I also puchased a used Tachihara, and found it dificult to fold at first. Make sure all the movements are in a position where the front mount is all the way back, and check the rear standard to make sure it is ALL the way back and square with the body of the Camera. Something I was told by the fellow I purchased the Tachihara from was to make sure all the knobs are loose when you try to fold the Camera and then tighten only the standard knobs to hold the Camera together, for I have found that you can not rely on that littlt latch to always work! (By the way, watch out for that little latch; it can catch on the bellows when you open the Camera.)