Leica M frame counter problems

[Paul Schliesser <paulsc@eos.net>]

There has been a lot of talk here, recently, about problems with the M6, 
especially with the frame counter. I especially feel sympathy for 
Ferdinand, who ended up with this condition after he had surveyed M6 
users asking about new-camera problems.

Here is a quote from the July, 1980 issue of Popular Photography, in a 
review of the M4-2:

"In the camera tested, an intermittantly binding frame counter prevented 
its automatic return to its starting position when the bottom was removed 
for film loading. This was found to be caused by the interferrence of the 
wind lever's return spring with the counter's main-spring drum. A slight 
bend in the ends of the return spring corrected the trouble. This might 
be one of the many small imperfections from an early production run. We 
learned that our sample was made more than two years ago."

It sounds like this problem is nothing new, but should be easily fixed. 
It also suggests a possible temporary workaround:

If the wind lever's spring is causing the problem, maybe causing the 
spring to flex while the baseplate is off will free the counter briefly, 
and allow it to reset. Have you fired the camera a few times with the 
baseplate off and no film in it? If this works, and if you are very 
lucky, after a few rolls of film the parts may wear-in slightly, so that 
it will start to work normally.

- - Paul