I too just did a "Ronsonol flush" on an Ilex.
Shutter trips great, but the speed-setting
disk binds up. Clue, anyone?
thanx,
-ls-

There usually is a little fine grease (on the Wollensak shutters I've worked on) applied to the speed setting disc. I use a Silicone grease designed for lubricating fishing reels made by Garcia. I believe some of the guys here recommend Lubriplate. Fred.

Hi Fred --
Thanks. Where on the disk would I want to put a toothpick full? Just pulling off the front cover scared me silly.
thanx,
-ls-

Don't think Fred will mind me jumping in here. Basically anywhere a pin, lever, or housing contact each other with movement as the dial turns.
Charles

I simply use the tip of my little finger to apply a light coating of the grease to both sides of the speed adjusting ring to reduce the friction. Some shutters also have a spacer ring to prevent binding of the adjusting ring. Fred.

Well... Having unsuccessfully foraged for the old Lubriplate I used in fishing reels as a kid, I have a little bottle of Garcia Reel-Magic and an aerosol can of white lithium grease. My binding on the speed disk appears to be mostly around the center. The only worry is migration. Can I put a little coat of grease around the center of the casting where the disk rotates with a toothpick and get away with it? I really wish I had something I could just sacrifice to my education
thanx,
-ls-

The very thin coating of grease should not migrate if it has a high viscosity index...i.e., doesn't get watery and run when subjected to high temperatures, such as direct sun-light. Test the grease in question by putting a dab on a spoon or something similar and hold it close to a heat source such as a 100-watt lamp. If it doesn't melt and run, it should be okay. I personally haven't had a problem with the Garcia reel grease migrating. It IS a very light grease, but it stays where you put it. Fred.

Sooo.... I lifted the speed-setting disk off and put a coat of grease on it thick enough to feel but not enough to see. It's _really_ thin. And it's back together, working smooth as silk.
Thanx!!!
-ls-

I had heard it was not a good idea to use the lighter fluid on the Illex shutters because some of them had plastic blades that could be harmed, is this true or something I heard wrong, thanks.

Dave Parker

I think I saw info about this on the SKGrimes web site a while back? There is a deffinite warning about using lighter fluid on certain shutters, but because of cloth diaphrams as I remember. I have one such here, and may be an Ilex. I don't know of any plastic that lighter fluid would damage? But it's possible...

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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2003-06-20 21:02 ]</font>

Since Ronsonol (naphtha) and plastic are both petroleum products, it may be possible that some plastics could be affected by soaking in Ronsonol. They may become "sticky". Therefore, I would hesitate to use Ronsonol on any shutter that has plastic moving parts. Alcohol would probably be a better choice as a cleaning agent, but this is just a theory not based on any personal experience. Fred.

Electrical contact cleaner works best; 90% isopropal alcohol next; 70% isopropal alcohol lastly.
Charles

I've had a hard time with electrical contact cleaner.
In theory this should be 1,1,1 Tricholoethane in aerosol form, but the retail marked usually adds "a lubricant".

The last can I bought was difficult to control (came out as a blast only) and the lubricant went everywehrere. Where before I had shutter that had slowed from old lubricant, I now had a shutter that looked like I had dropped in mineral oil. I finally sent it to Grimes along with
$70 for a full dissassembly.

Triclor in it unmodified state is a great degreaser, much better than alchohol, and can be found by the quart at Home Depot.

I currently use CRC brand and it states "Leaves No Residue". When selecting a contact cleaner, read the label and make sure it contains NO Lubericants, such as TV tuner cleaners. Radio Shacks Color TV Tuner Cleaner (if its still available) has so much oil in it that it will short a tuner out requireing replacement.
Also check to see if it is safe for use on plastics as some are not.

Charles

I worked my entire working life in television...and I want to second the motion on being SURE that spray cleaners are NO RESIDUE and with no lubricants. I don't think it actually shorted out tuners, because lubricants (oils of various types) are used as dielectrics in high voltage transformers and capacitors...but the sprays with lubricants would certainly de-tune the tuners and render them useless. Fred.