Canon AE-1 Rewind Shaft Broken - Need Help

I just got 2 Canon AE-1’s at a junk shop. I usually shoot Nikons, but they were $30 for the pair. I was starting my CLA on the first one. I got the part where you jam the rewind shaft and unscrew the knob. I have done this a hundred times in Nikons and Minoltas, no problem.

This time the darn thing wouldn’t budge. I didn’t think I was pushing too hard, but I broke a fork off of the shaft.

So a couple of questions:
1) I can only find a rewind shaft replacement for an AE-1 program. Will that work in a regular AE-1?

2) What the heck am I missing? Is there some trick for loosening the shaft? Would it work to pull up the shaft so that it’s away from the body and heat it with a soldering iron?

Cameras are put together with a threadlocker that is dissolved with Acetone. Apply to the threads with a saturated cotton swab.
The service manuals for the A1, AE1, and AE1 Program are available for free download at https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?category=2&secondary=1

and finding the part number for that part in both cameras will let you know if it is the same.

I have seen the advice in more than one place to use a pair of pliers across both sides of the fork to reduce the torque applied to the prongs. Just sticking a screwdriver in the gap may well break the fork.

shutterfinger said:

Cameras are put together with a threadlocker that is dissolved with Acetone. 1

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I was surprised, because it had never been an issue with a Nikon. I guess that makes sense though. Next time I’ll wick some in on my Canons.

cmacd123 said:

and finding the part number for that part in both cameras will let you know if it is the same.

I have seen the advice in more than one place to use a pair of pliers across both sides of the fork to reduce the torque applied to the prongs. Just sticking a screwdriver in the gap may well break the fork.

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It turns out the Canon fork is made of plastic. I’ve found manuals, but I can’t for the life of me find a numbered parts list.
If I can’t figure out the part number, I may just JB Weld the prong back into place.

Fulledav said:

It turns out the Canon fork is made of plastic ... I may just JB Weld the prong back into place.

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Whoops, I did the exact same thing to a Pentax P3, with the same result. Turned out that the rewind knob was keyed to the shaft anyhow and wasn't designed to spin at all. I drilled out the areas where the break had occurred enough to reinforce with steel (piece of paperclip!) then JB Welded it. Repair looks tidy and seems plenty strong.

The AE-1 and AE-1 Program have very different rewind shafts and knobs and will not interchange. The AE-1 rewind shaft is made of plated brass and is quite metal. If you have a plastic rewind shaft, it is not the original Canon part.