Question before sending camera to repair shop

[MFstooges]

I broke the parts that hold the rewinding knob shaft (see yellow circle on the picture). The upper parts of the sleeve is gone so my rewind knob can move up freely without moving the unlocking lever. My camera is Nikon FM. I can repair this if I have the part, but so far I can't find used cheap part. Now since I also have to do CLA, anyone knows the ballpark cost to replace that part in the shop?

 

[bdial]

Much depends on the specific camera, but in general, a CLA runs $150 USD + or - in the U.S.

For your repair part, likely the cheapest way to find one would be to find a non-working or beat up FM. KEH's as-is and ugly condition stuff might be good candidates.

 

[cooltouch]

The last time I had my local professional camera repair shop do a CLA it was for a Pentax LX and they charged me $80. I think $150 can be a bit on the high side.

I agree with bdial about repairing your FM. Look for a broken camera you can pick up for cheap. It might also be that if you can find a repair facility that's been around for a long time, they might have the part from their dead camera bin that can get you fixed up.

 

[ic-racer]

Maybe get another FM that is not broken, save that on as a parts spare.

 

[Autonerd]

It'd be helpful to know what part of the world you're in. I took two cameras to Camera Max in Los Angeles (La Crescenta, actually). FE with a bad electronic something-or-other (shutter speed didn't vary) and MX that wound up needing a new shutter assembly. Total cost was around $200 for both cameras and AFAIK he CLA'd while he was in there. The work was a bit slow but he did a nice job. I'd definitely recommend him. Not sure if he's open right now or if COVID will deep-six his business. I hope not.

 

[juan]

Be careful. I sent my camera for repair in early February - in New York City. Of course the shop is closed. I suppose I’ll get my camera back some day.

 

[BMbikerider]

I suppose that because it is an FM, this a fairly generic camera and parts off other broken /disabled Nikons may be used such as the FE/FE2/FA/FM2FM2n/FE3 . There may be others that could donate the part but all answers here please. I included the FE3 whilst these are now out of production, they were produced long after your FE so spares may be available. From my experience it is the electronics that are generally not available.

 

[John Koehrer]

It's really not safe to assume parts interchangeability even within brand families. There are some that is and some that ain't.

 

[BobD]

I see an FM rewind shaft tube on eBay for $8 shipped from knight-camera

 

[benjiboy]

I wouldn't send anything out to repair at the moment or buy anything on Ebay or anywhere else at the moment, because on their delivery they could be a source of infection by coronavirus.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I wouldn't send anything out to repair at the moment or buy anything on Ebay or anywhere else at the moment, because on their delivery they could be a source of infection by coronavirus.

Pick up the package with gloves and move it to an isolation place for a day. The unpack in the isolation place while wearing gloves and a mask. Once the package is open the contents are safe because they have been isolated long enough. Unwrap the rest of the way and enjoy.

 

[millardmt]

I broke the parts that hold the rewinding knob shaft (see yellow circle on the picture). The upper parts of the sleeve is gone so my rewind knob can move up freely without moving the unlocking lever. My camera is Nikon FM. I can repair this if I have the part, but so far I can't find used cheap part. Now since I also have to do CLA, anyone knows the ballpark cost to replace that part in the shop?

I found the same "sleeve" as BobD: https://www.ebay.com/itm/200995-NIK...146284?hash=item5949e9c46c:g:tJIAAOSwWKtUuezD

There are also listed the FM rewind shaft: (https://www.ebay.com/itm/200785-NIKON-FM-REWIND-SHAFT-REPAIR-PART-USED/383477491307?hash=item59490a266b:g:K6gAAOSwzateeq05)

... and the rewind "pin":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-FM-F...363794?hash=item1cdfc5c252:g:b0QAAOSwMvtZXq4v

Not much help there; I'd go with a parts-body too ...

Marc

 

[MFstooges]

I found the same "sleeve" as BobD: https://www.ebay.com/itm/200995-NIK...146284?hash=item5949e9c46c:g:tJIAAOSwWKtUuezD

There are also listed the FM rewind shaft: (https://www.ebay.com/itm/200785-NIKON-FM-REWIND-SHAFT-REPAIR-PART-USED/383477491307?hash=item59490a266b:g:K6gAAOSwzateeq05)

... and the rewind "pin":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-FM-F...363794?hash=item1cdfc5c252:g:b0QAAOSwMvtZXq4v

Not much help there; I'd go with a parts-body too ...

Marc

I see an FM rewind shaft tube on eBay for $8 shipped from knight-camera

Actually I found an online service shop that has NOS part. The part is called shaft bearing, like this but this is for FM3 :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rewind-Sha...811022?hash=item546c09714e:g:eKMAAOSwi0RbGt2t

The part is made from plastic and probably because its old even though its new the plastic is pretty brittle. I didn't use tool to install the top circlip and as result I chipped some of the bearing lip. But it is good now.


I have another problem now, the light meter reads 4 stops under. I tried to clean up the shutter/iso dial but it didn't help. Oh well, but at least it is working mechanically.

 

[GRHazelton]

The last time I had my local professional camera repair shop do a CLA it was for a Pentax LX and they charged me $80. I think $150 can be a bit on the high side.

I agree with bdial about repairing your FM. Look for a broken camera you can pick up for cheap. It might also be that if you can find a repair facility that's been around for a long time, they might have the part from their dead camera bin that can get you fixed up.

Where did you find a good CLA on a Pentax LX for $80?? Did that include re-weather sealing the camera?

 

[cooltouch]

The shop is Professional Camera Repair in Houston, Texas:
http://www.professionalcamerarepair.com/

Actually, I didn't ask if the camera got re-weather sealed. I brought it to them with the infamous sticky mirror syndrome, asking him if they could fix that, and he said they could. But when I got it back, it said on the receipt that a CLA had been done, so I figured I got a bit more than I asked for.