Struggling with a Canon AE-1 Program's film advance lever that just won't catch

I had this thing on my bench yesterday, and the lever moves freely but doesn't engage the sprocket to advance the frame. I took the top plate off and the little pawl spring inside looked fine, but I'm wondering if the actual gear teeth are worn down. Has anyone else fixed this specific issue on an AE-1 Program and know a good source for that gear? I'm in Phoenix and the local parts bin is pretty thin.

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_perry4d ago

Honestly, I swapped that gear from a donor body I found online.

felix984d ago

Oh man, I feel that. My own AE-1 Program is basically a paperweight because I tried to fix the shutter and now it just makes a sad whirring noise. I’m pretty sure I have more camera parts in my “oops” jar than in the actual camera. For that gear, you might have to just haunt eBay for a parts-only body. They show up pretty often for cheap, and then you’ve got a whole other set of problems to tinker with.