nikon f2 film winder.....

CMoore · Sep 30, 2017

All of a sudden, my F2A will not wind film.
It cocks and fires the shutter, but it will not wind the film. Am i making some mistake somewhere.?
I have probably shot 20 rolls of HP5 on this camera and have never had a problem.
Is there something i can Try/Check.?
Thank You

macfred · Sep 30, 2017

Did you check the rewind button on the baseplate ? Maybe it was pressed and got stuck.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 30, 2017

If the rewind button has not become stuck, turn the rewind knob as if you were rewinding the film. If you don't feel tension, the film may have become disengaged from the take-up spool.

CMoore · Sep 30, 2017

It is always "funny" how people read things differently.....based on a small piece of info.
I am trying to put Film IN the camera.
I removed a roll a few days ago, and was trying to put another roll in today, and it will not wind the film. I did try hitting the rewind button a few times and opening and closing the back......but it seems there must be a problem.?

saman13 · Sep 30, 2017

Is the issue that the film advance lever will not move, or that the lever moves but the shaft doesn’t turn?

CMoore · Sep 30, 2017

The Lever moves...cocks the shutter...but does not wind the film. The spool just sits there when you wind the lever.

saman13 · Sep 30, 2017

If I were you, I’d take off the bottom cover and watch everything move as you use the film advance. See if you can spot any gears not catching. I’d suspect something there. There isn’t much with the winding mechanism you’d be able to access from removing the top plate.

shutterfinger · Sep 30, 2017

Factory service manual: http://arcticwolfs.net/
Slipping clutch, stripped gear (1 tooth missing is enough), set screw loose on a shaft.

CMoore · Oct 1, 2017

saman13 said:
If I were you, I’d take off the bottom cover and watch everything move as you use the film advance. See if you can spot any gears not catching. I’d suspect something there. There isn’t much with the winding mechanism you’d be able to access from removing the top plate.

I can try that. Is it as simple as removing those 4 small screws.?
I am not even sure......well, i guess i have "Jewelers" screw drivers that are that small.
Looking at the bottom of the camera now, the plate is still on, i have not removed anything......i see that piece turn when i wind the film advance lever. I guess It is the part where the motor drive would connect.?
That moves, but not the film spool. I suppose that is Winding/Cocking the shutter curtain.?
But you would think, id that IS for the motor drive, that it would also advance the film.?

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

CMoore said:
The Lever moves...cocks the shutter...but does not wind the film. The spool just sits there when you wind the lever.

"The spool just sits there...".
What does the sprocket do? Does it turn or not?
Is the rewind button standing up in it's recess?

saman13 · Oct 1, 2017

It’s the four small screws and then you have to remove the small chrome screw that is within the motor drive connection. There are two small holes that you should be able to stick something in to turn (I took the two pointed tips from my spammer wrench off the wrench to fit in a space that small and just held them while I turned). Very easy job. Maybe it is just that it got dirty over the years in there and needs to be cleaned out. But, I think it could also be a jammed gear, or a gear with a missing tooth.

saman13 · Oct 1, 2017

If you can’t see something obviously wrong, check out that repair manual. If that particular issue isn’t listed, look at the diagrams to see where it could have gone wrong.

CMoore · Oct 1, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
"The spool just sits there...".
What does the sprocket do? Does it turn or not?
Is the rewind button standing up in it's recess?

You are right. I had to get another F2 to compare it to. I can still push it Down, but it does not return All The Way Up compared to a working F2.
So the rewind button is not returning.. It is not stuck down completely, it still moves, which i guess is normal.
Is that still as saman13 says.....remove that bottom plate and see if some dirt or something is blocking the button from returning all the way.? Or maybe exercise that sprocket spool a bit more aggressively.?

CMoore · Oct 1, 2017

OK.....i was afraid to Move/Force anything, but.....it seems when you open the film back, and take out the film, that process does not reset the rewind button. If i move that sprocket spool, it will reset the button.
So something is amiss in the mechanics of that i guess.?
Thank You

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

Well, unless you have the correct JIS screwdriver, you risk stripping the four crosspoint screws - unless it's an early camera and has slotted screws. The screw in the driver that engages with the motor drive requires a pin spanner. Not knowing what is causing the button to stick, either debris or sticky lubrication or more likely a bit of each, I'd recommend excersising the sprocket while working the button up and down.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

Moving the advance lever should reset the button.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

The rewind button disengages the sprocket and spool from the advance mechanism a) for rewinding film and b) double exposures. Opening or closing the back has nothing to do with it.
It could be something as simple as dust creeping in around the button.
Edit. There is a sprocket, and there is a spool; two discrete parts. The sprocket has teeth, the spool does not - please be clear which you are referring to. Unless you have the proper tools and succesful experience with small mechanisms do not remove the baseplate.

CMoore · Oct 1, 2017

Right, which it does in this other F2. Mine is not doing that for some reason.

It seems whatever was "sticking" is no longer a problem. Do not know if this was just temporary, or the sign of a future issue to deal with.....
Thanks for the help

saman13 · Oct 1, 2017

Using the camera often will keep it free of dust and help keep everything moving as it should. That is usually the best advice.

But, if it does stop working again, don't be afraid to take off the baseplate to see if there is a piece of crud jamming the button. It is really not intimidating at all AS LONG as you have the correct screwdrivers as mentioned above. You don't want to strip anything.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

Hard to say, I'seen almost new cameras do it for no apparent reason.Your camera is at least 37 years old, it may never have been serviced. Sover Wong recommends a complete servicing - what I'd call an overhaul - for any camera 10 years or more from it's last major servicing and I agree.
Using an old camera until it completely craps out usually results in a more expensive repair, and sometimes in a junk camera due to exsessive wear from dirt and lack of lubrication.
Oil plus dirt equals grinding paste, so oiling it actually can accelerate wear.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

macfred said:
Did you check the rewind button on the baseplate ? Maybe it was pressed and got stuck.

Occam's Razor.

macfred · Oct 1, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Occam's Razor.

KISS ("Keep it short and simple")

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

macfred said:
KISS ("Keep it short and simple")

Same thing. Literally.

CMoore · Oct 1, 2017

saman13 said:
Using the camera often will keep it free of dust and help keep everything moving as it should. That is usually the best advice.

But, if it does stop working again, don't be afraid to take off the baseplate to see if there is a piece of crud jamming the button. It is really not intimidating at all AS LONG as you have the correct screwdrivers as mentioned above. You don't want to strip anything.

Yeah...both of you guys...Thanks Again
After 5-6 times of Gently "Forcing"/Moving (not sure what it is called) the shaft with the sprockets......it all returned to normal. So who knows...hopefully just a glitch.
This F2 Was Worked On by Sover. He is an imperfect human, but i am sure it all got "lubed" as appropriate. His Passion/Ability for the F2 is second to none. I wish he was 60 miles away and not Six Thousand.
As you guys say, the camera IS 40 years old. It may have a hick-up once in a while.
Anyway.....it is working again. Now i can work on one of My 756 defect as a photographer and not worry about the film winder.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2017

Keeping a half case on the camera gives it quite a bit of protection from dust and debris.
If it's recently been Soverised I'd vote for some random debris finding it's way in.

nikon f2 film winder.....

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