Fed 3a--shutter not closing on B---advice please

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hi All,
I have a very nice Fed 3a with an equally nice I26.I have not yet put a film through the camera,and visually checking the shutter at all speeds,all seems appropriate with the exception of the 'B' setting.After release of the shutter button on 'B', only the right side shutter moves across to close,and then only halfway across the gate.

I am never going to use 'B',and very unlikely to use anything slower than '60',but I am assuming that this is a symptom of a problem that could move into other speeds.I was looking for advice as to an adjustment to rectify it,hopefully something that I could attempt myself.Possibly the shutter tension needs to be increased?

Any advice gratefully accepted,🙂

Cheers,
Brian.

 

[Valkir1987]

Increasing shutter tension will make the camera harder to wind, and work less smooth. If the second curtain does not fully close at B, it is not going to work properly on 1/30 either.
Cleaning, lubricating and re adjusting is the only proper option to fix this problem. And the Fed 3a is worth it.

 

[wolves3012]

Brian,

Chances are it's in need of a CLA. Failure of the second blind to close properly is a good indicator of this, although it could also be due to incorrect tension. You could try winding the tension up a touch but anything over half to one turn more is excessive. Use the FED 2 shutter tension sticky thread for guidance...

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Thanks both🙂
Pretty much as I suspected.Perhaps I should research the various sources and get it sorted as a project in the dark winter evenings.
Cheers,
Brian

 

[fidget]

Hi Brian, could this be the one that you bought from me? 😱

If so, I recall that I thought that this camera did not need a CLA, reportedly having had one before it was shipped to me from the Ukriane seller.
If the other speeds work well enough (check using the sticky), then don't worry about it, unless you need the B setting.
If you fancy a quick and dirty adjustment of the second curtain tension as suggested here, it's very easy. Drop me a PM and I will guide you through it. Alternatively, if you can't live without B you could send it to me and I will be happy to sort it out.

Dave...

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hi Brian, could this be the one that you bought from me? 😱

If so, I recall that I thought that this camera did not need a CLA, reportedly having had one before it was shipped to me from the Ukriane seller.
If the other speeds work well enough (check using the sticky), then don't worry about it, unless you need the B setting.
If you fancy a quick and dirty adjustment of the second curtain tension as suggested here, it's very easy. Drop me a PM and I will guide you through it. Alternatively, if you can't live without B you could send it to me and I will be happy to sort it out.

Dave...

Morning Dave,
Yep,this little beauty was yours---but absolutely no problem you laid out everything clearly🙂,and it's such a nice one,with an unusual speed selector dial,that it's well worth perservering.
Cheers,
Brian.