Canon FTb advance issue

blockend · Mar 3, 2017

The camera has developed what I can only describe as a creak/squeak when I wind the film on. With an ear to the body it's clear the problem is the lever internals. The FTb isn't my primary camera, but I use it a few times a year and it works properly apart from the noise.

The question is do I risk a little light oil in a needle syringe externally, or attempt a strip down? The noise sounds more plastic than metallic, anyone know if there's any plastic stuff inside that might be grating? The noise is more annoying than destructive sounding, do I just live with it and save myself the hassle?

John Koehrer · Mar 3, 2017

I'm pretty sure that the FTb was long before plastic gears were used. There's really nothing
that your syringe can help with. The wind gears are all under the top cover on the wind side(you
didn't hear that from me!)
Part of the mirror cocking mechanism is under the bottom cover.

flavio81 · Mar 3, 2017

blockend said:
The camera has developed what I can only describe as a creak/squeak when I wind the film on. With an ear to the body it's clear the problem is the lever internals. The FTb isn't my primary camera, but I use it a few times a year and it works properly apart from the noise.

The question is do I risk a little light oil in a needle syringe externally, or attempt a strip down? The noise sounds more plastic than metallic, anyone know if there's any plastic stuff inside that might be grating? The noise is more annoying than destructive sounding, do I just live with it and save myself the hassle?

Don't use it, it needs a CLA.
This is an amateur camera, so the film winding mechanism is not as strong as in a pro camera.
When the mechanism is clean and lubricated the film advance is very smooth on the FT and FTb.

Mackinaw · Mar 3, 2017

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Having taken apart a few FT-series cameras, there are no plastic advance gears in an FTb. The squeak could be something as simple as something amiss in the frame counter mechanism. Use it and enjoy it.

kb244 · Mar 4, 2017

flavio81 said:
Don't use it, it needs a CLA.
This is an amateur camera, so the film winding mechanism is not as strong as in a pro camera.
When the mechanism is clean and lubricated the film advance is very smooth on the FT and FTb.

I'm with him if something doesn't "sound right", might risk bending/snapping something. And if the CLA cost is reasonable (ie: under 100 or so) and the camera is something you're going to use regularly it would be worth the love to add a few more decades of life to it. (if it's over a certain amount like 200$+, that's when I start looking at more rugged bodies to match level of activity).

Alternatively you could just shoot it until it does break. Sometimes the gamble is an excitement in itself.

PS: I used to have an FTb with a Canon S.S.C. 50/1.4, loved it. Would have gotten it again, but I have Pentax lens now, so it made sense to get a Pentax equivalent-ish for lens I already had.

blockend · Mar 4, 2017

Mackinaw said:
Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Having taken apart a few FT-series cameras, there are no plastic advance gears in an FTb. The squeak could be something as simple as something amiss in the frame counter mechanism. Use it and enjoy it.

That sounds closer to my natural approach! The sound isn't destructive, more like a cog that could use a touch of oil, and framing and advance are spot on. Metering is still on an old mercury battery, when that dies I might give professional attention. Thanks for all the replies.

flavio81 · Mar 4, 2017

Mackinaw said:
Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Having taken apart a few FT-series cameras, there are no plastic advance gears in an FTb.

Dirt in the mechanism will cause damage to metal gears. The camera needs to be inspected.

colin wells · Mar 5, 2017

You sometimes get this noise when winding on from the shutter curtain brakes .The little leather pads dry out and produce a creak or squeaking noise when being wound on .

kb244 · Mar 5, 2017

colin wells said:
You sometimes get this noise when winding on from the shutter curtain brakes .The little leather pads dry out and produce a creak or squeaking noise when being wound on .

I wonder... is that perhaps the same reasoning or similar behind the AE-1's "Squeaky death"?

colin wells · Mar 5, 2017

No it is completely different .The A series suffer from lack of oil to the mirror damper with the Ftb its brake pads rubbing on the braking bar. They are two very different cameras .

blockend · Mar 5, 2017

colin wells said:
You sometimes get this noise when winding on from the shutter curtain brakes .The little leather pads dry out and produce a creak or squeaking noise when being wound on .

Hmm, that's exactly the sound I seem to be experiencing. Any tips on quick access? When I bought the camera a few years ago it was in excellent condition and probably sat in a drawer for the previous forty, so dried out parts would be in keeping with the noise.

colin wells · Mar 5, 2017

The top has to be removed their is a vid on youtube showing how to just look up Canon TLB/ FTB shutter bounce it is shown what to do and how . A tiny drop of lubricant on the pad should cure the noise .Let us know how you get on .PS You dont have to remove the counter mechanism

flavio81 · Mar 5, 2017

kb244 said:
I wonder... is that perhaps the same reasoning or similar behind the AE-1's "Squeaky death"?

No and there's no "death", only noise.

blockend · Mar 5, 2017

flavio81 said:
No and there's no "death", only noise.

Years ago I knew a guy whose A1 had a bad case of Canon cough. He ignored it and the mirror eventually began to show in shot.

flavio81 · Mar 5, 2017

blockend said:
Years ago I knew a guy whose A1 had a bad case of Canon cough. He ignored it and the mirror eventually began to show in shot.

Poor mirror governor...

John Koehrer · Mar 5, 2017

I'm not sure why anyone would suggest oil on a brake.
On the Canon FT series this is something you would adjust to solve shutter bounce.
I've seen some of this model where the leather has come off or loose. Not good(tweet)

colin wells · Mar 5, 2017

I would advise making another brake pad and replacing the one that is on its way to dust but the guy wanted a simple quick fix . Do you know of any

Canon FTb advance issue

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