Spring in Hasselblad A24 cartridge - how to re-attach?

I had to open my Hasselblad A24 cartridge (used for 220 films) which I bought used. Turned out that the light seals had to be replaced (one was totally missing). I am still waiting to receive the ordered seals, in the meantime I tried to close the cartridge. In the upper left corner is a black spring (a thin black steel rod curved at the left) which is likely used to support the clipping mechanism of the cartridge to the camera. When I opened the cartridge, the spring came loose, and I have no idea which is the correct positioning of this spring. I tried a few positions, but now the clips don't hold to the camera correctly. The clips worked perfectly before I opened the cartridge. Does anybody have a solution and can tell me the accurate needed positioning of this spring that the clips function correctly? Photos of the correct positioning of the spring within the cartridge would be ideal of course (there exists no manual or YouTube video about fixing this issue to my knowledge - videos all show only the inside of more common 120 film cartridges which have a different design)!

Have you looked at this?
http://www.galerie-photo.com/manuels/hasselblad-magasins.pdf

Frigge said:

Have you looked at this?
http://www.galerie-photo.com/manuels/hasselblad-magasins.pdf

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Thanks, I was unaware of it, and it actually has the element in question listed on page "Revision 1, January 2001", in the beginning of the pdf file on one of the pages No. 3 - it is the metal piece #46. Spring #44 is underneath and still in place, I didn't open/remove this spring. But the drawing doesn't help me how to attach #46 correctly in place? Is the little screw coming into the curved edge of #46 or is the whole part located underneath the frame mounting screw?

This isn’t an A24, but it should look something like this. It’s attached to a small cast pin (the home in part #46, no screws, and the frame goes on top to hold it in place.

Frigge said:

This isn’t an A24, but it should look something like this. It’s attached to a small cast pin (the home in part #46, no screws, and the frame goes on top to hold it in place.

View attachment 222612

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Got it, so many thanks! This is exactly the information I was looking for. Only in my cartridge's case, the black pin has more freedom to swing and is not located in such fixed position. I will take a photo later. In your case in the photo, do you know if the metal pin of the movable slider on top of the black pin actually inserts into the black pin's gap when the slider and clips move?

The black pin #46 is to make it impossible to remove the back w/o dark slide. So yes, when the dark slide is inserted the slider goes inte the gap in the black pin, enabling the back to be removed. Without dark slide, the #46 prevents the slider to release the mag.

MEB said:

Got it, so many thanks! This is exactly the information I was looking for. Only in my cartridge's case, the black pin has more freedom to swing and is not located in such fixed position. I will take a photo later. In your case in the photo, do you know if the metal pin of the movable slider on top of the black pin actually inserts into the black pin's gap when the slider and clips move?

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Great, didn't know this either! Makes sense now. I just wonder why I couldn't get the clips to hold on the camera if #46 does obviously not affect the spring loading of the cartridge and how it holds to the camera? Maybe because I had no light seals inside the cartridge when I closed it and somehow there is a slight discrepancy in thickness, so the cartridge doesn't mount with the clips correctly to the camera? Any idea? I didn't touch the clip/holding mechanism. Other A12 cartridges hold to the camera as usual - so something changed with the A24 after opening it (and not with the holders at the camera just to clarify).

Hmm... beats me.. without the #46 mounted it should clip on/release no matter what

Frigge said:

Hmm... beats me.. without the #46 mounted it should clip on/release no matter what

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Thanks to your help I was able to get #46 in the correct position and attach the cover temporarily with a few screws only until I receive the ordered light seal. It is interesting - only in this correct position and with the dark slide fully inserted the cartridge attaches with the clips to the camera! It seems like this is made as a safety feature to avoid accidental exposure of inserted film. Thanks again for all your great help!

You’re welcome!
It is indeed a smart, simple safety-switch. Has saved a lot of exposures for me