Nikon FE2 rewind knob replacement.

Robert Ley

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I have an FE2 that I had lent to a friend when we were on a two week road trip in Alaska. When she tried to rewind the film she turned the knob counter clockwise and twisted the knob off the shaft. by the time that I had caught up to her she had pulled the shaft out of the body. As we were on a trip I put the pieces in a plastic bag and but I don't think that I had all the parts. In any event the picture shows what parts I have left. I can put what I have back in the camera but it is extremely loose and I'm afraid that there might be light leaks.

The camera is nice in every other regard and I would like to use it again. Can anyone tell me what parts I'm missing and where I might be able to get parts, also can I use the rewind knob and shaft from another model Nikon like an FM. FM2, or FE.

 

BrianShaw

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Been there; done that... except I managed to catch all of the parts as they fell to the ground.

You are missing the part that "locks" the rewind handle in the up/down position. I've seen them on ebay but not sure how often they are available. I beleve it is a common part for the models you cite.

Nikon FE FM FE2 FM2 FM3A Rewind Knob Lever Return Flat Spring | For Nikon FE FM FE2 FM2 FM3A | 1K241-363

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NIKON FM2 REWIND Handle & RETURN FLAT SPRING Fits FE FE2 FM FM3A Free Shipping | eBay

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Original Rewind Knob’s Pressure Plate For FM/FM2/FE/FE2. Replacment Part. | eBay

Original Rewind Knob’s Pressure Plate For FM/FM2/FE/FE2.
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reddesert

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You should be able to put it back together even without that part, although you might need an extra small washer to take up some space on the screw. The extra tab on part #656 provides a surface for the end of the crank arm to cam against, so that it stays up or down as Brian said. Without that tab, the rewind crank will flop around annoyingly, but the camera will still work. The knob and shaft are fine. You fasten the knob onto the shaft by opening the back and blocking the rewind fork with a screwdriver, and tightening the knob.

IME, rewind knobs from many Nikons use the same thread (eg I think you could screw the knob from an EM onto an FE2; not sure about Nikkormats), but I'm not certain that the washer arrangement is similar from the oldest to the newest.
 
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Robert Ley

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The problem that I'm having is the shaft itself is loose in the camera and wiggles around quite a bit. I know that I'm missing the spring for the crank knob, but that is not the reason that it is loose. It seems that there is a bushing that I'm missing. I saw the parts available on Ebay and I don't think they are the ones that I need. I think my best chance is to pick up DOA body and use the parts off of it. Does anyone know what Nikon bodies would work for me?
 

reddesert

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Post a picture of what yours looks like now, so we can see what's going on.

In your description of the incident, did your friend pull the rewind shaft out of the body from the bottom (back open) or from the top? I'm not sure you even can pull it out from the top, certainly not without excessive force.

There is an outer metal sleeve with a groove around it labeled part 665 in the diagram BrianShaw posted. The groove engages the spring of the safety latch (the little doodad that you have to push to allow the rewind knob to be raised, preventing you from opening the back accidentally). I have not seen this sleeve fall out even in rescue-cases where the rewind knob comes off and the shaft falls into the body so the back is stuck closed. But I suppose it could happen. If you're missing that, you probably need to look for the part, or parts cameras with the safety latch (maybe FM/FE/FM2/FE2/FA).
 
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Robert Ley

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I have carefully looked at the camera and I am missing that part 665 sleeve. I don't know how it got lost but it is gone and that is the part that I need as well as the spring for the rewind knob. What I would really like to know is what Nikon cameras would have the same parts so that I could buy a parts camera. I suspect that any of the FM/FE camera bodies have the same parts that I need, but I need to know if that is true.
Anyone know where I can get info on these parts and any interchange of these parts.
 

BrianShaw

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In addition, you’ll need the c-clip that holds the sleeve in place. I think those are common items for the entire FM/FE family. Do you have any camera repair shops in your area? They might be worth checking with for parts.
 
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Robert Ley

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Just ordered a parts FE2 so I know that the parts will work and I now have a body to learn camera repair.
 
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Robert Ley

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Got my parts FE2 today from Roberts Camera. Somebody had put something through the shutter so the camera was toast as replacing the shutter was probably more than the camera was worth.
It turns out that I was missing the sleeve that the return shaft rides in and the spring for the knob handle if that makes any sense. I had the old parts out and my good FE2 working like it should within 15 minutes...a success. Now I have another film camera to use and a parts camera that I can learn camera repair.

On another note, I found an old Nikkormat EL that I have had so long that I forgot where I got it. It takes a strange 6 volt battery, so I ordered a new battery just to see if it works, and it does work so I now have another 35mm film camera that can use all of my MF Nikon lenses.
 

reddesert

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The 6v battery for the EL is a PX28 or 4LR44 or 4SR44. It's used in many cameras of a certain era, and also it seems to be used in electronic dog collars or something like that, so is widely available on ebay / amazon / wherever.

Good work on the FE2 repair!
 
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Robert Ley

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Thanks to all for responding! I feel confident in going forward with the knowledge that is so freely given in this forum. I have been on this forum for over twenty years and never once regretted subscribing...best money I ever spent.
 
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