Loading…
11
Warning: that old trick with the rubber band on a stuck film advance lever can cause more damage.
I used to wrap a thick band around the lever and yank it, thinking the extra grip was safe. After a Nikon FM2's internal gear stripped in my shop last month, I switched to a drop of lighter fluid on the mechanism and gentle heat from a hairdryer. Anyone have a better fix for seized advance levers on older metal bodies?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
parkerb236mo ago
Wait, lighter fluid on the gears? That seems like a huge fire risk near a hairdryer. I've heard of using a tiny bit of naptha with a needle oiler, but never pouring it on and adding heat.
10
verafoster6mo ago
My old Minolta X-700 still has a tiny scar on the lever from my own rubber band over-enthusiasm. I definitely get the appeal of a stronger grip, but yeah, that sudden jerk seems to be the real killer for the gears. The lighter fluid and heat combo does sound like a quick way to melt more than just the old grease, though. I’ve had decent luck just letting a single drop of sewing machine oil soak in over a couple days and working the lever back and forth by tiny amounts. It’s a slow fix for a guy with no patience, which is its own kind of joke.
9