Lubricate Or Nor?

[p.giannakis]

Hi everyone,

I bought a Konica Auto-S for £3 and i am thrilled. But first i had to repair the stuck aperture and shutter. Much to my amazement i did and now i would like to ask you if i should lubricate it or nor (shutter, shutter blades, aperture blades). I read on the internet that i should but there are many people who advice against it.
Any comments/recommendations ?
Thanx
Pan.

 

[wolves3012]

You should NOT lubricate the blades of a leaf shutter! If you do, they will stick together and the shutter just won't work. Likewise, if you lubricate the aperture blades then the lubricant can find its way onto the lens elements.

It's a good idea to lubricate all the mechanics, always use the smallest amount possible, never over-oil things. Grease for winder/larger gears, thin oil for pivots and watch oil for any timer mechanics.

 

[p.giannakis]

Hi wolves3012, thanx for your reply.
Do you have to suggest any specific type of oil?

 

[hanskerensky]

Many people use Moebius oil for lubricating some parts of shutters.
One of the best seems to be their Arctic grade oil.

Have a look here for a complete listing :
http://www.ofrei.com/page246.html

Moebius oils and greases are much used in fine mechanical watches.
H.Moebius & Fils in Basel, Switserland, was taken over in 2008 by The Swatch Group Ltd.

 

[mooge]

I used graphite powder. somewhere. I don't remember...
remember, use small amounts!

 

[bsdunek]

I used graphite powder. somewhere. I don't remember...
remember, use small amounts!

Yes, the leaves can be lubricated with graphite powder, or now, Teflon powder. One of my past lives was a camera repairman, and we used graphite - as you say, very small amounts.

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanx everyone for your suggestions !

 

[FallisPhoto]

Hi everyone,

I bought a Konica Auto-S for £3 and i am thrilled. But first i had to repair the stuck aperture and shutter. Much to my amazement i did and now i would like to ask you if i should lubricate it or nor (shutter, shutter blades, aperture blades). I read on the internet that i should but there are many people who advice against it.
Any comments/recommendations ?
Thanx
Pan.

You should VERY lightly lubricate the shutter. You should ABSOLUTELY NOT lubricate the shutter blades or anything touching them. If you don't know exactly which of the four or five tiny places in a shutter you should lubricate, use a mix of 10 drops of lighter fluid to one drop of watch oil or light gun oil and brush it with a nearly dry artist's brush on the gears. Nothing goes on any part of the blades or anything touching them. They are designed to run dry. They will stick together if they get oil on them and then they won't work at all. Aperture blades should also not be oiled because oil spreads. It will get onto the shutter blades. Remember to use oil VERY sparingly. Better none at all than too much.

 

[FallisPhoto]

Yes, the leaves can be lubricated with graphite powder, or now, Teflon powder. One of my past lives was a camera repairman, and we used graphite - as you say, very small amounts.

Stick graphite, yes. Powdered graphite, no. Rub it on and rub it off, leaving only traces, otherwise you get that damned stuff all through the camera.