i ended up with this beautiful Ciro-flex camera at an auction. It seems to be in good condition, but I *think* there's an issue witht eh shutter. It's just labelled "ciroflex" with Alphax lens. I keep pressing the shutter release trigger down and the blades keep opening and opening and they stay that way. Sometimes the shutter button feels different, and it makes me think that perhaps there's a way to cock it and I can't figure out what that is.

How do you work this thing?

I thought it might be gunky and the blades and shutter were stuck so it took it appart and cleaned it and checked for anything, but it seems to be in working order in there. Ok, i'm not a technical person, so i could be wrong. But..what am i missing?

Alphax shutters are self cocking, so either the shutter ring is set on T or it needs to be cleaned, lubricated and adjusted (commonly called a CLA)

I could suggest removing the lens / shutter from the camera and then trying to clean the shutter, but on a Ciro flex it's not that easy.

I have successfully removed the front cell and added a couple of drops of lighter fluid to re-disperse the oil, but more often than not I end up with splotched on the rear cell and have to remove it too.

no it's not set on T

what's the best to use for lubrication and cleaning?

http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=alphax

I've read that light watch oil works. Note that you don't want to get the shutter blades "wet" as they really are not made from metal and can swell.