Nikon F2 TROUBLE ADVANCING

<p>Hello,<br>

I just bought a Nikon 2 that is in very good shape except that when I load film into it there is a struggle to advance. Why do you think this is? Its a bit of a struggle to wind the film back into the canister also. Does it need to be tuned up and how much would this cost to repair?</p>

<p>I'd look carefully at the mechanism. When the camera advances, the film is pulled forward by the sprocket, and when it's set to rewind, the sprocket should turn very freely. With no film in, the rewind crank should also turn very freely. The takeup reel (to which you attach the film when you load it) has a clutch which should allow the film to pull on, but to slip, compensating for the change in diameter as film winds on. </p>

<p>Open the back and see how things move. The sprocket moves whether or not there is film in the camera, so if it cocks and fires normally without film, I doubt it's a binding sprocket. Look at the takeup clutch and the rewind. </p>

<p>Make sure too that the pressure plate in the back is seated correctly, and not jamming the film. </p>

<p>If everything looks OK, perhaps the film itself was defective. </p>

<p>You may wish to send your F2 in for a check up. The owner before you (or someone, at some time) may have tried for exposure 25 (or 37, or 38) and this would likely be the cause of your 'stiff' film advance and rewind.</p>

<p>If you just bought it and it's not advancing properly, I would return it. Left unrepaired, that's what I call a "fatal flaw" and it should have been disclosed by the seller. A little like saying a used car is "in very good shape" but the wheels won't turn.</p>

<p>There are plenty of cameras in which the problem suggested by Jerry Litynski could be fatal (late Yashicas with plastic gears come to mind), but I don't think that problem is so likely with an F2. If it's anything like an F, it is very robustly made, and an attempt to overwind film would almost certainly either tear the sprocket holes or pull the film off the spool before damaging the camera. </p>

<p>It might well be a fatal flaw, but I'd want to wait until it's been looked at a little first, and especially until it's confirmed whether the problem exists with no film in it. </p>

<p>Nikon F2's are some of the toughest cameras ever made. It's big and heavy and kinda clunky lookin', if you swung around and hit something, you could do some serious damage!<br>

I would either return it, if possible, or take it to an authorized Nikon repair shop and have them take a look under the hood. If the repair estimate is not unreasonable, it might be worth your while to have the repair done, that's up to you. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but personally, I steer clear of fooling around with the mechanics of cameras, I let whoever's authorized, do the work. <br>

Anywhere between about 80-110 bucks, (that's a ballpark number, could be more, could be less), it all depends on who, where, are they an authorized Nikon repair. I live in Socal and have used Kurt's in San Diego, for years, they're an authorized Nikon repair and they will do mail order. They've been very good to me and my cameras, but you might have someone closer to your neck of the woods. If you do have an authorized Nikon repair shop do the work, they'll more than likely bring everything up to speed as well, shutter adjustments, etc., typical CLA, have 'em do the mirror foam, it degrades over time, and it's not unusual for the need to have it replaced in a camera of this age.<br>

Bottom line, if the camera's in as good a shape as you say, and the purchase price was reasonable, I'd consider having the camera repaired, based on the repair estimate. I don' know of any hard and fast rule about repairs being a % of the cost, is it worth to you... to have the repair done? If you do decide to have the repair done, you'll have a teriific camera that you can use for years to come. <br>

I still own my F2AS that I bought new, off the shelf in the fall of '77. I've drug that camera with me everywhere, I shoot with it to this day, it is my favorite image making tool. It will definately outlive me!</p>

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<p>If you haven't, just for the heck of it check and see if the rewind button is stuck, and look to see if the motor drive sprocket moves when you try to advance the film.</p>

<p>F2 and Sover Wong go together like PB&J. This sounds like something he could handle.</p>

<p>I agree that the F2 is a very rugged camera, one of the best ever made. I have four of them. But that's not the issue.<br /><br />The issue is that Anthony apparently bought a camera in good faith tnat it was in working order. If the seller described it as in "very good shape" or words to the effect that Anthony believed that to be the case and then it wasn't, that's what we call fraud. The film not advancing to the point that he has to force it, left unrepaired, leaves the camera essentially unusable.<br /><br />It should not be up to Anthony to spend time or money getting it checked out (by which time the seller could reasonably conclude that it was no longer his problem) let alone repaired. Unless the seller disclosed the problem up front or described the camera as "as is" or otherwise made things clear, IMHO the seller should give him his money back.<br /> </p>