Olympus OM-1 Film Camera Advance Lever Repair (not another Philco radio repair)

I had hoped to continue working on my Philco 46-1201 "Bing Crosby" radio/phonograph but I was interrupted by an Olympus OM-1 film camera whose film advance lever wasn't working properly. In case you didn't know, the OM-1 was introduced in 1972 and was a real trend setter in the camera industry setting new standards for size, weight and features. I could go on and on about the OM-1 but that's not for this video. In this video, I disassemble an Olympus OM-1 to fix the faulty wind lever mechanism. This is my first experience with repairing a film camera.
If you attempt to repair your film camera, ensure that you have all the tools and supplies you may need and have familiarized yourself with all aspects of the disassembly and re-assembly. Also, read up on any matters of safety which may apply. It's very easy to get in over your head!
Chapters:
0:11 Philco 46-1201 Repair, continued
0:28 Olympus OM-1 Introduction
2:09 The film advance problem
4:50 Disassembly
12:14 Repair
15:40 Re-Assembly
17:41 Conclusion

[@ashrafkhokhar8834]

Excellent video, really enjoyed watching it.

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

Thank you so much for your compliment. It's gratifying to know that my videos are being watched and enjoyed.

[@clintonr9804]

While Olympus made a "special tool" to remove the wind lever retaining cap, the "factory method" was to use a large rubber stopper. Simple, no scratches. The difficulty with opening the back latch is due to your method of placing a tool between the "legs", or fork, of the rewind shaft to unscrew the rewind knob. This is an Olympus "no-no"! Olympus made another tool of white nylon to safely hold the flat sides of the "forks" to avoid damaging the rounded sides of the shaft, or spread the legs themselves. Again, this tool was a waste of time for factory techs. We simply grasped the forks by their flat sides with needle nose and unscrewed the knob. You will need to either gently and carefully bend the forks so they are straight, and/or inspect the sides of the forks for dimples from the tool you placed between the legs, and if they are present, shave them smooth with a X-Acto style blade. When properly set, the shaft should lift easily and return to it's latched position under it's own power -- no push or pressing should be necessary for the latch to fall into it's closed position. Also, NEVER glue down the leatherette over the back latch without first covering the end plate (the part that covers the latch) with tape! Glue, especially super-style glue, will enter the cavity of the latch, effectively gluing the back latch closed! It is good practice to clean the hot shoe port with a point of cleaning tissue whenever the hot shoe is removed. On numerous occasions, a tiny sliver of metal from the threads has been known to fall into the opening, shorting the X-contact. Of course, you guessed it, Olympus made a special tool to screw into the port to ream it out, but again, this was largely unnecessary -- simply cleaning prevents or solves the problem.

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

I will need you around if/when I try to fix one of my Olympus cameras! 😊 Opening up my OM-1 was a learning experience and I wish it had been under the guidance of an expert. Thank you so much for your pointers. If you have a youtube channel yourself on Olympus camera repair, I would certainly subscribe. And if you have any channels you would recommend, I would be in your debt.

[@danc2014]

Someone has cleaned the prism foam already. That needs to be cleaned before damage to the prisim is done.

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

It’s funny that you say that. I was expecting to see lots of disintegrating foam but there wasn’t any. But I know where that camera has been: In storage since before 2003 like my other film camera equipment. Unless I have foam-eating mice who are also trained in assembling and reassembling vintage cameras, the foam must have been removed before then, or was never there in the first place. I’m not overjoyed with the prospect of having to open up my other OM- film cameras, at least not until I can improve my skills and knowledge.

[@123QuoFan]

Is Mr. Brown’s Portch acquiring Mr. Brown’s Basement? I’d heard Twitter was going to make a bid for it.

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

Rest assured Mr. Brown’s Basement (and Mr. Brown’s nearby porch) are safe from Musk Rat’s evil clutches. Don’t worry about Twitter’s bid. If Twitter paid out Elon’s best offer (the 1970 price hockey cards with an enclosed stick of stale bubble gum) it would push Twitter over the edge into chapter 11 bankruptcy.

[@GeigerCity]

Great video! Too bad about the small scratch 😢

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

Thank you. Yup, my stomach dropped on that one. But I decided to include it in the video so people could see how easily accidents can and do happen even to those who are trying to be careful.

[@danc2014]

The scratches tell me which camera I did the foam cleaning on. I am 0 for 6 they seem to all get scratched.

[@Mr.BrownsBasement]

I was recently told that the black disk that I scratched (😕) can be easily lifted with alcohol. When I summon the courage to try again, I have 2 OM-1’s that need the foam removed from their pentaprisms. It’s worth a try, and I hope it’s true. If so, it may help to improve your score… and mine!