• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

[HELP] Mamiya RB67 motorized back problem

nolan

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 31, 2017
Messages
7
Location
South Africa
Format
Analog
Morning all!

Hoping someone can please assist me.

I recently purchased a RB67 motorized back. Yesterday I took it out for a test. Film loaded, look my first frame and all seemed ok... until I took my second frame. I noticed the counter was on 5. Tried another frame and then the film automatically rewinded. After taking the film out I double checked the back to see if everything was set correctly and it was. Selector and multiple exposure selector were both on the white square. Batteries are fresh.

Anyone had this issue before and how can I fix it?

Thanks for your time!!
 
...sounds like this film is no use to you anymore. Try respooling and then reloading it as a test. It should wind to the first frame and stop.
 
Neil Grant said:
...sounds like this film is no use to you anymore. Try respooling and then reloading it as a test. It should wind to the first frame and stop.
Click to expand...

Thank you Neil!

I'll definitely give it a go again.
When I first loaded it, it worked perfectly... after the first frame it went pear-shaped...
 
Neil Grant said:
120 or 220 selected?
Click to expand...

120 selected.

I was thinking... I loaded the back when it was on the camera. In the manual it says load first then attach to the camera...
Could this have been what caused the issue maybe?
 
...i don't think it makes a difference whether the back is attached to the camera or not when loading. Sounds lke the back isn't 'feeling' the frame spacing correctly. I believe there's a toothed wheel that senses how much film has passed. You can continue to test the back by respooling your spoiled film.
 
Thank you Neil!

I'll keep on testing it.

Really appreciate your help!
 
Hi Neil!

Did some more testing last night. Loaded the film, got it to frame #1 without issues. Cocked the camera, fired it and the film advanced right up until the end of the spool this time. It has gotten worse! I have sent pics and videos to the place I bought it from. Hoping they can assist too.

Thanks again for all the assistance!
 
Hello,

I've had (and still have to some degree) the exact same issue with the motorized back. After an unpredictable amount of shots the back used to advance the film up to the end of the spool with that click sounds that repeats itself at every frame.

In my case i had to screw tighter the chrome plates which lock the back to the body, the point is that before doing that, the pins were far enough from the back to compromise the communication between the two parts. Briefly said, the film back couldn't feel that the shutter has been shut. I still have this issue to a certain degree for another reason, my body needs a CLA, as the pins sometimes get stuck in advancing position.

here you have a link to my thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/help-mamiya-rb67-coupling-arm-issue.146893/
 
Agree with meerkieker that it sounds like a back-to-body communication issue. In the case with my Pro S body, I believe there is something worn or out of adjustment in the coupling arm system that tells the back that the body has fired. It requires opening the left side of the camera, opposite the cocking lever. I have not done this as I have a Pro SD body, but would like to repair it some day. I have tried adjusting the tightness of the revolving adapter pins, plates and screws but in my case it does not improve the situation. I think the repair work is needed inside the body.

To summarize, this problem can be related to the body and the revolving adapter, and not the film back.
 
Sounds like it needs a CLA.
 
Thank you Meerkieker, WilmarcoImaging and Sirius Glass!! I'll definitely look at the coupling arm system as well as tightening the screws. Maybe it is also time for another CLA.

Once this issue has been resolved, I'll report back.

Thanks again!!
 
...i have one of these powerdrive backs too (6x8) - so it's really useful to hear about trouble-shooting with them.
 
Take a look here... https://rb67.helluin.org/?s=power+backs great resource
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register