Nikon FG Film Advance Lever Broken

I bought this cute little Nikon FG for $12, shipped, on eBay. It was listed "for parts", and the pics on the ad were really bad, but I figured it was just the usual sticky mirror foam, coupled w/ dead batteries. It did need batteries, but the mirror foam is fine, and the camera works a treat, but what I didn't see on the ad pics was that the film advance lever was broken. It actually is pretty easy to use just as it is by using what is left of the lever, but I'd rather have a proper film advance lever if I could. I thought that maybe I could use the one from my EM, but as you can see, it looks like a no-go, as they're different. Does anyone have any ideas for a cheap fix? Thanks.

another parts FG off ebay all mine are ok cameras.

Since these are common, I was going to suggest looking through the classifieds here when I noticed you recently had three such listings here! I guess it is a model you like and don't like . . .

-) glue the plastic part on the metal part with epoxy cement and secure with screws.

or

-) cut from brass plate of the same thickness as your rest of lever a shape that being bent over resembles such lever and mount it instead of the broken one.
Edit: many cameras had levers made from sheet metal

I can tell you from experience that if you intend to replace the metal part that there are at least two types--the type on my FG, and the type on the FG parts camera I bought thinking I'd steal its lever. The difference was invisible, down inside the camera, and essential to function (On the parts camera the shutter button was fastened inside, the the mechanism under it; on mine, it was loose, held in by a little sticky-out bit on the innards of the lever that the parts lever didn't have.) I don't know if the plastic parts are identical or not.

The FG is my favorite 35mm film camera--very ergonomic and tough, with a nice enough meter, and dirt cheap these days. Those are my SLRs, and I have Leicas, too, but the FGs get a lot more use. Maybe you should just buy a whole one instead of trying to fix the one you have, since they cost almost nothing on Ebay.

I have three listings for FG's? Gee, apparently I don't know what's going on (a claim that more than a few people have suggested, but I digress). Those must have been old ads, because this new, somewhat broken one, is all that I have. But yes, I did have one or two and sold them, a not very uncommon story around here I'm afraid. Now, all I have is this cheapo, beater FG, which is more my style, or lack thereof.

Good ideas AgX. Unfortunately, I have no plastic part to glue back on. All I have is what you see in the pic, just the small nub that the reticulating lever attaches to, or would attach to if it were still there. But you've given me an idea. I'll just drill a hole in the little nub that's on there, and attach a bit of a lever off one of my old broken cameras by drilling a hole in it, and attaching it to the nub w/ a little bolt and nut. That should work fine. Thanks!

My favorite Nikon camera, other than my $20 N8008s, is the EM in the pics, which I modified to shoot in stop down mode w/ non AI lenses, but it's getting pretty old and shabby. I may just file off the little notches on the end of that nub on the FG (or just cut them off, it's just a cheap plastic piece) and try using it w/o that missing lever. Yes, these are often cheap cameras, but $12 shipped to my place is gonna be hard to beat. I have yet to see one go for that small of a price.

The FG and 8008s are my favourite cheap SLR's too. Very reliable.

momus said:

I have three listings for FG's? Gee, apparently I don't know what's going on (a claim that more than a few people have suggested, but I digress). Those must have been old ads, because this new, somewhat broken one, is all that I have. But yes, I did have one or two and sold them, a not very uncommon story around here I'm afraid.

Click to expand...

Done it myself, got rid of one that turned out to be something I wanted after it was gone!

-) make a "knob" from hard-wood or a block of plastic and fix it as described above (might come out better than the original knob...)

By now some one with a parts one should have offered to sell you a replacement lever end. Think the FG ends are common mine are

I have two rat ones for parts but both have film in them and the nice (3rd) one sulks on a shelf. Dropped one from gbag unto concrete four foot cosmetic damage remedied with swiss file, fasten g bag going down stairs, go slower new rules.

The plastic body is really resistant...

Lots have damaged missing lever tips seems to be Achilles heel. Brass stock just thicker than lever saw and file drill and rivet three sections tap etc. but parts cameras cheap.

And having "cameras for parts" is a good excuse for hoarding cameras...