Vivitar 35ES Repair: Wind lever fails to lock

[Dave S.]

Does anyone know how to fix a Vivitar 35ES which has a wind lever which fails to lock when the shutter is cocked?

I recently managed to fix the same problem with my Canon Canonet QL17 G-III using Rick Oleson's information found here:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-30.html

For that repair I was able to simply remove the bottom plate and insert a thin screw driver into the body and bend the linkage just enough to fix the problem - surprisingly easy!

Nevertheless, I was unable to apply the same technique to the Vivitar 35ES. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

Dave

[farlymac]

Gee, Dave, I always wanted to open one of those up. But I don't have one, so my best advice is to just watch the motions, and see where the lock is not occuring. Could be a broken spring, or one that has slipped it's mooring. Should be a lever somewhere around the base of the frame counter.

PF

[Dave S.]

Thanks for your advice farlymac. I'll look for those items and update how things go afterwards.

[Dave S.]

Eureka! I took the bottom plate off and did exactly what you suggested farlymac. I watched the the motions and deduced what might be out of place. Thanks again for your advice!

Solution: One of the springs had slipped its mooring. It's a long straight spring (not a coiled spring) with a hook on the end that raps around a lever that is supposed to engage a lock (more of a notch in a round piece of metal) after the shutter is cocked.

I shelved this camera at least a couple of years ago because of this problem and I'm really excited to have it fully operational again. I'll be loading her up with film ASAP.

[pinkarmy]

Originally Posted by Dave S.

... One of the springs had slipped its mooring. It's a long straight spring (not a coiled spring) with a hook on the end...

i wish you have pictures of these...i have a Minolta Hi-matic G2 which has similar problem.

[farlymac]

Well, good for you, Dave. Sometimes it's the simple things that make cameras go bad.

PF