F2 Stopped Working

BMbikerider · Dec 21, 2022

Cholentpot said:
I've have a Nikon F2 that I got this summer. I ran a half dozen rolls through it and last night while exercising the shutter for another roll the camera stopped working. The film advances but the shutter won't cock. When moving the advance it gives a click as if skipping something. Any ideas? Did I fiddle with the shutter speed the wrong way? Disengage some linkage by accident? Is there something I can poke or prod?

Thanks.

My advice is do not start to poke or prod anything! The F2 in all it's forms was practically unwearoutable but the newest one will be at least 42 years old and unless it has been serviced and looked after in it's lifetime things will wear, bearings can jam and what seems to be the most common is some ham handed owner has damaged the shutter curtains or the meter failing because of age. unless you have the correct tools and a good knowledge plus a lot of skill, trust the work to someone who is trained on Nikon not a gorilla that just swaps modules for a new part.

Have a look at this website created by a guy in UK who only repairs F2 models and nothing else

Sover Wong

https://soverf2repair.webs.com

He is so good there is a waiting list for him to carry out the work. (He is not cheap) There is a section with pictures of so called repairs and damage caused by amateurs who think they know what they are doing.

Good luck

Cholentpot · Dec 21, 2022

Huss said:
Have another beer, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Beer. That I know how to make. And it's pretty good stuff if I say so myself.

Cholentpot · Dec 21, 2022

BMbikerider said:
My advice is do not start to poke or prod anything! The F2 in all it's forms was practically unwearoutable but the newest one will be at least 42 years old and unless it has been serviced and looked after in it's lifetime things will wear, bearings can jam and what seems to be the most common is some ham handed owner has damaged the shutter curtains or the meter failing because of age. unless you have the correct tools and a good knowledge plus a lot of skill, trust the work to someone who is trained on Nikon not a gorilla that just swaps modules for a new part.

Have a look at this website created by a guy in UK who only repairs F2 models and nothing else

Sover Wong
https://soverf2repair.webs.com

He is so good there is a waiting list for him to carry out the work. (He is not cheap) There is a section with pictures of so called repairs and damage caused by amateurs who think they know what they are doing.

Good luck

The Wong price is enough for me to be able to get an F2 Titanium with a DP-11 and a motor drive. Sometimes you just need a working camera not a full rebuild.

Huss · Dec 21, 2022

I had Sover work on my F2s. Great. But would I do it again? No. At that price point just not worth it anymore. Use a local like site sponsor Zacks Camera Repair.

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2022

Kino said:
I tore my F2 down, removed the slow speed escapement, cleaned it, re-timed it and replaced my broken battery holder without any real problems, but I was very careful.

Some people can do it, some can't...

I probably have all the tools that I would need, but I send it out. I consider it, keeping camera repair people in business.

Huss · Dec 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I probably have all the tools that I would need, but I send it out. I consider it, keeping camera repair people in business.

So I guess you bought all those tools to keep the tool salespeople in business.

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2022

Huss said:
So I guess you bought all those tools to keep the tool salespeople in business.

The tools are for other projects which I am more skilled to work on.

Cholentpot · Dec 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I probably have all the tools that I would need, but I send it out. I consider it, keeping camera repair people in business.

That's real nice of you. I buy film to keep resellers in business.

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2022

Cholentpot said:
That's real nice of you. I buy film to keep resellers in business.

I buy film to keep the film manufacturers in business.

Huss · Dec 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
The tools are for other projects which I am more skilled to work on.

But you are taking away work from people you could pay to do those projects for you.

Huss · Dec 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I buy film to keep the film manufacturers in business.

You did not buy enough Agfa film.

Cholentpot · Dec 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I buy film to keep the film manufacturers in business.

Hollywood keeps them in business, at least for Kodak. My 5 rolls of Gold 200 ain't keeping them from the employment line.

Sirius Glass · Dec 22, 2022

Huss said:
But you are taking away work from people you could pay to do those projects for you.

Since I am an electrical engineer, it is in my bailiwick. [look up that in your Funk & Wagnall]

Cholentpot · Dec 22, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Since I am an electrical engineer, it is in my bailiwick. [look up that in your Funk & Wagnall]

I'm not an electrical engineer so this stuff baffles me.

Huss · Dec 23, 2022

Cholentpot said:
I'm not an electrical engineer so this stuff baffles me.

If you were a sound engineer it would.

awty · Dec 23, 2022

What a job, just working on just one camera, other technicians need to know a myriad of different cameras from a multitude of different eras and old Mr Wong just works on the same camera he has always. Guess it would be hard to stuff up, not very mentally challenging, the F2 isnt a very complex camera and was built to last.

Cholentpot · Dec 24, 2022

Huss said:
If you were a sound engineer it would.

I dabble in sound. Sometimes jokes fall flat.

BMbikerider · Dec 25, 2022

I have started to trim down my digital equipment because I really do appreciate the results from film and creating a good print in a darkroom with my personal skills give me more satisfaction than sitting staring at a screen. I will be keeping my D90, but the remainder must go to fund the acquisition of an recently Sover Wong serviced F2a. (under his transferable guarantee) to run alongside my F100.

Cosmetically it is almost unmarked and with a service pedigree such as it is I am looking for a long partnership. I feel the F100 will be the 1st to succumb. Although my lenses are all AF-D type they can be used on the F2 and D90 with no further cost.

Cholentpot · Dec 27, 2022

JIS screwdrivers came in. Worked great, got all the screws out. Now I need to get the motor drive connector off the bottom. I guess I need a new tool huh. Any suggestions?

reddesert · Dec 27, 2022

There is a Nikon F2 service manual on learncamerarepair.com that shows exploded views. I think you need a pin spanner to take off a screw with two circular holes that holds the motor drive coupler on. Adjustable spanners are easy to get now (I like one that has pins on one side and slotted ends on the other) and a necessity in camera/lens disassembly, however one always needs to evaluate ones comfort level in how far to proceed. This repair may not be simple.

Not all repairs need an overhaul, or a full Soverizing rebuild. I had an F2 that didn't deliver any voltage to the contacts for the prism. It turned out that the switch contacts that close when you pull the lever out were dirty (easily accessed through the bottom plate). But a wind/shutter problem is likely to be deeper.

Cholentpot · Dec 27, 2022

reddesert said:
There is a Nikon F2 service manual on learncamerarepair.com that shows exploded views. I think you need a pin spanner to take off a screw with two circular holes that holds the motor drive coupler on. Adjustable spanners are easy to get now (I like one that has pins on one side and slotted ends on the other) and a necessity in camera/lens disassembly, however one always needs to evaluate ones comfort level in how far to proceed. This repair may not be simple.

Not all repairs need an overhaul, or a full Soverizing rebuild. I had an F2 that didn't deliver any voltage to the contacts for the prism. It turned out that the switch contacts that close when you pull the lever out were dirty (easily accessed through the bottom plate). But a wind/shutter problem is likely to be deeper.

I have an adjustable spanner and it's awful and too large. Time to look for a smaller one. What size exactly should I be looking for?

reddesert · Dec 29, 2022

Cholentpot said:
I have an adjustable spanner and it's awful and too large. Time to look for a smaller one. What size exactly should I be looking for?

I have one sold by Neewer, I think the model is NW-05, the kind that looks like a hashmark or tic-tac-toe grid, perhaps $20 on ebay. With this design of adjustable spanners, they can be flexible and you can do a lot of damage with them (especially around lens elements) if not cautious, so a firm and careful hand is necessary.

Cholentpot · Dec 29, 2022

reddesert said:
I have one sold by Neewer, I think the model is NW-05, the kind that looks like a hashmark or tic-tac-toe grid, perhaps $20 on ebay. With this design of adjustable spanners, they can be flexible and you can do a lot of damage with them (especially around lens elements) if not cautious, so a firm and careful hand is necessary.

I have something like this. It's too big.

F2 Stopped Working

Sover Wong​

Sover Wong​

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Sover Wong

Sover Wong