Slipping film advance on a Yashica 124

<p>Hi there!<br /><br />I picked up a Yashica 124 in nice condition that seemed to be working perfectly. However, once I got a take-up spool in place and tried to load a film, the advance mechanism started slipping and failed to wind the film onto the spool.<br /><br />I've tried a different spool and a roll of film but it makes no difference. If I take the take-up spool out, then the winder looks fine, but as soon as there's some friction from a spool it just slips. The rod with gear for the film counter seems to be fine with tension. Any ideas, or is this simply just bad that couldn't be fixed except a proper CLA?<br /><br />I uploaded a video on YouTube for a better look. <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31sbEXfF5fE" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?v=31sbEXfF5fE</a> <br /><br />Thanks</p>

Here's the inside of the Yashica-Mat. Pretty much the same idea on the 124. In my photo the gear that drives the film spool is missing-

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18067251@N04/4303120642/in/set-72157624555271098

 

 

The spool gear is driven by the gear to its right which is driven by the wind lever.

 

 

From your video it's obvious that something is wrong. When you take the spool out and play with the drive shaft on the right side (wind side) inside the film chamber, does it move back and forth? Can you push it away, fiddle it back out, feel it dropping into place as it slips bewtween the gears next to it? There is a heavy metal spring washer that sits on top of the gear and holds it in place. Without this washer, that gear could slip up and out of engagement with the next gear driving it.

 

 

That's the first thing I would check.

<p>Hi Dan,<br>

Thanks for your response and I think you're the helpful one that's answering my question on the Flickr group as well? You can simply reply me on here or the Flickr group, any one you like. :)<br>

Not quite sure what you mean by the drive shaft on the wind side, do you mean the film counter shaft, the end with no gear? On my #1 picture, which is the top of the shaft? Also I don't see any washer in there, you can see it from my pictures.<br>

Thanks<br>

#1<br /><a title="Untitled by W....., on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8420354203_1a27b877d6.jpg" alt="Untitled" width="375" height="500" /></a><br>

#2<br /><a title="Untitled by W....., on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8420379263_ae90c7ac8a.jpg" alt="Untitled" width="375" height="500" /></a></p>

<p>I had a similar problem with my Yashica 44LM. This may not be relevant to your problem, since the 44LM has knob advance, not a crank, but in case it's helpful, here's my story. The winding became stiff toward the end of one roll, then jammed up early in the next; after taking the film out, the camera would wind ok without film. When I put a film in again, the knob started to slip, without advancing the film, after about frame 2 or 3. I found that the shaft on which the winding knob is mounted comes apart in two sections, joined by a thread, and that thread had stripped enough to skip round. In my defence, I don't think I did all of this damage; the camera is second-hand, and there was already some kind of glue on the thread. I found the spindles of some of the winding gear train were also loose, and I think the extra friction of poorly-meshed gears was what did the damage.<br>

In the end, the only way I could see to make the camera work was to glue that threaded joint back together. I tried first using thread-lock cement (which would be undo-able if I ever wanted) but it failed again, so I did it with epoxy glue. It works fine.</p>

<p>Take the take up spool out, set the camera to ready to take a picture state, take up roll drive should be locked. Does the take up spool drive turn? If so investigate why. The piece that meshes with the slots in the spool are commonly called wind key and are left hand thread. The wind key can come loose or strip out if the film travel has too much tension.</p>

<p>Locktite threadlocker 271 or JB Weld are good choices for a permanent repair. Threadlocker 271 joined parts can be separated once heated to 500°F.</p>

<p>Crappy build, with the irregular film advance being a very common fault. Yeeesss I know there is an enthusiastic 124 fraternity, with a few folk saying they have never had a fault. But I don't like your chances of a permanent fix, sorry to say. You might be lucky. They do have a nice lens.</p>

<p>Hello everyone. The film advance of just about every Yashica Mat camera has been the weak spot of the camera. Cranking the advance lever not only moves the film, it cocks the shutter. Most of the mechanical energy is used in getting the shutter cocked.<br>

Try this: With film in the camera, cock the shutter first before advancing the lever. You should find that the film transport works with ez. If you still get resistance or mechical sounds, having the camera fixed is the only long term option.<br>

I own six of the EM and 124 cameras and use the shutter cocking on all before advancing the film...ok, all my work is on a tripod! In the last 15 years only one camera has developed transport problems, although each camera gets a CLA on average every 3-4 years.<br>

Use with care, the Yashica series 6x6 is a spot on device. Enjoy, Bill</p>