Rewind fork fell into the camera body and the camera back is locked...pls help needed

rps · Nov 14, 2014

The rewind fork of my Nikon FE2 fell into the body and the camera back is locked. In other words, the rewind fork came off the film rewind crank and fell into the camera's body... I have no idea how to get the camera back opened. I tried in vain to reach the inside mechanism using a paper clip, but had no luck. I don't know how the mechanism works really.

There is no film inside the camera body.

Can anyone help? How could I open the camera back?

I attached a picture so you can see what my problem is.

Thank you for your help.

railwayman3 · Nov 14, 2014

Presumably, like my Pentaxes, lifting the rewind crank normally releases the catch for the back ?

Can you in any way free the hinge at the other end of the back?

Otherwise it might be necessary for a repairer to take off the top plate ?

snapguy · Nov 14, 2014

help

It would help if you told us what make and model the camera is. I don't recognize it from the back.

rps · Nov 14, 2014

railwayman3 said:
Presumably, like my Pentaxes, lifting the rewind crank normally releases the catch for the back ?

Can you in any way free the hinge at the other end of the back?

Otherwise it might be necessary for a repairer to take off the top plate ?

The rewind crank is of no use since it is no longer attached to the rewind fork.
I have been trying to free the hinge at the other end of the camera back with a straighten paper clip, but no success so far.
I'll see if I can find one where I am at the moment.

snapguy said:
It would help if you told us what make and model the camera is. I don't recognize it from the back.

thanks I edited my initial post. That is a Nikon FE2

BrianShaw · Nov 14, 2014

I had that problem last year with a FE. I could not open with a paper clip either... no matter how much I tried. Others say they have done it but not me. Camera repair guy opened and put it all together again in 5 minutes.

BrianShaw · Nov 14, 2014

Check this out:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

On the second page is the parts drawing for what you need to access.

Newt_on_Swings · Nov 14, 2014

With most cameras removal of the bottom plate should give you access to another release which you should be able to press. If that doesn't work peeling some leatherette from the side may also give you access to the lock.

Daire Quinlan · Nov 14, 2014

I have done this exact same thing, and I opened it with a piece of filed brass. I tried a paper clip a few times and it would catch and then bend slightly and slip so I ended up filing a bit of scrap to shape. Definitely do-able though. The rewind handle on the FE-2 is a weak point though. I've lost one, replaced it, and almost lost another. It seems prone to working itself loose unless you really tighten it.

benjiboy · Nov 14, 2014

I suggest you take it here https://www.facebook.com/artaphotonice/info.there in Nice and are Nikon dealers

John Koehrer · Nov 14, 2014

First off, you can't use one of those wimpy paper clips; you need a manly man's paper clip(2" long).
Straighten one end and then bend the end back at about a 30 degree angle. Sort of a misshapen fish hook with a gap of about 1/4"
between the end of the bent part and the shaft.
Insert this into the hole for the shaft with the angled side facing outward. The latch is about 10-15mm from the top. Engage it with the hook & lift.

mopar_guy · Nov 14, 2014

Others have had this problem--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

darinwc · Feb 14, 2015

I use a crochet hook (actually a tatting needle) for just this purpose. It also worked well to set springs and manipulate other small parts.

John_Nikon_F · Feb 14, 2015

It's a common problem. Whenever I'm doing something that involves working with the rewind knob assembly, I try to remember to remove the back. Makes life much easier.

The other option is a dental pick. Use it the same way as described above. IIRC, the release is at about 10 o' clock when you're looking at the camera from the top with the lens facing forward.

-J

Brett Rogers · Feb 15, 2015

Never handled an FE2, but with every other Japanese camera using a hinged back and release via the rewind knob that I have there will be a sliding catch behind a removable plate under the leatherette that latches onto a lug or lugs on the back when it is closed. Peeling back the body leather a little will generally give you the access needed to remove this plate and actuate the catch manually. In some, but not all, cases it may also be possible to do this by taking off the bottom cover, however this will depend on the camera design. You may want to take the opportunity to clean and very lightly grease the catch before you reinstall it to ensure smooth operation.

fotch · Feb 15, 2015

Daire Quinlan said:
...............The rewind handle on the FE-2 is a weak point though. I've lost one, replaced it, and almost lost another. It seems prone to working itself loose unless you really tighten it.

It happened on my older FE. I thing maybe could happen on any Nikon?

Peter Simpson · Feb 16, 2015

A dab of Loctite 242 (blue, removeable) on the fork threads when you put it back together will prevent this from ever happening again.

mooseontheloose · Feb 16, 2015

mopar_guy said:
Others have had this problem--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

That was me! I have to say I didn't think the paper clip would work, it took quite a while for me to get it to work - in the end all I needed was patience.

This video on Youtube was also extremely helpful:

[video=youtube_share;gQJQgdE4ISc]http://youtu.be/gQJQgdE4ISc[/video]

Whomever · Apr 4, 2021

That is, they took me for a ride $150 and they kept it for two days

RMD · Apr 4, 2021

Good pandemic reading !
Don't know whether this helps - https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?keywords=Nikon+FE2

Whomever · Apr 4, 2021

RMD said:
Good pandemic reading !
Don't know whether this helps - https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?keywords=Nikon+FE2

Yes, we love old manuals, back then I think the users manual was a mini repair manual too. Now a troubleshoor section of a manual, all symptoms have the same solution ..replace.

Whomever · Apr 4, 2021

Would a tatters hooks work (out if thr box), or would I need to streighn the hook? , and in either case it looks like the shaft and hook would be to wide to squeeze in the hole even at sn angle. Or am I wrong?

Arvee · Apr 4, 2021

As John K. said, use a big stiff paper clip with a sort of hook bent into it. Then, with the back of the camera facing your chest, aim the hook for the 10 o'clock position in the shaft hole to catch the latch. It will require some effort to pull it up for release, hence the stiff paper clip that will not bend with the force. I had to figure this out myself after I dropped the rewind shaft into my FE2.
If you simultaneously apply pressure squeezing the back into the camera, the latch will release much easier.

Whomever · Apr 4, 2021

Arvee said:
As John K. said, use a big stiff paper clip with a sort of hook bent into it. Then, with the back of the camera facing your chest, aim the hook for the 10 o'clock position in the shaft hole to catch the latch. It will require some effort to pull it up for release, hence the stiff paper clip that will not bend with the force. I had to figure this out myself after I dropped the rewind shaft into my FE2.
If you simultaneously apply pressure squeezing the back into the camera, the latch will release much easier.

Thank you, here are the clips I have been using
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000H0ZHVU/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_glc_fabc_8A6VKK5T5ANFM594YX2Y
Can you link to some that will work?
Thank you

MattKing · Apr 4, 2021

A bigger fish hook - e.g. for salmon - might work.

Whomever · Apr 20, 2021

Google needs, I was able to pop the back open eith a 5.0 mm crochet hook at somewhere between the 10 & 11 o'clock position.
With the inside of the hook shaft against the hole the crochet hook will angle backward and you souls feel that feels like a lever pull out and up and the back should pop open.

Rewind fork fell into the camera body and the camera back is locked...pls help needed

rps

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Rewind fork fell into the camera body and the camera back is locked...pls help needed

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