Fed 2 sticking shutter

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SimonK

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I haven't used my FED 2 for a while, on its last outing it was working perfectly but now the shutter seems to be sticking. In fact it works OK 3 times out 5 but the other times the shutter starts to fire with the shutter release depressed but only continues when the button is released, or on 1/30 the first curtain makes its travel when the shutter is depressed, but the second only moves when the button is released.

As far as I can see, everything else is OK, speeds seem correct, focusing is good, etc.

Now my question is, can I fix this from the bottom, i.e. without dismantling the top, because frankly I'd rather leave that alone as it is all OK, and my last attempt at messing with the top of one of these ended in disaster (and the rubbish bin).

Any advice or opinions gratefully received.
 
You could try firing the shutter over and over, see if that frees it up a bit. Sounds like it needs a CLA though. What you describe is typical of a camera in need of some attention and re-lubrication.
 
In fact, I tried that and just when it seems to be working OK, it plays up again. I'm sure you're right about the need for lubrication; so is there any way to do this easily from the bottom?
 
You mean "from the bottom" as opposed to having to take the top plate off, right? That is, you're willing to do some disassembly?

Taking the body shell off is really not that difficult at all. I don't have a FED 2 but on my Leica and Zorki 6, one 2.4mm screwdriver goes a long way. You can then take the cover plate off the shutter crate and see if there's gunk in the gears. For instructions (for the earlier FEDs, but shouldn't make a difference) google Rick Oleson or Zorkikat.
 
Update

Update

So, trawling round the interweb trying to find any alternative to dismantling I came upon a suggested last resort. To wit; flood the shutter release area with lighter fluid and then lubricate with a syringe and NYOil.

Well it worked! I squirted some zippo fluid into the top and the bottom of the shutter release mechanism and it was instantly firing perfectly again - no jamming and smooth as silk. However, I made a small error in the next step: I presumed it needed to be lubed after the lighter fluid, but owning neither NYOil or a syringe I tried to direct some WD40 onto the gears of the shutter. Unfortuantely, WD40 comes out of the can at really too much pressure and tends to go everywhere, so I've spent the last 24 hours trying to mop up the excess. But it seems to have worked.

So, folks, it seems that a gummy shutter release can be eased relatively painlessly; if I have to do the job again though, I think I will perhaps try to get hold of a syringe and maybe some sewing machine oil.
 
Nice to hear you've solved the problem. WD40 isn't the ideal lubricant for these, however, for reasons you've discovered. My first FED 2 had obviously been lubricated this way and it took a total strip-down to remove the excess, even then some kept appearing on the pressure plate (I never found out how it managed that!).

Hopefully you haven't managed to get any where it'll find its way onto the curtains - keep a careful eye out for a while.
 
The other danger is that zippo fluid has got onto the curtain tapes and will cause them to become un-stuck. This happened to me once, before I realised that short-cut fixes like this are not the best solution.
 
Well of course you are right. I now know that WD40 is not the right lubricant, but we learn from our mistakes. If things start to stiffen up, I'll try again with something else, perhaps sewing machine oil. I had read in the original tip to keep the zippo fluid well clear of the curtains for the exact reason you state - I'm hoping I managed to, fingers crossed.
 
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