Graflex.org

[Stephen Furley]

I have an early Pacemaker, with side mounted Kalart rangefinder.

Since I have had it the shutter selector has been difficult to move to the trip position, but since I never trip the shutter by this means this hasn't been a great problem. I hadn't used the camera for about three years, and when I got it out to clean and check over a few weeks ago, the selector wouldn't move from the front position. I used the camera last weekend, and everything worked fine, as I wasn't using the focal plane shutter, and luckily, it is in the open position. When I looked at the camera this morning I noticed that the shutter selector is very loose, it still won't move up or down, but it will rotate until one corner of it hits the rangefinder housing, and it can be pulled in and out by almost a milimetre

This evening I removed the six screws holding the outer cover, and took off the cover. The selector is so loose that it feels as if it is about to fall off, but I cannot see any way to tighten it, nor what is preventing it from moving up or down. I am guessing that because it is loose, pressing in on the top or bottom isn't releasing it to move, as it should.

I can now see four screws, holding the brass plate in place, but I am reluctant to remove these for fear of lots of small parts springing out before I can see where they are supposed to go! I also don't really want to ue the camera again in case any parts fall out, and I loose them.

Is this a common problem with these cameras, and how do I safely get access to fix it?

Thanks for any advice you can give.
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Stephen Furley

[45PSS]

1. The side RF Pacemaker is the same camera body as the Top RF Pacemaker. All repairs and adjustments are the same except for the rangefinder(s).
2. Go to http://www.southbristolviews.com/ and download the Pacemaker Service Manual found under the Graflex Manuals link.
3. To select front shutter release press down on the lever and position its center next to the front label, the front shutter release will now trip the front shutter only. To select the rear position press up on the lever and it sholud spring into the rear position, the side shutter release will operate the FPS only. To trip the FPS with the side selector press in then up on the side selector, when released the selector will return to the rear position.
4. Looking at the assembly diagram the selector is attached via a screw from behind the plate and has springs and washers also. Removing the plate will remove the tension on the lower roller and the indicator sync of the speed window so be sure to follow the manual instructions carefully to prevent damage to the tension spring. Be sure to lube the roller bearings while you have it apart. Tip: read through the complete disassembly and reassembly instructions prior to starting to familuarize yourself with the parts and procedures.
5. The rollers will be loose on one end, a potential exists for curtain damage, work carefully.
6. Once a post has been made, a delete function is available via the box with an x or the edit button in the post for 30 minutes.
7. Ask more questions if you need the help or clarification.
Charles
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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Stephen Furley]

Charles, thank you for your reply.

I was having ADSL problems last night, I waited for about 30 seconds, and the post didn't seem to have gone through, so I sent it again, I didn't realise that it had mede a duplicate post until this morning.

What type of lubricant should be used on the bearings? I've never heard of the ones specified in the libricants list in the manual. I doubt that these actual ones are still available, if indeed they ever were in this country, so I'll need to find an equivilent.

The front and rear shutter selection was working fine when I put the camera away three years ago, it was just the trip function which was not working properly then, sometimes it would work, and sometimes it wouldn't. I've used the focal plane shutter just a handful of times, but it seems to work fine, apart from the fact that I can't now select it. The curtain is in remarkably good condition.

I bought the camera in about 1998, with many parts on it broken, missing or bent. I managed to repair, replace or make most of these; but didn't want to go inside the shutter mechanism without seeking advice first.

The bellows is looking rather tatty, with bits of black tape covering holes in the corners. I spoke to a man from Camera Bellow in Birmingham ant the 'Photographica' show in London a couple of months ago; he says they can make me a new one, and the indicative price that he gave was very reasonable. I've had other bellows made by this company in the past, and have always been very pleased with their work.

I've downloaded the manual, I'll read through it tonight, and try to fix the problem on Sunday.

Thanks for your help.
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Stephen Furley

[bertsaunders]

Stephan,
Only two things will happen when you remove the gov plate...the curtian tension will be released, and the slider arm with the speed indicator window will fall out! The trip switch is held on with a small screw from the backside (the same screw also retains the spring that pushes the trip switch out)!
This model is very easy to set the timing....email me at bsaunders1@bak.rr.com and I will send instructions for timing, and a photo of the backside of the gov plate if you want it!
Have a nice day......Bert

[45PSS]

Stephen,
I use a light machine oil called TriFlow which contains teflon. White lithium grease can be used as well as any medium grease that does not have a lot of oils to seperate out. Lubericants have a specification number and that is what a lot of maintance manuals refer to instead of trade names.
I only pointed out the delete function in case you were not familuar with it. and now it is 5 hours later and the delete option is still available on this responce so the time limit has been extended but to what length I do not know.
Charles
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Stephen Furley]

Thank you Charles and Bert. I was planning to try to do the repair tomorrow, but something's come up tomorrow that I'd like to use the camera for, so I did it this morning instead.

It proved to be easier than I expected. I let the spring tension down slowly with a screwdriver before removing the plate, it took twenty quarter-turns. The shutter has been a bit sluggish in the past, I gave it a couple of extra quarter-turns when I re-tensioned it. It's still a bit slow closing from the 'O' position, but considering the age of the thing, I don't think that's too bad.

I didn't need to lubricate the bearings, there was still some lubricant on them that hadn't dried out.

I've got some slightly out of date Polaroid pack film, so I took one shot with the focal plane shutter at each of its speeds, and the exposure looks just about spot on.

I'm going to turn my attention to the rangefinder next weekend, it needs cleaning, adjusting and the semi-mirror replacing; I've got a spare one.
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Stephen Furley

[ImageMaker]

[45PSS]

20 quater turns eh, thats 5 turns and about where the tension should be and a couple is still well within bounds.
Enjoy the camera.
Charles
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.