Film crank for canonet ql17 issues.

[Darrin]

I have the canonet ql17 and I just got it. I shot my first roll and when I went to wind it back into the canister the film crank came unscrewed. I saved the parts that came out but I don’t know how to fix it. My roll of film is still in the camera. I have a picture of what it looks like. How would I fix it?

 

[reddesert]

Turning the crank in the rewind direction should tighten it, not loosen it, unless it was on the verge of coming apart already. If nothing else is wrong, you may be able to just screw the knob back in, tighten it by turning clockwise, and rewind normally. You must of course push the rewind button on the bottom of the camera before rewinding.

If for some reason that doesn't work, you will need to open and unload the camera inside a completely dark room or changing bag. You would need to open the back by pulling the rewind shaft up by inserting a screwdriver or pick into the shaft. Then you can rewind the film into the cassette by hand (again, push the rewind button first). With the film back in the cassette, you can turn on the lights.

To screw the rewind knob into the shaft, use a screwdriver in the slot of the shaft to keep it from turning, and screw the knob in by hand. Again, this should be easy since you turn the knob in the rewind direction to tighten it.

 

[AgX]

Surprising that it got loose at all. In relation to the (typical) force applied to screw-in the crank the force to unscrew in typical use is nihil. I guess someone opened the camera before (for which taking off the crank is a necessity) and at remounting screwed-in the crank only loosely.

 

[Bill Burk]

Use any old screw (or a wood screw) to pull it up. Try it to pull it up so far the back opens unless you are using a changing bag or darkroom. Once it’s up far enough to position the crank and original screw you can rewind. Don’t worry about the little spring just yet. Get that film rewound.
Then later you can figure out which way the spring fits and tighten up properly.