Problem with Nikon FE2 film advance

[katphood]

I've tried searching the forums, but frankly, the search functions suck. Anyway, I apologize if I'm kicking off a thread for a question that's already been answered.

My FE2 for the past half dozen rolls or so, often needs two strokes to advance the film. At first I thought it might be because I roll my own film canisters, but no, it happens with store bought Velvia too. Yesterday, I tried it without film and have the same thing.

Yet its not every frame, more like about 7 out of every 10 need a second stroke.

I was worried that the problem was wasting film between frames, but that's not the case. The frames are spaced nicely; not wasted film. However, one stroke is often not enough to ready the shutter.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[David William White]

If you wind a bum roll all the way through with the back open (or off), can you see what's happening? You want to look at the sprocket teeth and see what isn't engaging properly. You want to see if the film advances on the first or second stroke, or if only partially on the first and finishes up on the second.

 

[katphood]

I'll give that a try.

 

[katphood]

OK, I tried that, and I can't see anything unusual. HOwever, its advancing the film with each stroke, so it would seem that I'd be skipping frames, but so far I have not had that.

I DID notice that when it the shutter doesn't work, the advance stroke before I tried the shutter made two quick noises as it returned to its resting position. When things worked properly, I do not hear that.

So it seems that whatever is wrong is inside and not visible.

 

[PhotoJim]

I have an FE body that occasionally doesn't wind the film the entire way unless I'm careful and meticulous. I find that there is a little resistance at the end of the stroke, and I tend to feel the winding is done and release the lever, when the winding may indeed not be done.

Try being conscious about winding fully and see if your problem disappears.

You may still want to get the issue repaired if I'm right, but you will at least know what is going on.

 

[katphood]

I tried being meticulous but it still happens, so I got into the habit of double stroking. I mainly rely on the FM2 and was planning to sell the FE2. Now...I may have to sell it for parts / repair *[sniffle]*

 

[Arvee]

I had this happen to an OM1 I have. The problem, in my case, was that there is a pawl that is supposed to click into place at the end of the advance stroke to keep it from slipping back a tooth. The spring that kept tension on the pawl had popped free and the pawl would only function when it felt like it and gravity was working for me. I remember the winding mechanism would 'relax' (back up slightly) at the end of the stroke and wouldn't complete its normal cycle. I had to stroke again to get the shutter to fire.

I had to remove the bottom plate and after a few minutes of stroking and watching the mechanism, I could see what was happening. Re-attached the spring and I was good to go.

With the bottom plate removed, you might be able to see what is happening with the two strange clicks.

Good luck,

-F.

 

[katphood]

Yes, I don't think its worth repairing TBH. It would be cheaper to buy another one, but since I was planning to sell this one anyway....

Double stroking the thing seems to be working w/o skipping frames, so I'll keep doing that. If I start skipping frames, then it may be worth an attempt at Bubba repair.