Chris's camera pages

How to reassemble a Kodak Retina Ia or IIa film advance lever and frame counter.

Reassembly of the advance lever on a Retina Ia or IIa can seem a tricky business but hopefully these instructions will help you get your camera back together.

Parts of the Retina Ia or IIa film advance lever and frame counter.

Retina Ia and IIa

  1. Film advance lever
  2. Frame counter ratchet spring
  3. Wavy washer
  4. Frame counter ratchet disk
  5. Frame number setting ring
  6. Frame number disk
  7. Top disk
  8. Star washer
  9. "Snake eyes" screw

Detail of advance lever

Retina Ia and IIa

And here are the instructions.......

  1. Place the film advance lever on the square top of the film advance shaft.
  2. Hold back the "end of film" catch on the advance lever to clear the boss on the body and turn the advance lever forward through about 45 degrees.
  3. Place the frame counter ratchet spring into the advance lever. The peg on bottom of the ratchet spring fits into the leading hole on the advance lever, not the one with the "end of film" catch. You may have to push the "end of film" catch back against it's spring to seat the frame counter ratchet spring properly.
  4. Place the frame counter ratchet disk into the frame number setting ring (The tabs on the setting ring engage the notches on the ratchet disk)
  5. Place the wavy washer into the space under the ratchet disk.
  6. Place the frame number disk onto the top side of the frame number setting ring and engage it with the notches on the ratchet disk so that the gap in the bottom edge of the setting ring is directly under the mark for frame number 24 on the number disk.
  7. Place the number disk, setting ring, ratchet disk and wavy washer onto the top of the advance lever.
  8. Make sure the number disk and setting ring are still settled on the ratchet disk. Place the top disk on top and while holding it down gently with one finger rotate the setting ring clockwise to seat the ratchet spring and the "end of film" catch. (This might take a few turns to achieve)
  9. Insert the "snake eyes " screw and star washer and fasten it loosely and check advance action.
  10. If the film advance lever is locked even though the frame counter is not at number "1" then the ratchet disk and setting ring are not properly seated. In this case try rotating the setting ring again a few times as in 8 above.
  11. When all is well , tighten the "snakes eyes" screw and breathe a sigh of relief.