Camera 'WINDERS' packed up working !

[pentaxpete]

I had not used my ME Super , ME and their 'WINDERS' for a long time as been 'Messing About with OTHER MAKES ' in my Camera Collection then when I came to USE my ME Super and ME with Winders the Winders would not work - Fresh 'Energizer Max' batteries -- also I have a CANON winder A and a PRAKTICA B series Winder and although the CANON one USED to WORK is does not now -- is there anything inside electronic that would 'Fail' do you think !

 

[koraks]

Apparently.
Have you tried a different set of batteries except that set of Energizers you mentioned? It's a bit odd that at least 3 of your winders would crap out.

 

[Nitroplait]

If there is a belt involved, it has likely disintegrated from age. It happens in cassette players, super 8 cameras etc.

 

[Dustin McAmera]

I only ever had one winder; a third-party device, made to fit Canon A-series cameras. After the initial novelty, I found it more trouble than it was worth. It depended on contact between two little spring-loaded electrical contacts and matching ones in the base of the camera. Even when it was still quite new, it would shift slightly while mounted, and lose good contact.
If your devices have contacts like that, it might be worth cleaning them (and the matching parts on the camera).

 

[ic-racer]

The device would likely need to be disassembled to locate the problem. Sometimes the screws are under covering material or in side the battery compartment.

 

[BrianShaw]

I can’t really read the opening post.

But some cameras include electrical switches in both the camera and winder so perhaps one or more of those has failed.

 

[Truzi]

it could be electronic, but sometimes electric motors/gearing/grease get gummed up from non-use.
Is there a way you can gently turn the shaft of the winder? Without marring/damaging it?

Oddly, years ago my grandmother's electric can opener died, and she had another in the basement, New, and never taken out of the box. The "new" one was at least 15 years old. We had to manually exercise it a bit, but it freed up and started working without issue. I had a similar thing happen on the mechanical shutter of my grandfather's wind-up 8mm movie camera.

If it takes a lot of force to get it moving, you may want to open and clean the unit. Otherwise, it's possible that it's just a "little bit" stuck.

 

[BradS]

I think I’d try another set of batteries … or at least test the batteries you have to make sure they are good.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

In both of my Minolta Autowinder Gs, it was the electrolytic capacitors that had leaked and the winders then no longer worked properly.

These are actually the only electronic components that can break down over time by themselves.

Minolta Auto Winder G: Service and repair

My next main project will be service and repair for the Minolta Autowinder D and G as well as the Minolta Motor Drive MD-1. The topic follows on from my previous work and articles on Minolta X here. The D Version is for Minolta XD, the G version for Minolta X/XG and the MD-1 for Minolta...

www.photrio.com

Battery contacts can oxidize or corrosion caused by leaking battery electrolyte can work its destructive effect on conductors and contacts over the years.

I agree with @ic-racer that one should open the winder and take a look.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hey, that’s great! Now perhaps you can give some good advice to PentaxPete.

See above.

 

[BrianShaw]

See above.

Yes, that was nice of you.

 

[pentaxpete]

YES Fantastic INFO -- I was GIVEN by a Young Camera Club Member his GrandFather's MINOLTA XG1 + Autowinder G -- I took out a few screws but could not access anything else then read there are MORE Screws underneath the self- adhesive cover -- but if the Capacitor is blown I cannot do that --

 

[Andreas Thaler]

YES Fantastic INFO -- I was GIVEN by a Young Camera Club Member his GrandFather's MINOLTA XG1 + Autowinder G -- I took out a few screws but could not access anything else then read there are MORE Screws underneath the self- adhesive cover -- but if the Capacitor is blown I cannot do that --

There are two electrolytic capacitors, see my post above, any repair shop should be able to do that. It's not a big deal.