Just picked up a GVII. It appears almost unused. Everything works except I can’t get the rising front to budge. The front standard is all the way down. Looking at the manual, it appears to lock and unlock the same as my GVI - by pushing the rising front knob.

However, the knobs refuse to budge when pushed from either side. Nor do they turn. I’ve tried pulling up on the portion of the front standard where the lens board goes, too, and it doesn’t budge.

Am I overlooking a lock somewhere? If not, is this a job for penetrating oil? Something else?


BTW, it came with a compendium hood in the original box. Price on the box was $28.32.
Thanks,
John

I’ve taken the front rise mechanism apart - removed the knobs and rails. The shaft is completely stuck in the front standard. It will not twist nor move side to side. I’ve been spraying with Liquid Wrench and tapping with a brass hammer through a wood block to set up vibrations. So far, it’s still immobile.

The manual says the bellows are removed by removing twelve screws, but I don’t see those screws. Are they on the outside of the standard under something? I’ve got another front standard that I could swap.

Is this the manual you are using?
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/GraphicView2Service.pdf

Yes, that’s the manual. I see the screws now. Take the back off the camera, extend the bellows, push back the fold directly behind the front standard from the inside and the screws are there.
I’ll probably wait until tomorrow to remove them when the light will be better. They’re hard to see.
The shaft has been soaking in Liquid Wrench for more than 24-hours and still won’t budge.

Quote:

The shaft has been soaking in Liquid Wrench for more than 24-hours and still won’t budge.

Go for 48.

Will do. I really don’t relish the idea of getting those screws out and back in.

The 48-hours did it. I was finally able to tap the shaft out, clean it throughly, and reinstall with a little Liquid Wrench dry lube made for hinges and locks. If you do this, note the position of the shaft. It makes a difference in reinstalling the knobs.