Previously working Olympus 35 SP, stiff advance lever return, allows multiple film advances without firing shutter after opening covers

[christophersparks]

I just got a nice Olympus 35 SP that worked great. Last night I opened the top and bottom covers to blow out dust and clean up the rangefinder. After putting it back together, the advance lever needed a nudge to return to its home position after cocking. I opened it up again today to look for anything off, and now the advance lever is very stiff on the return stroke. The advance lever also no longer locks out, allowing multiple film advances without firing the shutter.

I disconnected the shutter cocking linkage on the bottom of the camera and the issue persisted, so the shutter itself isn't the problem. I can't see any obvious problems, but I'm not familiar with the camera and can't find a service manual. I don't know for sure, but it looks like the main toothed disk on the bottom of the winding mechanism on the bottom of the camera might be misaligned in the vertical plane with the ratchet pawl, allowing it to slip over the top rather than catching on the stop. I'm not sure exactly how it's supposed to work, but I don't see how it could have moved up or down while I was cleaning the camera.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[4season]

When you reassembled the camera, did you have any mysterious left-over parts, such as a washer or a small shim?

 

[christophersparks]

When you reassembled the camera, did you have any mysterious left-over parts, such as a washer or a small shim?

I actually managed to figure out the issue, it was a slightly loose retaining ring in the bottom of the camera pushing the winding shaft upwards and out of alignment.

Posting some more details here for anyone else with this issue in the future:

FIXED:

The problem was caused by a slightly loose retaining ring inside the bottom of the camera. It was below (when looking at the bottom of the camera upside down) the sprocket attached to the film takeup shaft. The linkage that cocks the shutter has to be removed (2 e clips) along with the sprocket and it's retaining hardware. This allows access to the ring that can then be tightened.