Jump to content

Wind-up assist for K3?


Patrick Cooper

Recommended Posts

I, like many K3 owners, grow a little tired of winding the handle of the spring motor on the infamous russian camera. It can certainly be a pain when filming subject matter like wildlife where you have to quickly wind on after a shot to catch the animal's next move. I have read some posts on a few online forums about an accessory that can be fitted to the K3's handle to make winding easier. Descriptions of this item are usually very brief with regards to details. Is anyone here familiar with this device and is there a proper name for it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I, like many K3 owners, grow a little tired of winding the handle of the spring motor on the infamous russian camera. It can certainly be a pain when filming subject matter like wildlife where you have to quickly wind on after a shot to catch the animal's next move. I have read some posts on a few online forums about an accessory that can be fitted to the K3's handle to make winding easier. Descriptions of this item are usually very brief with regards to details. Is anyone here familiar with this device and is there a proper name for it?

 

I have such a device I bought off eBay. It's a large handcrank you install in place of the winding key. It can also allow you to handcrank the K3 like a silent-era camera. I don't know if the seller has offered anymore but I can try to find his email address.

 

Edit: The seller was a Luke Pendergast in Australia. Here is his email address: hluke@ncable.net.au

Edited by Herb Montes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

K3 handcrank installation instructions:

 

1 . Remove the screw with the two holes in the centre of the wind mechanism. It undoes counter clockwise. A very small screwdriver can fit into one of these holes.

 

2. Remove all of the winding mechanism. It pulls straight off. Be careful, there are small springs in there waiting to Jack-In-The-Box. It's probably a good idea to keep these things in case you need to convert your camera back to normal. Keep aside the fancy chrome disc with the radial grooves; we'll be using this.

 

3. Ready to install the handcrank. The order is: crank handle first, nylon washer, the chrome disc you kept aside, washer, shakeproof washer, screw. It is easier to align the nylon washer together with the chrome disc before installing it onto the shaft. Rotate the disc until it mates with the square shaft. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE SCREW or you will strip the thread in the shaft.

 

 

That's it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the crank and it works great. The only thing I think should be added is that you'll probably need to unwind a paper clip to take off the original handle in Step 1 instead of searching for a teeny-tiny screwdrive. I went around to a bunch of jewelers and they said there wasn't a screwdriver small enough (at least not from what they had.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member
It doesn't sound like a vehicle, it sounds like a TANK.

a tank is considered an aurmoured Military Vehicle, if they are anything like the zenits I was selling in the 1970's it would also smell like a vehicle. In that case a Tractor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...