Yashica YE frame counter not working

[connealy]

I recently acquired a Yashica YE. Everything works well except the frame counter which does not advance.
I would appreciate any insights on getting into the counter mechanism and fixing the problem.

 

[ic-racer]

Could be a number of things. You will have to open the camera and examine the counting mechanism to see what is wrong.

Here is a case where a little plastic piece broke, causing film counter failure.

Nikon L35AF-3

Nikon made a few different versions of the L35 point and shoot camera. This particular one, version 3, has closer focusing but maybe a lens with less elements than the first version. Without getting into the details of the various versions, we will get right to the repair. The fault is that...

www.photrio.com

 

[connealy]

That response looks suspiciously like one I got from an AI query. Fortunately, I found someone on RFF with some actual experience with the camera.

 

[DavidHopper]

Sounds like the counter pawl isn't catching. It's probably just old, dried-up grease. Taking apart the top plate and cleaning it usually fixes it.

 

[ic-racer]

That response looks suspiciously like one I got from an AI query. Fortunately, I found someone on RFF with some actual experience with the camera.

No need to be suspicious of AI. It is a known fact the answers are generated from scraping internet forums.

Anyway, as someone who has been repairing cameras for 40 years, I'm impressed to know you fixed it without examining the counting mechanism to see what was wrong.

 

[OAPOli]

I see a little set screw hole in your photo. There are likely two others. This should remove the cover over the counter. There usually is a pawl-ratchet system to increment the counter. In one of my cameras the pawl was a small flat spring that broke.

 

[connealy]

Thanks for those knowledgeable answers. I did get the cover off and was able to see the inside of the counter mechanism which is quite simple. Haven't quite fixed it yet as a I don't want to break that little pawl.

 

[OAPOli]

@connealy please post details about your progress so far? This will help others looking for specific info about this camera.

 

[connealy]

@connealy please post details about your progress so far? This will help others looking for specific info about this camera.

The responses here and on RFF were helpful. It was not obvious to me that the tiny holes in the silver ring around the counter housed some tiny screws which held the ring in place. There is a pawl on a circular spring disk which engages notches to make the counter advance. Mine may have been a little out of alignment because there was only one out of three screws holding the outer ring in place. I am proceeding carefully at this point as bending the angle of the pawel seems like what is needed, but I don't want to break it. Also, the lack of a frame counter is not a fatal problem, so I'm not in a hurry to do anything about the issue. If I do more, I'll report back.