QL17 GIII frame spacing problems

[ghostganz]

I recently got a Canonet QL17 GIII, which I've put a few rolls through. Apart from light leaks and an unreliable light meter, it seemed to work fine. But in the fourth roll I put through it there was one overlapping frame, between the first and second frames. I checked the earlier negatives, that turned out to have very random frame spacing, between almost-zero and a few mm.

The frame advance felt and sounded smooth all the time when it did this, so it didn't seem to be skipping any holes in the film. (I didn't think it was possible to get uneven spacing without those cogs skipping holes?) Now however, on the fifth roll, it has twice made a loud noise when advancing that definitely sounds like holes skipping. Most of the time it still advances smoothly though.

I should have figured out there was a problem when I found a tiny film fragment inside it when changing the light seals... :bang:

Any tips on what could be causing this? Some part I should oil or clean?

[greyhoundman]

Sounds like the film transport pressure plate is bent or twisted. It is the plate with the rollers that flips up when you open the back. Most folks don't know you can't open a GIII all the way, without damage.

[venchka]

I've noticed the same thing. Usually around frame 14 & 15. It madee the noise once when I had turned the rewind knob rather tightly like I do with all my mechanical 35mm cameras. So, I didn't do that any more but I still get the odd overlap. What's wrong?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[venchka]

Sounds like the film transport pressure plate is bent or twisted. It is the plate with the rollers that flips up when you open the back. Most folks don't know you can't open a GIII all the way, without damage.

Thanks. I haven't forced it past where it naturally wants to come to rest. How do I tell if it's bent/twisted?

[greyhoundman]

The plate has two tabs that rest on two chrome posts. These have to contact at the same time. Also check to see that the plate is not bowed in the middle.

[ghostganz]

Sounds like the film transport pressure plate is bent or twisted. It is the plate with the rollers that flips up when you open the back. Most folks don't know you can't open a GIII all the way, without damage.
Mine opens a full 180 degrees. If it's not supposed to do that, then it's probably what broke it. I may have messed it up even more when I had it open for replacing the light seals then... :(

Thanks.

[ghostganz]

The plate has two tabs that rest on two chrome posts. These have to contact at the same time. Also check to see that the plate is not bowed in the middle.
My plate seems perfectly symmetric in how it rests on those two posts, so it's not crooked. It looks straight in the middle too, so that's not it.

Haven't heard any noise from it when advancing on the last two rolls, but haven't had them processed, so I don't yet know if the problem has gone away by itself. :)