Leica M3 Newly acquired

[Robert Hatting]

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I just acquired my dad's old Leica M3. I ran a roll of film through it and when I replaced the new roll, The unit seems to be locked-up. The lever to advance the film will not advance it and the shutter button when depressed does nothing. This is the old unit that requires a double advance. Any suggestions...experts?

[UliWer]

Did you leave the little lever for film reversal on the "R"-position?

[Robert Hatting]

thanks... no, I changed it to where it belongs.

[TomB_tx]

I was given a double-advance M3 last year, and it was locked up when I got it: advance lever would not move. In my case it was clear that a curtain was jammed so that it hadn't quite reached end-of-travel. I had Youxin Ye repair it. The film advance lever still sometimes slips when advancing, which is a known wear problem with the dual-stroke. The cure it to update it to single stroke, so you might look at doing that to yours when getting it fixed.

[Robert Hatting]

Thanks for the suggestion. My problem is compounded by the fact that I am in Panama... a long way from a repair shop.

[jerzy]

I The film advance lever still sometimes slips when advancing, which is a known wear problem with the dual-stroke. The cure it to update it to single stroke, so you might look at doing that to yours when getting it fixed.

 

And if someone prefers to stay with dual stroke:

1. Get the reverse blocking mech cleaned or repaired, something for specialist to do

2. Do the full film advance in 3 (or even more) strokes, as long as you do the full advance cycle the shutter will be wound and released for the next shot

jerzy