Rewind issues on Exakta Camera

I have 2 Exakta VX cameras and both of them will not rewind the film. Mechanically they do what they are supposed to but the take up spindle doesn't reach far enough into the cartridge to engage. Rather than a design flaw or an old wore wound (got old and wore out) it's as if the spindle was designed for a different cartridge.

Are there any Exakta users out there who have experienced the same issue and if so, how did you solve it?

Right now, I either have to unload the camera in a changing bag directly onto a developing spool or load an empty canister on the take up side and when I reach the end of the roll, cut it to remove it.

A while back, I seem to have had a similar issue when I tried to use the rewind to tension freshly loaded film. I remember abandoning the attempt.

I will try again later this evening and post what I discover.

Ok - I repeated the problem and solved it: for the rewind fork to engage the inner spool of the 35mm cassette, you have to push *in* on the central part of the rewind knob (that moves the fork up into the cassette). I did that and it works perfectly.

Similarly, you can pull the rewind knob out (or down) and use your finger to push the fork down when inserting the cassette.

The rewind knob is a two piece concentric you need to push the centre piece in all the way and it needs to hold there on a detent, while you rewind.
It pulls down for loading.
The detent needs to be positive.

Xmas said:

The rewind knob is a two piece concentric you need to push the centre piece in all the way and it needs to hold there on a detent, while you rewind.
It pulls down for loading.
The detent needs to be positive.

Click to expand...

BRILLIANT!
Thank you. I probably should have read the instructions online.
Thank you again.

Ken

Which is why, even with four aces and a king, I toss in my hand.