Hi! I have an RH8 rollfilm back with the lever wind, and get intermittent wind-on problems. I'm not sure if it is me (no instruction manual!) or the back. Sometimes frames overlap (always the best frames, it seems!) and sometimes the lever just carries on winding, wasting film.

I put the film in, wind on to the indicator mark, then close the back and set the counter to S, then wind on until the lever stops, with 1 on the counter.

after exposing, I move the small metal tab on the back of the holder (just below the lever) to the right, and hold it until I get the lever moving a little, then release it while I continue to wind on the full stroke.

Is this the correct procedure?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I did a search and couldn't find anything specific.

Regards,
Neil, UK.

Well you're doing everything correctly. I've had backs with an occasional run on problem and with those I move that small lever to the right to release the wind lever, then hold it to the left so it's sure to catch whatever is suppose to stop the wind lever.

Good ones just need a click of that little silver gizmo...if you have to hold it, somethings worn, sprung, or gooped-up.

...and unless I'm missing a backwards model (Southern Hemisphere?), they click to the LEFT, reset to the right on their own when they're working properly.

The lever advance is appealing, but that kind dies a lot quicker than the knob-winders, as with early 35mm cameras.

Overlaping/inconsisent spacing of/between images is an indication that the holder needs a CLA. All Graflex roll film backs are the same except for the number of teeth on the gears and the counter wheel. If you can't find a manual for your RH8 then one for another will be accurate enough to allow you to disassemble and reassamble easily.

If you have to hold the lock tab in order to wind the film, something is wrong. All you should have to do is trip it, no holding needed.