Nikon F woes

[Austerby]

I've just received a 644xxxx Nikon F this morning from a respected US seller who described the camera as condition 10 mechanically, but when taken out of the box I can't seem to get it to function properly.

The symptons are:
a) shutter not firing
b) mirror is locked up and won't come down
c) wind-on is locked and can't advance
d) the marker on the shutter speed dial is at 4pm, not 7pm

Is this a case of user error or mechanical malfunction? I have checked the Nikon F manual online but it doesn't give much help.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Either the mirror lock up is on *and* there is a roll of film inside which has reached its end or it's broken....

(Maybe check for film fragments or other material blocking the advance sprockets)

 

[Rick A]

Contact the seller immediatly, see if he has any suggestions.

 

[Les Sarile]

You can check if there is film that has reached it's end by turning the rewind crank. If it turns freely then no film.

The sequence is the A-R selector - ring around the shutter, set to A, shutter is advanced, mirror goes up and you're at the point to fire the shutter. At this point, if you move the selector to R, it will release the shutter but mirror still stays up. Set the ring back to A - mirror is still up, and you can advance the shutter again to get it back in the ready to fire point.

 

[NormanV]

You could also check for a film by opening the back.

 

[Austerby]

You could also check for a film by opening the back.

There is no film in the camera and I have checked for stray remnants interfering with the mechanism.

I have contacted the vendor, but I'd rather get it sorted if I can than return it.

Any more ideas?

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Another possibility: if the mirror damping foam has turned to mush, the mirror may have stuck to it...

 

[Les Sarile]

Any more ideas?

How does it act when you put the selector to "R" as I listed in the sequence above? Does the shutter release and allow you to advance it again after it is returned to "A"?

 

[resummerfield]

Another possibility: if the mirror damping foam has turned to mush, the mirror may have stuck to it...

Since we're guessing, this is my guess. It probably needs new foam throughout.