronica S2 and C: https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=760&category=2&secondary=33

The problem is described on pages numbered 94 and 95 (page 96 and 97 of the pdf). A few pages earlier there are exploded views that show how the back goes together. An experienced person should be able to figure out how to get access given these views, but I haven't done that part myself. Hopefully, it just needs a cleaning.

 

[esp1126]

Hello ! Just an update in case anyone faces this problem, I got a new back and everything works perfectly
I think a found what the problem was, there are two gears in the back of the film, one of the them (the small one) doesn't move at all , it feels like its stuck , I don't know how to repair it though
But using another back solves the problem