Just bought a OM-2 Spot/Program with the 50mm lens and the winder. The winder did not work, the batteries had leaked inside. I followed your instructions and now I have got a working winder. Thanks a lot.
Thanks! Great video. I have a Winder 1 and a Winder 2. The 1 has never been a problem but the 2 has never moved, until today. It was the vinegar that did the trick. Now they are (finally) both working (I almost bought another winder today). And this is a good thing because I have another OM-2n coming in beginning of next week.
Hi, thanks for your kind words, so happy for you, it's a neat trick, works for flashguns and camera bodies, big fan of the OM2n cameras, I think I have eight of them now! Enjoy 😁
Some other problems: Winders are often stored with batteries in the tray (not a good idea). The spring pressure pushing against the batteries will cause the tray to permanently bow, resulting in intermittent battery contact. Here's a solution. Place 4 batteries in the tray, then take a long pencil and lay it along the length of the top of the tray. Wrap a sturdy rubber band around the middle of the tray. Lift one end of the pencil enough to place another pencil between the first pencil and the battery tray, the do the same on the other end with a third pencil. Place the tray/pencil assembly under a desk lamp about 20mm away to warm the tray for about half an hour or so. The heat from the lamp will soften the plastic, and the pressure of the rubber band will counteract the bow of the tray. Remove the tray and let it cool, then remove the pencils and band. Another problem is that the winders have a small rubber ring inside that translates the rotation of one gear to another. Over the years this rubber ring dissolves so that the rotation of the drive gear no longer turns the other gear. As a result, the motor may trip the shutter once, but thereafter the motor will only spin and spin, never winding the camera. These rings are no longer available from Olympus, and I have yet to find a suitable replacement from any source. You can more thoroughly clean the spring contacts of the tray by removing the screw holding the chrome plate underneath them. Scrub these springs and the plate with vinegar and reinstall. "Undocumented Feature" -- See the remote plug in the top of the release button? If you short that to the camera body (sometimes even sweaty, wet hands will do the trick), the winder will fire non-stop, like is demonstrated at the end of this video. Instant near-motor drive!
It was quite usual to use it as glass cleaner, I have the same memory from childhood along with lemon juice and bicarb of soda, it's all "cleaning products" nowadays( at a higher cost!).....
Om1 is a mechanical camera, only thing the battery does is power the meter, which is not connected to the shutter, speed or aperture. I enjoy using the OM-1 as it reminds me of a very nice mechanical watch.
Hi, I suspect the batteries may have leaked, use vinegar to dissolve the gunk and hopefully release it, wear gloves and work slowly and gently so as not to break anything, hope this helps, you can always come back if stuck😷
The Photographer's Bag appreciate the help, but I broke the battery cartridge trying to pry it open. The two batteries leaked and the gunk was way beyond bad. I just ordered a new one, thank you for the help though much appreciated. 😬
loved that little screwdriver with the wire stripper built into the handle.... had many over the years
Just bought a OM-2 Spot/Program with the 50mm lens and the winder. The winder did not work, the batteries had leaked inside. I followed your instructions and now I have got a working winder. Thanks a lot.
Hi, thanks, you are more than welcome, hope you enjoy your new camera 😀
Thanks! Great video. I have a Winder 1 and a Winder 2. The 1 has never been a problem but the 2 has never moved, until today. It was the vinegar that did the trick. Now they are (finally) both working (I almost bought another winder today). And this is a good thing because I have another OM-2n coming in beginning of next week.
Hi, thanks for your kind words, so happy for you, it's a neat trick, works for flashguns and camera bodies, big fan of the OM2n cameras, I think I have eight of them now!
Enjoy 😁
Some other problems:
Winders are often stored with batteries in the tray (not a good idea). The spring pressure pushing against the batteries will cause the tray to permanently bow, resulting in intermittent battery contact. Here's a solution. Place 4 batteries in the tray, then take a long pencil and lay it along the length of the top of the tray. Wrap a sturdy rubber band around the middle of the tray. Lift one end of the pencil enough to place another pencil between the first pencil and the battery tray, the do the same on the other end with a third pencil. Place the tray/pencil assembly under a desk lamp about 20mm away to warm the tray for about half an hour or so. The heat from the lamp will soften the plastic, and the pressure of the rubber band will counteract the bow of the tray. Remove the tray and let it cool, then remove the pencils and band.
Another problem is that the winders have a small rubber ring inside that translates the rotation of one gear to another. Over the years this rubber ring dissolves so that the rotation of the drive gear no longer turns the other gear. As a result, the motor may trip the shutter once, but thereafter the motor will only spin and spin, never winding the camera. These rings are no longer available from Olympus, and I have yet to find a suitable replacement from any source.
You can more thoroughly clean the spring contacts of the tray by removing the screw holding the chrome plate underneath them. Scrub these springs and the plate with vinegar and reinstall.
"Undocumented Feature" -- See the remote plug in the top of the release button? If you short that to the camera body (sometimes even sweaty, wet hands will do the trick), the winder will fire non-stop, like is demonstrated at the end of this video. Instant near-motor drive!
Congratulations on getting the winder to work again. Restored many a flash unit using vinegar!
Thanks, I have saved many flashguns too, vinegar is so useful...
My Grandma used to clean her windows with vinegar, back in the 1970’s when I was a kid.
It was quite usual to use it as glass cleaner, I have the same memory from childhood along with lemon juice and bicarb of soda, it's all "cleaning products" nowadays( at a higher cost!).....
Don’t you need to turn camera on ?
Om1 is a mechanical camera, only thing the battery does is power the meter, which is not connected to the shutter, speed or aperture. I enjoy using the OM-1 as it reminds me of a very nice mechanical watch.
Yep, turned out my contacts were corroded too, 1 cotton bud later and it's working again
Hi, so happy for you, hope you enjoy using it....
ASMR
My battery holder won’t open
Hi, I suspect the batteries may have leaked, use vinegar to dissolve the gunk and hopefully release it, wear gloves and work slowly and gently so as not to break anything, hope this helps, you can always come back if stuck😷
The Photographer's Bag appreciate the help, but I broke the battery cartridge trying to pry it open. The two batteries leaked and the gunk was way beyond bad. I just ordered a new one, thank you for the help though much appreciated. 😬
Hi, sorry to hear that, it can be difficult, glad your sorting it out, they are brilliant cameras...