Yashica D 1970 Winding knob doesn't stop and counter window resets to random location

[riekales]

Hey guys,

I got my first medium format camera, a TLR Yashica D from 1970, according to the serial number, with a Yashinon 80/3.5 lens. It's my first dive into Medium format, I was shooting 35mm film until now.

I'm really happy with the camera, just shot a first roll with it. The film is being developed so I don't see the results yet but I noticed few mechanical problems.

I got it off ebay for decent price in these days- 150€.

I notice its reflex mirror is cracked, which doesn't bother that much.

The one thing I would like to fix is the winder knob and the little shot number window, maybe its interconnected. So here it is:



The window resets when the back is opened and shows roughly 3 winds before the S comes, it doesn't reset to S as other youtubers showed on their models.
As well as the winder knob doesn't stop at end of each frame but you could wind through the film until the end of the roll if you wanted. So this first roll I had to wind manually and try to position the each number approximately in the middle of the window to get most out of each frame.

Are these two interconnected? The knob doesn't click in but turns indefinitely, so would love to fix it that it stops in each frame as seen on other Yashica D's

Thnaks for your help


EDIT:
I found this video on yt, where it shows how it functions.
I have wrong numbering and also the knob doesn't click in. Can I repair it myself or should I just return the camera on ebay and found a working one?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Have you been inside a camera like this before? The work is not difficult but it does take some knowledge of how to get inside, etc. When I started going inside cameras (first one being as Yashica-D!) I presumed that I was really doing an autopsy, not a repair. If the camera worked when I was done, that was a bonus

Inside the back on the winding side edge is a silver pin that sticks out a bit. Is this stiff to push in?

Most likely the problem won't be hard to fix. Something has popped out of place, most likely happened at the same drop/blow that cracked the mirror. The concern is three-fold- if you open it up will you be able to do the work? Is there internal breakage of a critical part? And if it has been dropped and had this problem, what else was damaged in the drop? Can you see where the back or lens shroud or focus hood is out of alignment, etc.?

The late Yashica-D with the Yashinon, when working, is a great camera and should be solid and unbreakable with its simple mechanism. I don't know your budget and such but most likely the safe thing is to return it and find another medium format camera that doesn't need work out of the gate.

If you decide to keep it and go inside to fix, go over to the camera repair forum for some guidance.

 

[riekales]

I have some experience opening some broken 35mm cameras, some didn't survive though, namely some nikon FEs and Pentax ME, but fixed up couple.

I couldn't wait anymore and opened the Yashica up.

I managed to find the culprit, it was a small spring which was disattached from the clicking cog all the way on the bottom. Took me few hours but I put it together again and the number window is good enough. The S letter is nicely in the middle but later numbers are only halfway in but it's good enough. The clicking in was very important so I don't miss some frames.

Thank for the tips. Mechanically it looks goof for now l. Hope it stays like that.



Btw, is it necessary to redo the light seals on the Yashica?