Fix Old Cameras: Yashica Mat 124G Wind Crank

A jammed wind crank on a Yashica Mat 124G. This tutorial shows how to remove the wind crank and side panel so as to access and correct on cause of a jammed wind mechanism in a Yashica Mat 124G.
classic camera repair - www.phototronic...
A few tools and books - www.amazon.com...

[@andrewbalahura1555]

Selling them Have 4 of them locked Your video help me a lot go back them to life!! Thanks you!!

[@FixOldCameras]

Great to hear!

[@tomheckhaus7617]

Hi Fix Old Cameras. Did you ever hear about a fellow named Ed Romney? He published DIY camera repair booklets in the 70's. His 124G repair manual dedicated nearly an entire page just on the 124G winding mechanism. It's basically the same in the Yashica Mat, Mat-EM, Mat-LM, 124, 12 & 24 and a very poor design. I purchased a brand new 124G in the early 70's and it was back to the factory for a jammed winding mechanism almost after every "shoot". There was also a warning label indicating that the take up spool must be removed before using the wind mechanism without film in the camera. The points on those littler pawls can also wear down. After my 1 year warranty ran out I purchased a used post War Rollei 2.8 and NEVER had a problem. My Yashica 124G is still boxed up and it still jams. Great video as always, THANKS

[@FixOldCameras]

Great classic camera antidote. Thank you for your continued interest in FOC. Keep-em going.

[@CertainExposures]

Tom Heckhaus what should you do if you did use the wind without film in the camera?

[@CertainExposures]

Can you upload that manual?

[@JD-je8ld]

Another Fantastic video! Your videos are by far the best I’ve ever seen. You are clear and to the point, very Thorough, the viewer can see everything clearly. You have helped me fix my cameras so many times, I am in Dept to you for sure.

[@FixOldCameras]

Thank you comments and for your interest in Fix Old Cameras.

[@seanvelasquez5070]

How did i just find this channel thank you so much

[@Juarezlove]

Great video. Thanks. I've been dreaming about get one of this. 124G is a beautiful machine.

[@FixOldCameras]

Indeed they are... and a very nice medium format value.

[@MrViejarras]

Thank you very much, I have been able to wind it by slightly pressing the shutter release, but this will make my yashica work like new!

[@michaeldimmitt2188]

Thanks for the AWESOME VIDEO! This really helps us beginners!

[@Allen-Cote-St.-Luc]

Thank you for the great video. I have a similar problem that happened when testing the camera with out film after many years of non use. The shutter seamed slow and then the crank locked up. It won't move in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. I think the camera had an empty spool in the take up part of the camera, the top spool. Now I know not to use an empty film spool, after reading the comment here. Can you do a complete cleaning and servicing of the shutter one day?

[@nerwanisnoone1937]

Really useful, I just had a very odd moment with mine in the middle of a portrait shoot. Was able to unstick the crack by gently jiggling and half pressing the shutter.. However, I suspect something like this repair is in my future.

[@natanaelbenino498]

Hi, I am repeating this question because I have similar problems. Thank you for your answer After your repair when you wound through all 12 frames did you have a roll of film inside? Or did you have a take up spool? I just received my yashica mat124g and it will keep winding until the film is all the way rolled up, just curious if I try this repair should the crank be able to stop with no film in the camera?

[@Vnifit]

This is fantastic! Thank you for this video. I found my grandfathers Yashica Mat (not 124G) and wanted to see if the behaviour of the crank stopping at different places for different frames was normal, which I can see it is. As a side effect however, you've taught me how to fix the early catching when winding to advance the next frame, which it currently sometimes suffers from; now I know what to do! Just a quick question, would PTFE lubricant work okay for this application? Cheers.

[@thelasttaarakian]

Hey my Yashica Mat EM’s frame counter doesn’t work properly. Normally it stops after each frame giving the proper spacing on the film to give 12 exposures. Mine doesn’t catch, it doesn’t count frames but it does rotate freely so I can still use the camera. Any advice? Also do you have a tool list for servicing yashicas I could look over?

[@joeygmc07]

My yashica mat 124g advance will not stop on each frame number it will just keep winding will I wind the whole roll and the frame counter will just stay at 1. I can wind and then crank it back to take a shot but It would be a guessing game if I were to try and shoot with it. Do you know what might be the problem? Any trouble shooting methods I could consider ?

[@jamesperkey1797]

After your repair when you wound through all 12 frames did you have a roll of film inside? Or did you have a take up spool? I just received my yashica mat124g and it will keep winding until the film is all the way rolled up, just curious if I try this repair should the crank be able to stop with no film in the camera?

[@natanaelbenino498]

i have similar problem, do you already fix it?

[@NewbDragoon]

Thanks for the video! I need to fix up my Yashica Mat 124, so this will be very useful. Any advice for removing the leatherette without damaging it? I'm a bit scared of tearing or stretching it out!

[@FixOldCameras]

If the leatherette is stubborn, patience, patience and more patience. Seep alcohol under the the leatherette and give it time to work on the glue. There are stronger solvents that will loosen stubborn adhesive quicker, but always check for compatibility before liberal application. Once the glue has softened carefully work a dull blade under the leatherette. (slim bladed screwdriver, modified painters pallet knife, or spudger) www.amazon.com/shop/fixoldcameras

[@GrandmasterBBC]

Another excellent repair video! I have a Yashica-Mat EM that is having problems with the winder getting bound up. Should I assume that repair to be a similar procedure?

[@FixOldCameras]

It is definitely a possibility.

[@ZapataArchiveFootage]

Hi thanks for the video, i've a problem with mine 124G the shutter button doesn't work. I've tried the same procedure, but it's still not working... :(

[@aramb]

This was great! I wonder how similar the Yashica Mat is to the 124G, because my Mat is exhibiting exactly the symptom you were showing... Mine is in beautiful condition apart from that problem and it makes me sad not to use it!

[@FixOldCameras]

The Yashica TLRs with a wind crank are all very similar in functionality. The early Yahsica TLRs with the wind knobs are different and a little less persnickety.

[@thelasttaarakian]

@@FixOldCameras my Yashica MAT EM is doing the exact opposite. It’ll wind, and wind and wind and not use the frame counter but luckily it still will cock the shutter so its useable.

[@Allen-Cote-St.-Luc]

Can you do a video for the Mamiya TLR series of lens and shutters like the 135 mm 4.5? Mine has balsem separation I think and I also want to tune up the shutter, thanks.

[@FixOldCameras]

Thank you for your suggestion and interest in FOC.

[@ВладимирПоночевный-й1ч]

Greetings FOC! Could you to show how to disassembly expouse calculator disks on Yashica MAT ML? Thank you.

[@FixOldCameras]

Good suggestion. Hard to say when and if it might be featured. So many great suggestion that could be used.

[@Flinches]

I have a Yashica mat 124g and I am having a problem with my winder as well. Sometimes, the winder will stop at the next fram, and other times it will just keep winding until the entire roll is taken up. Is this what was happening to your demonstrated camera? How can I go about fixing this? Thanks for any and all help!

[@FixOldCameras]

With the wind side cover panel removed and the wind lever reinstalled look to see it the engagement pawl for the counter drive mechanism is dropping in place as the wind lever is operated. (a pawl is a lever that engages with another component to prevent movement in one direction, or prevent movement altogether)

[@jamesperkey1797]

Hey Calum did you ever get this fixed? I’m experiencing the same issue with my 124g

[@Flinches]

@@jamesperkey1797 Hi James, I did get it fixed but I sent it for a CLA. It's been working like a charm ever since! Good luck!

[@UntitledNumbers]

Amazing. Thanks.

[@FixOldCameras]

You are welcome.

[@navywolf1753]

Could you please do a top cover removal video on a Minolta XG series camera?

[@FixOldCameras]

Thank you for the suggestion. It seems it is about time to feature a couple of XG repairs.

[@isaiaszepeda42]

Great video as always have a question i have been taking pictures for 3 years and ever since i started with an olympus om10 i have maintain all of my equipment i have a yashica d yashica tl super pentax k1000 yashica fr1 kodak signet 40 digital canon rebel t6 that i have gotten over the last 3 years in flea markets all in good working condition a few months ago i was giving a canon ae1 and a yashica minister d the cano ae1 i fix it thanks to your wonderful advice now the yashica minister d i took a few pictures and while doing so i realize the settings on the lens don't work the ring for the shutter speed moves along with the one with the aperture and some other ring any suggestions on how to fix this range finder works great very clean i will hate to just set this aside without getting a good experience out of it if you can please any tips on solving the issue on this camera

[@FixOldCameras]

Great to hear of your growing collection of working classic cameras. The Yahsica Minister shutter uses the Light Value system of exposure control in which the aperture and shutter speed controls are interlinked; changing one automatically changes the other thus keeping the effective exposure the same. To change the exposure, it is necessary to change the applied Light Value. The shutter speed-aperture combinations can be changed. For any particular exposure setting the corresponding Light Value covers all of the shutter speed-aperture combinations within the range of the lens and the shutter.

[@isaiaszepeda42]

@@FixOldCameras thanks for the tip i had my doubts about it after developing my roll of film som of my pictures were good some were dark i will have to practice a little more with it thanks for all the info you provide us with your videos great job

[@jeticg]

Now please show us how to mod the shutter sound to that springy one.

[@FixOldCameras]

Right on.

[@fitzmagus3391]

I have an Olympus 35sp that has a problem that no one on the camera forums is able to answer. When I cock the shutter the film take up spool and the film advance sprocket are not moving. The film rewind button on the bottom of the camera was stuck down, until I took the bottom plate of the camera and re lubricated it. But it hasn't fixed the film advance problem. has anyone any idea how to fix this problem.

[@FixOldCameras]

The shaft that slides up inside the wind sprocket is possibly not dropping down with the rewind button to engage. It sounds like you are on the right track. You might have to remove the top cover to see what is going on the other end of the wind sprocket mechanism.

[@joystickmusic]

How annoying that the black center of the film crank is scratched with those teethed pliers. 1m20 into the video...

[@FixOldCameras]

Hopefully, farther along in the video, your annoyance dissipated a little once the well worn wind crank handle hub post and the perceived scratch was secured beneath the hub side cover, the crank handle guide, the crank handle spring plate, the crank hub handle cap, and the crank handle itself. Obviously if you are concerned about marring the finish of your camera parts a metal jawed pliers might not be a good choice of tool for manipulation of parts... perhaps a plastic or rubber jawed pliers. Thank you for comment and your interest in Fix Old Cameras.

[@sonygoup]

Do the Rollei 35 if you need one to repair I could send you mines. It's works fine but the community needs a repair video

[@FixOldCameras]

Have several request for a Rollei 35 video, about time to try to work one in. Thank you for the offer to allow your camera to be available for filming, but as a general policy to keep things simple, FOC does not accept cameras solely to be featured in a video. And thank you very much for your continued interest in Fix Old Cameras.

[@sonygoup]

Fix Old Cameras Thank You. The most common issues I’ve seen/had is shutter speed timing, winding gear replacement(Singapore model) and general lubrication. Light Meter battery modification would also be nice for the PX625 battery models. The ideal repair model is the orginal 35 as all other models follow this design

[@haakonreitard]

Hey, Fix Old Cameras! I have an old half frame Yashica Mimy S. It recently stopped working properly. The shutter crank wheel on the bottom of the camera turns around without the camera cranking shutter. I can turn it without it stopping. It started by the shutter crank would crank until the shutter released (without me pressing the shutter button). Any idea what could be the problem?

[@FixOldCameras]

The spontaneous release would likely have been caused by a jammed or sticking release linkage. Now that the camera is not winding you might also have a slipping or stripped wind gear or gears.