RETINA IIIc 1957 model Advancing operations are weird now

<p>Hello all,<br>

My Retina IIIc has been operating normally for years until now. To make it work now I need to have the lens door shut upon advancing the film lever. Then open it up to shoot. I can not leave the door opened to advance then shoot. If I do the film advance will lock up when fully moved outward. Then the top reset counter button must be pushed in to retract the film lever. After this procedure is performed the shutter button will not trigger the shutter. It will operate if I only close the lens door then advance the film lever then open it as I stated.<br>

I wonder if anyone ran into this problem before?<br>

Thanks in advance!<br>

Frank</p><div></div>

<p>I've not had that problem with my Retina IIIc, but have very similar problems with a couple of older Retina IIa cameras. The problem on those is with the gears to the upper-left of the lens (if you're looking at the front of the camera) not meshing properly. There's a bit of looseness between the gear inside the round stainless steel shaft and the gear that's inside the shutter mechanism. The gears slip so that the outer gear turns properly, but the inner gear doesn't turn enough to cock the shutter. It seems feasible to me that with the cover closed those gears mesh properly because they are held tightly in contact with each other, but with the front extended there's some looseness allowing the gears to slip. Might not be the same problem, but just an idea. <br /> <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11324487/retina.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

<p>Thank you Looking back in my files mine was re lubed about a year back and not used for about 7 months Maybe that had something to do with it</p>

<p>Thank you<br>

I have found after cocking the lever when closed then opening the lens door and firing it. I continued with the door opened and cocked it again. The lever was locked fully extended so I pressed the release button on top to the counter which retracted the film lever back and at the same time the shutter fires I tried that procedure again and it fired again. After the third time it will not fire. So I started back as I first did and all the uncommon results repeated the same way. It will operate still with the door shut then opening the door to shoot with<br>

Looking back in my files mine was re lubed about a year back and not used for about 7 months Maybe that had something to do with it</p>

<p>Now if I nudge the shutter actuating arm upward that is adjacent to the lens after triggering the shutter I can advance the shutter again. I think it may have a weak return spring??? I am not sure</p>

<p>Typical problem with Retina IIc and IIIc advance mechanisms is worn cocking rack.</p>

<p>Thank you for your input.<br>

I opened it up and the rack is fine. I went in and explored some websites about this to check on. I just need to push the shutter release linkage upward so it will operate again A weak return spring maybe the culprit. If anyone knows about this problem and how to remedy this I am welcoming any comments<br>

Thank you everyone</p>

<p>Shutter probably needs an overhaul. When dirty and unlubed they can exhibit odd behavior, like an unwillingness to work correctly. That could be causing undesired friction on the cocking ring.</p>

<p>To see if it's the same problem I have, you could try pushing that cylindrical part (where my first arrow points in the photo above) inward toward the lens while cocking the wind lever. If it is the same as my problems, this may hold the two gears together tightly enough to properly wind the shutter. If that works, at least you may have identified the problem, not that I have a solution for it.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"the gears to the upper-left of the lens (if you're looking at the front of the <a id="itxthook3" href="/classic-cameras-forum/00d0hd" rel="nofollow">camera<img id="itxthook3icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png" alt="" /></a>) not meshing properly. There's a bit of looseness between the gear"<br /> <strong><em>Frank W.</em></strong></p>

</blockquote>

<p>If this is the case, then it's possible that the rear lens group <strong>retaining ring</strong> is also loose.<br /> <strong>FYI:</strong> This retainer when completely loose, allows the lens-shutter-unit to completely detach forward from the body.</p>

Thank for all the responses back

I had left it sit until today and also have found when advancing the film lever it will not retract

back until I press the shutter trigger. It works fine other wise so most likely something besides the

rack and the two gears by the lens has to be the problem I think

I purchased a very nice BIG IIIC with a gummed up shutter and delay timer. I removed all optics and

drenched the shutter for a day with Ronsonol lighter fluid. It works like a champ now and so does the

self timer. I was wondering if the Selenium meter in the Big III-C is the same meter in a small IIIc ?