Service Tips | Industry & Tech Information

Broken Nikkormat Battery Covers

Broken Nikkormat Battery Covers | How Does This Happen

Clockwise Rotation Required
Broken Nikkormat Battery Covers

First of all, the battery cover is cast brass, tempered for hardness then the finish is applied.

Tempered brass is strong but brittle.

The Nikkormat battery cover has 2 locking-tabs inside for a friction fit.

As the battery cover is attached to the camera and turned counter-clockwise you can feel it tighten up.

If you will look carefully at the battery cover.  The arrow engraved on the cover shows the direction for removal, “clockwise” rotation.

Many, many users assume “counter-clockwise” rotation is correct.

Excessive force in a counter-clockwise direction will usually crack the locking tabs or deform them. Now battery cover will be loose when installed.

If you try and straighten the tabs they will just break right off.

Most other battery covers and screws are removed by turning them counter-clockwise.  That is kind of stuck in our heads.

So when we grab our Nikkormat F, FT, FTn and the meter is not working, turn the camera over and carefully turn the battery cover clockwise to remove it.

Sometimes You Also Have to Remove the Bottom Cover

Several customers have contacted me asking how to remove a Nikkormat battery cover that just “spins around” or is stuck or jammed and doesn’t turn at all.

Also, you will need a slotted screwdriver that fits the 2 bottom cover screws to remove the cover.  Use care. Note… the rewind button will be loose and want to fall off as the cover keeps it in place.

Then you can turn the bottom over and see what issue is preventing you from removing the battery cover.

It is really easy and straight forward to line up the tabs to clear the cover opening, then push the cover off from the inside.

Popular Nikon Pages at USCamera.com

  • Online Nikon parts, start here.
  • All Nikon light seal kits and more here.
  • Visit the Nikon website
author-avatar

About Gray

As a veteran attending National Camera's resident camera repair school in 1979, is where I found my true calling for the demanding yet extremely interesting field of photo equipment service and sales. For 25 years we grew every year. The staff and I serviced tens of thousands of film camera items, trained many technicians, met thousands of wonderful customers and truly had a fantastic time. Within 2 years of 2004, my service experience was devalued somewhat by the internet, film camera sales/service flatlined. Camera stores 50 times larger than mine were closing. I could see a new opportunity on the Internet. USCamera started as information site then became a family run internet business. Our mission remains the same, • Specialize in Vintage film equipment, mostly after 1958 • Knowledgeable • Provide quality products • Superior Service • Always available via phone - contact form – email All of us at USCamera look forward to serving you. Gray USCamera.com

2 thoughts on “Broken Nikkormat Battery Covers

  1. Kanwar Singh says:

    Hey Gray!

    Found this post super helpful. I am wondering if your expertise can help me out. I have Nikkormat FT2 without this battery cover. Would you know if the FT, FT2, FT3 covers are cross compatible. I know this is a long shot, but if you can help me out I’d really appreciate it! I see a lot of FTs parts on the market but not the later gens, especially the battery cover.

    1. Gray says:

      Hello, Yes the battery cover we sell 31F3B-T607USC will fit these Nikkormat models… FT FTn FT2 FT3.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *