Topic: I'm guessing RB67s don't come with spare screws!

[Nigel]

My RB67 developed a rattle. I (carefully) took the bottom off and this fell out! Whatever it does, or did, it's not immediately obvious.

The picture doesn't give you an idea of the scale. It's about 4mm long, including the head.

[Sandeha Lynch]

Make sure your antivirus is switched on ... you should be able to download the repair manual here. I haven't tried it myself, but maybe ...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ucGPj4GjNLc9MEOtJRHkr5L-s6Yh4SvIRLz0ecmgVDU/edit

[Pete_R]

That site is listed as malicious. https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/204080/0/html

I never trust those links from Google docs. They look legit until you see where they're taking you.

[Pete_R]

Here's a link to the service manual. This is to my own google drive so it's legit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EvucZQP1ErKnv4XKSadKmNbqBCM6bVi2/view?usp=sharing

Not sure it will help though as pictures are not that great in it.

[Nigel]

Thanks Sandeha, but I'm with Peter on this one.

I phoned a repairer who was recommended. He was very helpful on the phone, but he's booked up to late autumn. He didn't sound young, what are we going to do when all these guys retire!

I've got a week off next week and was planning to line up a couple of shoots. It seems to be working ok. I'm not sure whether to risk it!

[Nigel]

Here's a link to the service manual. This is to my own google drive so it's legit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EvucZQP1ErKnv4XKSadKmNbqBCM6bVi2/view?usp=sharing

Thanks Peter, it's interesting to look, but camera tinkering is way out of my league.

[Pete_R]

If I'm reading the manual correctly, there is a couple of shafts under the camera, linked by some bevelled gears, that couple the cocking lever to the lens. The shafts are held in brackets screwed to the body with, what looks like, screws similar to yours. I'd certainly have a look around that area to see if there are any vacant holes. But it does look like a screw that might be used anywhere and it may have come from somewhere else on the camera and just ended up in the bottom.

[Nigel]

If I'm reading the manual correctly, there is a couple of shafts under the camera, linked by some bevelled gears, that couple the cocking lever to the lens. The shafts are held in brackets screwed to the body with, what looks like, screws similar to yours. I'd certainly have a look around that area to see if there are any vacant holes. But it does look like a screw that might be used anywhere and it may have come from somewhere else on the camera and just ended up in the bottom.

Thanks Peter. I'll have another look later. I didn't notice anything on a quick inspection. There isn't a great deal to see in the bottom. The shutter mechanism seems to be on the side.

If anyone knows of a trusted Mamiya repairer please let me know. The chap I spoke to was very helpful but is not even adding to his list at the moment.

[This-is-damion]

I phoned a repairer who was recommended. He was very helpful on the phone, but he's booked up to late autumn. He didn't sound young, what are we going to do when all these guys retire!

I was talking to my neighbour about this recently,  he is 80, long since retired but still keeps himself very busy making wooden plinths for a lady in london who knocks out some high end clocks (wooden plinth, glass dome thing) and she gets all the parts handmade.  The glass comes from a similar set up somewhere else in the midlands... old retired guy who does glass blowing (i think thats what its called...)   we were saying the same thing,    once these people are gone theres a serious shortage of people who can fill their shoes. 

[Sandeha Lynch]

Thanks Sandeha, but I'm with Peter on this one.

  Hence my warning. 

[cs1]

I phoned a repairer who was recommended. He was very helpful on the phone, but he's booked up to late autumn. He didn't sound young, what are we going to do when all these guys retire!

I was talking to my neighbour about this recently,  he is 80, long since retired but still keeps himself very busy making wooden plinths for a lady in london who knocks out some high end clocks (wooden plinth, glass dome thing) and she gets all the parts handmade.  The glass comes from a similar set up somewhere else in the midlands... old retired guy who does glass blowing (i think thats what its called...)   we were saying the same thing,    once these people are gone theres a serious shortage of people who can fill their shoes.

I really like what the Camera Rescue Project is doing. They not only rescue cameras but also repair equipment and they teach camera repair technicians so that the knowledge how to repair a camera doesn't die. They also seem to repair cameras and Finland isn't too far from the UK, maybe it makes sense to send them an email about the RB67 issue?

[Pete_R]

This might be more helpful than the service manual. It's the parts catalogue. You can download from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vqAsFu2vxrzHCS70uL4Z9Aavs59pJXGH/view?usp=sharing

On page 10, screw RS1382 looks a contender.

[Francois]

I phoned a repairer who was recommended. He was very helpful on the phone, but he's booked up to late autumn. He didn't sound young, what are we going to do when all these guys retire!

I was talking to my neighbour about this recently,  he is 80, long since retired but still keeps himself very busy making wooden plinths for a lady in london who knocks out some high end clocks (wooden plinth, glass dome thing) and she gets all the parts handmade.  The glass comes from a similar set up somewhere else in the midlands... old retired guy who does glass blowing (i think thats what its called...)   we were saying the same thing,    once these people are gone theres a serious shortage of people who can fill their shoes.

One thing that strikes me when I hear that type of comments from people whose job is getting rare is that they strangely never consider either writing down the important details of their work or even simply filming themselves at work while explaining the subtilities of what they're doing.
In Japan when you apprentice with a master, your job is to stay out of the way and observe. That's something that can be done on video.

[Nigel]

I’ve found a number of positive reviews of the service from http://www.mwcamerarepairs.co.uk/. Who is only about 30 minutes from me and should be able to look at it in a couple of weeks, so fingers crossed.