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e-tres · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

Hello,
I recently bought my first 4x5, a graflex super speed. I took a few pictures but I'm afraid I managed to break the Graflex 1000 shutter... Now, when I turn the knob to O, it shuts and when i turn it to C, it opens. The result is that it won't let me cock the shutter. The aperture works fine but the timer won't go beyond 200 (to faster speeds).
Is there anyone who knows if this is fixable? I think I might have cocked the shutter with the knob on "O... but I'm not sure, can't remember now. Anyone knows what might have happened?
Thanks!
Erik

45PSS · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:

e-tres · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

45PSS · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:58 am Post subject:

Sorry I left something out, after putting the lever at C and turning the shutter speed ring to something other than O cock and fire the shutter a few times. This may clear the jam. If not then a spring has come loose or is broken.

With the shutter in the triped state, unscrew the cocking ring by turning it counterclockwise. (You can now insert a series VI filter in the lens opening.) On the face is a plate retained by three screws. Remove the screws and carefully lift the plate upwards. There are 3 or 4 brass spacers that were under the screws that you just removed and one extra that may no longer be there depending on who opened it last. DO NOT remove the front lens element as it holds the cocking gear in place and removeing it will result in shutter timing having to be reset which requires even more disassembly and specific reassembly.

Next to the ring held in by the front lens element are two small gears that transmit the turning of the cocking ring to the main drive gear. Next to the trip lever is the Bulb lever. A very fine spring that loves to fly away if released should be attached to the bulb lever. It should be under a brass cap post on the lever and around a pivoit shaft that the lever sits on with the lower end to the right side of a shaft in the main plate just under the lever. If the spring is off and the bulb lever moves about freely, keep a finger on the spring while attaching the loose end else it may go into orbit and never be found again.

Also be carefull as the time setting ring can come off with very little pressure. Near the top center is the cam lock and cam lock lever. The cam lock lever has a spring that mates into a hole in the plate, goes around a shaft then lays parallel to the left edge of the cam lock lever. This spring is not as tempermental as the bulb lever spring but can go into orbit also so handle it simularly.

IF these parts are in place then look at the timing retard levers, small round posr that just rise above the edge of the time setting ring. They should be spring loaded to rest against the time setting ring. Three of these are spring loaded under the plate and one is spring loaded on top of the plate simular to the cam lock lever spring. All 4 timing retard levers should move in freely toward the lens center and come back out to the shutter speed setting ring. IF one of them does not it will prevent the correct operation of the shutter.

IF no parts are borken then I can CLA the shutter for you. IF parts are broken then Fred Lusting (contact information is on the home page and in other post on the help board) is your only hope short of buying a parts shutter and hoping the same thing is not broken in it. OR if you have very good technical skills, get a service manual and go to it.

After investigating, place the spacers over the screw holes and pin on the right side and replace the plate and screws then the cocking ring.

The Pacemaker Series lens boards with the large tabs on the sides and small tabs on the top and bottom of the board will work on the Super series of cameras. Pacemaker series boards with small tabs on the top and bottom only will not work on the Supers. Toyo Super Graphic lens boards should work also.

Charles

[ This Message was edited by: 45pss on 2007-03-16 02:05 ]