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briangaberman
Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:03 am Post subject: |
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I've recently gotten a Graflex RB w/ a roll film back. Everything seems to be in good shape but the shutter and or mirror seems to stick. When I try to trip the shutter, most of the time the mirror flips up but the shutter almost never fires. With a little push on the winding nob, it will advance to the next curtain aperature, but it never really fires in sync with the mirror for an instantaneous exposure. Some times I don't get any response at all when I trip the shutter. Any advice on how to get it moving along again would be tremendously appreciated. -Brian |
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t.r.sanford
Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 812 Location: East Coast (Long Island)
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:46 am Post subject: |
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It's likely that the shutter mechanism, including the disposition that releases the shutter when the mirror reaches the top of its swing, needs inspection and, perhaps, cleaning and a bit of lubrication. I had an "RB Series B" four decades ago, and it was my introduction to the remarkable Graflex shutter. It is not a difficult camera to comprehend, and to work on, if you proceed methodically. |
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briangaberman
Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have any suggestions on lubricants? |
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t.r.sanford
Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 812 Location: East Coast (Long Island)
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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I have found that cleaning old gunk off bearing surfaces often is more than half the battle. That said, I've had good luck with a product called "Dri-Slide," available for decades and now evidently offered by Russack Chemicals.
Also good, and easiest to apply with precision, is the "Teflon"-based lubricant that comes in a squeezable pen-sized cylinder with a needle applicator. I've gotten this stuff from Radio Shack.
Some contributors to this site recommend certain greases for FP shutter lubrication; it might be worth reading through those threads.
In general, when lubricating moving parts in cameras, less is better than more! |
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briangaberman
Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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I've never dismantled one of these before. Any suggestions on where to begin and anything to most certainly not do, or should I just follow what seems obvious and proceed with caution. Is there a repair manual or diagram accessible anywhere on the web that anybody knows about? sorry to be such a repair novice but all your information is extraordinarily helpful..thanks |
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45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081 Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:25 am Post subject: |
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The most common fix for a Reflex camera is stated by another member as:
email me at
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com
So, if he doesn't respond in a timely manner I will foward a copy of all the files/shutter info for the Reflex series of cameras. While not as polished as a tech manual it is as thorough.
Charles
_________________ The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU. |
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briangaberman
Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 5 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the info. I've figured out that the shutter will fire after all, it just has a wierd quirk which maybe you could tell me is fixable or not. When I reset the mirror, the mirror cocking lever needs to be pushed foreward a hair after it's cocked. If I don't do this the mirror/ shutter release lever on the cameras left side doesn't function at all. It's almost as if the mirror is sticking to something when I cock it, and by pushing the cocking lever that little but foreward, it unsticks the mirror from something. Any clues or is this somewhat normal? |
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45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081 Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 5:51 am Post subject: |
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The mirror release lever on the side of the body may need a little cleaning and/or lube OR as in the case of my RB the latch behind the bellows that holds the mirror in the down position needed it.
Charles
_________________ The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU. |
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bertsaunders
Joined: 20 May 2001 Posts: 577 Location: Bakersfield California
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Computer has been on the blink...think it is ok now
email me at
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com
Bert |
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