Rolleiflex 3.5broken part

[Nuran]

Hi all, does anybody know what part is this on the picture? Is this rod supposed to be at an angle, or am I missing a fastener on the side plate?
I bought a Rolleiflex 3.5 and the film advance mechanism does not stop. Counter does not get to zero or count at all. I am suspecting this rod is the problem. Hope someone can help me.
Thanks

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

You should push it with a finger a little. If it is spring loaded all should be fine. As far as I know this wheel detects the rotation of the film.
I have to thank you for motivating me to open my old 3.5A as I found an exposed film in it I forgot to unload since I got my 3.5F about a decade ago

 

[Mr Bill]

Hello. People new to the Rolleiflex often don't load the film correctly. As the film makes the 90 degree turn around the back of the camera it is supposed to go BETWEEN two rollers. These can feel when the actual film passes through, and start the counter, etc. If you missed this during loading, it's most likely your problem.

That little toothed wheel on the shaft looks OK to me. It has to be able to move because it is "feeling" how much film has passed it.

If you have a darkroom, etc., perhaps you can rewind your film back onto the original spool. Note that if you get a significant bulge where the actual film is taped to the backing paper you may want to peel the tape back off and let that end of the film re-center itself.

Best of luck with it.

 

[Nuran]

You should push it with a finger a little. If it is spring loaded all should be fine. As far as I know this wheel detects the rotation of the film.
I have to thank you for motivating me to open my old 3.5A as I found an exposed film in it I forgot to unload since I got my 3.5F about a decade ago

It is spring loaded, Thanks.
I hope your exposed film has nice memories.

 

[Nuran]

Hello. People new to the Rolleiflex often don't load the film correctly. As the film makes the 90 degree turn around the back of the camera it is supposed to go BETWEEN two rollers. These can feel when the actual film passes through, and start the counter, etc. If you missed this during loading, it's most likely your problem.

That little toothed wheel on the shaft looks OK to me. It has to be able to move because it is "feeling" how much film has passed it.

If you have a darkroom, etc., perhaps you can rewind your film back onto the original spool. Note that if you get a significant bulge where the actual film is taped to the backing paper you may want to peel the tape back off and let that end of the film re-enter itself.

Best of luck with it.

I am new to Rolleiflex, and the first film I loaded was exactly that mistake: it did not go between the two rollers. The second film, I watched several video's and made sure the film is between the rollers (under the first roller and over the second roller. On all videos I have watched the winder stops at a certain point, but this does not happen on mine.

 

[Nuran]

The two rollers, where the film should go in between. Does the bottom roller supposed to be spring loaded? mine is not moving at all.

 

[Mr Bill]

The two rollers, where the film should go in between. Does the bottom roller supposed to be spring loaded? mine is not moving at all.

I'm not sure, but I think the inside roller is fixed. This is the one that would receive the most pressure when film is under tension so one wouldn't want it moving as film tension varies (it might affect how well the film stays in the gate).

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

Does the bottom roller supposed to be spring loaded? mine is not moving at all.

So doesn't mine. There is about 1mm between the two rollers. I never bothered about it. I suppose the lower one goes up as soon you wind the crank with a film loaded.

 

[Flighter]

It should move up towards the top roller when the back door is closed. You can check this by moving the lever shown in the picture below (red arrow) in the direction of the arrow. There is a tab next to the roller on the back door which presses against the lever when the back door is closed. (Picture is of a Automat 6x6 - Model 3 - K4B2)

 

[Mr Bill]

I am new to Rolleiflex, and the first film I loaded was exactly that mistake: it did not go between the two rollers. The second film, I watched several video's and made sure the film is between the rollers (under the first roller and over the second roller. On all videos I have watched the winder stops at a certain point, but this does not happen on mine.

I vaguely recall reading about some certain film that apparently was not thick enough to trigger the Rollei film sensor. (The combination of backing paper plus film plus tape must be thick enough to lift one of the rollers far enough to trigger the system. ) Are you using a mainstream film?

I tried doing some forum searches on this issue. This link may be helpful... https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/acros-rolleiflex-pita.168625/#post-2193658

 

[Dan Daniel]

Two points- When a spool is in the top chamber, the initial question about the thin film gearing, and you use the winding lever, the silver gear may not move. Put a little pressure on the spool end above the gear while winding and see if the gear starts rolling. Ideally it will roll with some pressing on the spool. If it rolls without any pressure, all is fine.

I mention this becasue it is possible for this axle to be set such that there is no registration of film movement at the beginning of the roll, sometimes into the first or second frame. But eventually the film and paper should add enough diameter tot he spool to start it rolling, and having the frame counter start moving. Very rare condition, but just to mention it.

Second point- you can test the film sensor in one aspect of function by putting an index card, maybe doubled over, in between the two roller. Just building up thickness. Now move the black 'foot' that Flighter points to forward. In doing this, you might hear a clunk from inside the camera on the wind side. Move the foot (some pressure is fine, end of travel will be obvious) both with and without the index cards in between the rollers. Without material, no clunk, with material, clunk. Not super loud but can be heard.

The clunk is the film sensor releasing, engaging the film metering and counter system.

If it releases/clunks, then the overall system is functioning. And now Mr Bill's point about film thickness adjustment comes into play. The adjustment is under the panel, a somewhat tricky thing to get to and to adjust. Nothing horribly complex but a few layers of fiddly parts to get into.

A possible cheat is to 'preload' the film thickness sensor by putting a thin tape on the top roller. A one (or two- try one first) layer of cellophane tape might do it- no overlap on the layer. We are dealiing with 1/10mm here. Prepare to use a test roll, or to keep unloading the film in a darkroom, to check this out. It's a hack that might work to trip the counter system with actual film in the camera.

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

I never had such issues with my three Rolleiflex TLR as well as with the SL66. I am using HP5+ mostly and FP4 or Delta 100/400 occasionally. If you are using something else I recommend trying these first before fiddling with the mechanism.

 

[Nuran]

You guys are great!
I am using HP4, that should be fine I guess. @Dan Daniel and Flighter, I found the "foot" and I see the tab moving. With an index card I even hear the clunk. So far so good. But the counter is still not working. It's in a wierd position and not moving. See picture:

 

[OAPOli]

The lever shown in post #9 is the one that resets the counter when you close the door. Try pushing it manually.

However, the counter in your pic above doesn't seem right. When a roll is finished, the counter usually goes past "12", while yours is before the "0". I think the counter wheel was installed incorrectly: it was put on the wrong side of the stop for the reset "0" position.

 

[monopix]

Looking at the way the leather is (badly) fitted around the counter window, I'd say the camera has previously been dismantled and probably not reassemnbled correctly. You say you bought the camera, was this fault described? If not, return it.

 

[Dan Daniel]

You guys are great!
I am using HP4, that should be fine I guess. @Dan Daniel and Flighter, I found the "foot" and I see the tab moving. With an index card I even hear the clunk. So far so good. But the counter is still not working. It's in a wierd position and not moving. See picture:

You got problems! You'll need to have someone go inside, unfortunately, to fix that counter issue.

If you just bought this, any chance to return it? Or have the seller pay for the repair?

Alex Varas in Spain works on these and can do the work.

 

[Nuran]

Dan, I'm afraid you are right. The winder does not stop, the counter stays in the exact same position no matter what. It needs to be opened. I bought it at a Dutch Ebay type of site. Relatively cheap (€400,-), from an old lady that didn't knew if it was working at all (but probably knew it damn well). I'll try to find a repair shop in the Netherlands. Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

I am using HP4, that should be fine I guess.

First, welcome to Photrio.
Second, is that film reference to HP4 a mistake, because that would be really old film!
The current Ilford offerings are FP4+ and HP5+.

 

[Nuran]

First, welcome to Photrio.
Second, is that film reference to HP4 a mistake, because that would be really old film!
The current Ilford offerings are FP4+ and HP5+.

You are right, I've checked, its HP5Plus 400 iso

 

[Flighter]

As well as Alex Varas, this site https://tlr.rolleigraphy.eu/tlr66repairs.php lists two places in the Netherlands that work on Rolleiflex

 

[frost242]

Amsterdam Camera Repair is in the Netherlands as the name suggests. However he may have a pretty huge waiting list.
There's also Optomeca in France who can service your Rollei but he will perform a complete service. I hope it's a clean model.

 

[Nuran]

Thanks everyone. I’ll update in a few weeks.