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Graflex RB shutter help???

 
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briangaberman



Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 5
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Computer has been on the blink...think it is ok now
email me at
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com
Bert
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