Nikon FM2 jammed Lens on body help.

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Eugene T

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If i disassemble the camera down to the light box does anyone think there may be a chance the mirror or focusing screen could be manipulated out of the way to allow the lens to be fully rotated,
thus allowing the lens to be detatched ?. The lens is an Ais 24mm Nikkor. Any help appreciated please.
 
I have to ask (no offence intended) but are you familiar with the way to turn a Nikon lens to detach it from the body?
 
Yes, Ive owned the camera for 30 years , bought it brand new and the lens as well , worked perfectly for many years on my travels.
But something has slipped or dropped inside, it rotates but not the last few degrees to detach it from the mounting ring
 
Eugene T said:
... something has slipped or dropped inside, it rotates but not the last few degrees to detach it from the mounting ring
Click to expand...
Set on "B" with shutter open, mirror up, looking from the rear can you see what's obstructing?
 
Thanks for your reply people .
The film advance lever comes out from lock position but wont wind on and the firing button does depress but wont fire the shutter . Dial set to B.
Looking through the view finder toward a bright wall all i see is darkness. However when i shine a LED torch through the lens i see what resembles a mirror with reflections in it and
it looks like its vertical downward and when i shine the LED through the viewfinder there is an illuminated image of what appears to be the split focus circle in the centre of the focus screen , AND looking into the lens with the LED shining through the viewfinder it appears the focusing circle is at the top of the illuminated image in the lens .
So light is getting through both in directions , its just this dammed lock up, never happened before ?. Any bright ideas ???.
So is it the mirror or focus screen slipped ?.
 
If it is mirror/screen related you could try holding the camera in both hands with the lens release button depressed and a gentle twist on the lens whilst shaking the camera. You may just dislodge the mirror/screen enough for the lens to release itself the few degrees. Good luck.
 
I got it wrong its a 20mm Nikkor lens on the body would this make any difference to critical internal clearances ?. I will try the gentle shake,
 
Sounds like the focusing screen may be loose. Try holding the camera upside down while following Jack Bell's suggestion. Good luck!
 
Yes been trying that , somethings defiantly on the move in the mirror box , just a case of moving it out of the way of the lens by mechanical jiggling .
 
Sorry, I'm not clear. Have you opened the back with the shutter locked on B to see what's happening inside?
 
Yes ive opened the back and the shutter screen is down and fully closed, looks completly normal cannot see into the mirror box at all.
 
Surely if it's locked on B the shutter will be open, the mirror up, and you'll be looking through the lens?
 
Its not locked on B , i can freely turn the speed setting knob
.The shutter blinds are fully down and i dont want to go poking around with them !!! too delicate.
 
Well, if i shine the LED torch through the lens and look through the view finder i can clearly see the mirror outline in its normal rectangular position however in the mirror i can see a reflection of the focusing screen at the top of the view finder and what appears to be the bottom left corner of the focus screen canted downwards ie its out of square and out of its holder .
Problem is working it out when looking into a reversed image as to which way to tap the body and what it may be jamming on.
 
Does the DOF lever move freely? If not maybe the focus screen has fallen that side?
 
Is it the pin!

On the body there is a tiny pin which sits on a spring.
This pin engages and locks the lens in place hence the need to depress the button to enable the release of the lens.

I had an Fe2 that locked itself solid to the lens.
The cause was the pin which upon inspection wasn’t recessing sufficiently when the button was depressed.
It protruded all but a fraction of a millimeter but enough to ensure that it wouldn’t unlock from the lens.

Eventually after some rather heavy manhandling it gave way and allowed the lens to be removed without any damage incurred but the body required a repair to correctly adjust the retaining pin.
 
I do understand what you say Asha , i have tried this but no joy . Looks like its a strip down job , i think the focus screen had dropped and wedged itself at an angle , oh well.
 
Possibly not any use at all unfortunately, but have you tried holding the camera upside down to see if gravity might help the screen to move enough to allow movement? And while you're at it, maybe hold in the rewind plunger and try moving the wind lever? :thinking:
 
Tried all them Pete B , no joy either . Gentle tapping of the camera in palm of hand at angles which may dislodge the screen away from the lens , and simultaneously rotating the lens,
It just hits a dead stop just short of the release slots.
 
Time to get a hammer to it ……

Show it the toolbox tonight to give it the willies .:p

Tomorrow it’ll work!:naughty: :LOL::LOL:
 
Daft idea? Maybe seal camera and lens in a plastic bag with as little air as possible and put in freezer.
Might contract the metals enough to allow it to turn?

Not sure if this would be bad for the electronics?

Looking at my FM body and 24mm f2.8 lens, it’s probably hitting the metal protruding from the lens that protect the rear element? Maybe that’s why it turns a little then jams.
 
Success, lens is now detached, had to disassemble the complete lens / light box from the body . The focus screen had indeed dropped and was wedged at an angle thus blocking one of the rear element lugs . Gently pushed down the mirror flap and hooked the focus screen away from the lens lug and level. However the focus screen carrier just flops up and down, is there supposed to be a clip / latch as part of the focus screen carrier ???,
 
You can download the service manual for the FM2. There is a direct link that turned up for me that downloaded it. I can't copy/paste on my tablet, so if you a) want it and b) can't find it, let me know and I'll copy/paste from my PC later today.
 
Thanks for your offer. Yes i have found the manual , will study that with several cups of coffee !.
 
@Eugene T Hello from California!

I wanted to ask what I should mention to the shop tech so they can properly fix it like you did?

I actually stumbled upon this post since my Nikon FM2n is in the shop for the same issue (coincidentally with a 20mm as well! LOL)

This gives me hope! I honestly believed I would have to destroy the lens. I saw someone on YouTube with a similar issue do this to recover their camera.

Thank you in advanced! (I hope I don’t have to break my lens.)
 
You must have watched the same you tube LOL. Dont always believe what you see is the only answer to your problem !. That applies to almost anything.
Busting a lens to remove it from a body , BS, no i just reasoned it out , remove the lens box and go in through the back door thus avoiding any contact with the shutter blinds. I have never done this before and made plenty of notes on paper as to what went where the positions, plus some digi photos . I had no choice it was either bite the bullet or sit there with an inoperable camera, i also learned something as well . I figured the camera must have at some point received a serious jolt or many years ago i never understood how to install a new focusing screen properly, its a bit of a mystery there.
The worst part is the goop on the vinyl covering , it has a nasty habit of traveling on fingertips and whatever it touches , don't get this on the shutter blinds ! Remove the vinyl and De-goop it before opening up.
Is your camera shop a digital or film or bit of both ?. Whats Calif like for film camera buffs ?. Where a bouts in Calif are you ?.
 
@Eugene T

It's a bit of both! Located in the LA area so surplus of film buffs here. I'm hoping to find a reputable cam tech who can pull off what you did!

I'll let you know if they're able to fix it!

Thanks again for the advice. I'm optimistic to get it working again!!
 
Be interested to know what the outcome is , if some one told me they'd have to bust my 20mm i,d walk.
 
Is,nt that for coffee processing the film :D
I think i will take apart the shutter next , fire up the soldering iron time and remove the circuit wires. May as well i,m half way there, then a new light seal kit.
Quite a lot of small particles inside under the magnifying glass, amazing what collects in years of use.
 
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