Re: [Leica] Film Winding Again, (was BASic question)

["Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>]

John:

I was afraid that I wasn't being very clear.  It was late.  I've always been
very careful to make sure that the film in the M4 was engaged by the
sprockets.  The problem I always had was that once the film tip was in the
takeup it would slip out when I wound the film.  I used to wind with the
bottom off and watch it very carefully.  It would often take several tries
to get it to seat properly.  Being VERY careful ususally helped.  Following
the advice of some on this list I dropped the film in and, after making sure
the sprockets were lined up, I closed the bottom before winding.  So far I
have had better luck.  By now I know the sound of the film tip popping out
of the takeup.

I've been trying to figure out why it doesn't come loose when the bottom is
on but will when the bottom is off.  It almost seems like the theory that
the alligator won't bother you if you don't keep staring at it!

Mike Durling
KD4KWB
http://www.widomaker.com/~durling/

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Film Winding Again, (was BASic question)


> I am not quite sure what you are referring to in the last sentence. One of
> the big problems loading the M4/6 (OK, and M2R) cameras is that everyone
> thinks the three pronged take-up spool is what pulls the film along, not
so.
> The toothed sprocket wheel (open camera back and look in the small
"window"
> to the right of shutter) engages in the holes in the film and pulls it
> along. A misload occurs when the film holes are not aligned properly with
> the sprocket wheel's teeth. This is most often caused by a crimp in the
film
> catching on the film gate's upper edge. The film is jammed between the
film
> positioning disc ( the funny wheel on the baseplate) and the film gate. A
> funny grinding noise results (sprocket teeth rubbing on the film and/or
film
> leader tip flapping in the take-up spool). The take-up spool is on a
simple
> friction clutch and will not pull misaligned film. Try it yourself. Remove
> the baseplate and gently rotate the three pronged take-up spool. The key
to
> proper loads is not the pronged take-up spool but how the film lies in the
> film guides/gate. After a little practise it comes easy. If this is not
the
> answer to your question, ask again.
>
> John Collier
>
> > From: "Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>
> >
> >
> >> John Collier wrote:
> >>
> >> . . . The M6 requires the three pronged wheelie thing to align the film
> >> properly . . .
> >>
> >
> > Ok, now is this the secret to loading the later M-s?  Frankly I quietly
> > watched the debate on M6 loading.  I've had an M4 for nearly 25 years
and
> > always had trouble loading it.  Ted's film crimp helped a lot but the
"drop
> > the film in, close the bottom, and wind" technique really does seem to
work.
> > Is the "three pronged wheelie thing" the reason the film only pops off
the
> > spool when you are looking at it?  (am I making any sense?)
> >
>
>