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<\/a>However, after loading with new AAs, trying the test button, which failed to stir any movement whatsoever, fiddling around caused a single operation of the motor, which gave me some hope it was repairable. \u00a0As the skin on the winder \u00a0was in the same state as the camera, it was coming off anyway, and as the boxy unit splits in half, it has to come off regardless. \u00a0Half a dozen or so small screws later, two clips and the motor unit is exposed, complete with the battery contacts, and the obvious culprit in terms of intermittent operation.<\/p>\n
Rule Number 1: Always take the batteries out! \u00a0Alkaline batteries, regardless of brand, if left for a long time will leak. \u00a0Yes some brands are better than others in terms of how long you’ve got, but they all do it, and the longer they’re left, the worse it can get when it comes to leaking. \u00a0Some you have to extract with the deft use of a screw driven into the battery and a pair of pliers! \u00a0After that, you can usually write off whatever they’ve been extracted from. \u00a0Luckily, I think whoever owned the motor drive just caught things in time, and only one spring contact needed a gentle clean to remove the corrosion. \u00a0Whilst it was in bits, I took the opportunity to give the gearing a little lubrication, doesn’t need a lot or you can cause more problems than you cure, but a few drops after what’s 40+ years won’t go amiss.<\/p>\n Reassembly was easy enough, despite a small spring appearing which wasn’t there when it came apart, and having to work out which way round the lever went which pushed a pin up and activates the button on the the bottom of the FX-D body to unlock the film advance; so you can rewind a used film without the need to remove the drive unit. \u00a0Reattached to the FX-D, tested and we have a winner.<\/p>\n The decision then became, does it stay or does it go? \u00a0Initially it was staying, but after trying it again, I changed my mind and it’s going with the FX-D once that’s renovated. \u00a0The FX-D when combined with the motor drive isn’t why I started using film again, \u00a0I definitely like light weight and the more measured pace when taking photos offered by single frame advance. \u00a0My old Winder 2 was great when I was taking shots of \u00a0rally cars back in the 80s, but a modern digital camera is much more practical and has an awfully higher frame rate should I get to do it again.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>