Nikon FE AI Tab Cant get Past f/11

[Leikkor]

Hi,

when I mount an AI lens to my recently bought FE, I can not move the aperture ring past f/11. This also holds true when no lens is mounted and I try to move the AI tab manually (the lens is not the problem). The light meter shorts as well when I reach the hard stop at f/11.

What could be the issue?

-Leikkor

 

[Leikkor]

Japanese Pancake at minimum possible aperture.

50mm f/1.2 at minimum possible aperture.

 

[BrianShaw]

That part of the camera involves a thread-and-roller system to transfer the aperture ring position to the metering system. It is possible that it has dislodged. My understanding is that repairing such a failure is quite a challenge.

Did it ever work correctly or is this how you bought it?

 

[Chan Tran]

can you move that coupling by hand without the lens?

 

[Leikkor]

That part of the camera involves a thread-and-roller system to transfer the aperture ring position to the metering system. It is possible that it has dislodged. My understanding is that repairing such a failure is quite a challenge.

Did it ever work correctly or is this how you bought it?

It is how I bought it.

 

[Leikkor]

can you move that coupling by hand without the lens?

Nope, it always stops at the same location.

 

[Leikkor]

Same 50mm f/1.2 lens on an FM with the FE in the background.

 

[MFstooges]

May I understand that you also can't move the aperture ring past F11?

 

[Leikkor]

May I understand that you also can't move the aperture ring past F11?

The lenses: no issue. AI tab won't budge past the I in Nikon, no matter what.

 

[MFstooges]

The lenses: no issue. AI tab won't budge past the I in Nikon, no matter what.

I didn't ask about the issue with the lens. If the camera tab won't budge past F11 I assume when you attach the camera on that body you cannot set aperture smaller than F11, yes?

 

[Leikkor]

I didn't ask about the issue with the lens. If the camera tab won't budge past F11 I assume when you attach the camera on that body you cannot set aperture smaller than F11, yes?

Neither when there is a lens nor not.

 

[MFstooges]

The tab is part of the ring that sits behind the lens mount. There's a chance that the camera may have been dropped with the lens mounted at some point in its life or like Brian said something is dislodged in the mechanism.
I had the opposite problem where the tab didn't want to return to the largest aperture. It turned out that the tab ring had a slightly oblong shape. I managed to fix it.
I don't know how good you are with fixing small mechanism but if you're confident enough you can remove the lens mount to check the mechanism. Remember to use JIS screwdriver. Those lens mount screws are torqued pretty good and you'll ruin it with improper screwdriver.
Or if you can still return it, that's the best route to take.

 

[reddesert]

The AI tab is attached to a ring that rides around the lens mount under the flange that you see. There is a long coil spring attached to the ring that pulls it back into position. There may be dirt or an obstruction that is preventing it from turning, or the ring itself might be slightly bent out of shape, or possibly the part that the ring is attached to is preventing it from turning (what Brad suggested). If you have the right screwdriver and the right touch, it is possible to remove the lens mount flange and inspect the ring. Reassembling it requires keeping the spring in position while putting the flange back on, which is more difficult, IIRC.

Here's a diagram from the service manual.

 

[Leikkor]

Thank you MFstooges and reddesert. Your replies set my off towards the right direction.

 

[MFstooges]

Be careful with the lens release mechanism (B5) if it is removed then it's a little bit tricky to install, the hook on the body side has to engage the push button. Like reddesert said, putting them back together is the challenge so take a LOT of pictures of things before you take it apart and every stage of your disassembly from many angles.

 

[skahde]

Someone sold you a broken camera. It's up to you but may I ask: Can you return it?

 

[Leikkor]

Someone sold you a broken camera. It's up to you but may I ask: Can you return it?

Too late.