M4-2 Winder - Users Manual PDF or Scans?

[wlaidlaw]

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Has anyone got a users' manual for an M4-2 Winder (Motor Drive) that they could scan for me please. I don't mind if the scans are sent to me as a series of images, as I have Adobe Acrobat Professional and it is seconds' work to assemble them into a PDF document. 

 

This is not the later smaller Motor-M for which I already have a manual courtesy of Andrea at Leica but the earlier larger version as shown below. I also have a copy of John Campbell's adjustment manual for the winder if anyone needs that. If they have not had it done yet, most of the M4-2 Winders will need their motor buffer/snubber replacing. When the shutter is fully wound, the increased torque reaction on the winder motor, rotates it against a rubber buffer and switches the power off until the next cycle. The rubber buffer becomes perished and worn, at which point the winder becomes very noisy and clunky. Door draft proofing firm sponge synthetic rubber is the perfect replacement material. 

 

Wilson

 

 

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[willeica]

Wilson, I have sent you the instructions for the M4-2 winder by PM. There were changes after SN 10350 ( inside locking mechanism). However, my winder is SN 09521 and I have not had an issues using it on the M4-2 or the M4-P.

 

William 

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[pgk]

..... at which point the winder becomes very noisy and clunky.

 

I had one in the early '80s. It was noisy back then. If they get worse with age they can probably replace football rattles. Unfortunately not one of Leica's best accessories.

[wlaidlaw]

I had one in the early '80s. It was noisy back then. If they get worse with age they can probably replace football rattles. Unfortunately not one of Leica's best accessories.

 

I have also got the later and better Motor-M which works on the M4-P but I rather like the M4-2 winder's clunkiness. Compared with my Combat Graphic it is quiet and smooth. 

 

Wilson

[pgk]

Compared with my Combat Graphic it is quiet and smooth.

 

Wow. Does your Combat Graphic have some sort of weapon system built in to account for such noise? The original M winder was never marketed as a 'discrete' accessory from memory but I admit that I rather liked the 'handling' of the camera with it on and wondered if it might make a handy spare film container if broken - but I never actually broke mine to find out, even if it did sound like bits would appear through the sides at any time.

 

I had a motor M which was a far more sophisticated unit and if I could be bothered to afford the expense of getting an M4 modified to take one (MT will do this) I'd probably get another.

Edited May 22, 2018 by pgk

[wlaidlaw]

Paul, 

 

Have a look here at Alan Starkie test firing my Combat Graphic after repairing the motor drive train with 3D printed titanium parts I had made for it. This will give you an idea of the noise. Combat photographers in the field must have hated them apart from the enormous size and weight, in spite of being all aluminium diecastings (made by Halibrand for Graflex). When you fired off a few frames, you might as well have run up a stars and stripes to let the enemy know exactly where you were. 

I gather the M4-2 winder is a bit similar with a motor big enough to do duty as a small boat winch. 

 

Wilson

 

 

 

 

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