FED 1 shutter repair, possible?

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alternatve

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Hello,

I'm a proud owner of a FED 1 which is unfortunately suffering from holes in the shutter curtain. I used epoxy to fix it up with the end result of ruining the whole curtain. Go figure. Now I'm faced with an expensive repair by shipping overseas or doing it locally or attempting to repair it myself. My question to thouse who have done it before, is it possible for even a newbie at this to attempt such a daunting task? Also, does anybody know where I can get shutter curtains? Thanks.

Regards,
Samuel
 
I think you should buy a good FED 1 or Zorki 1 from Oleg of okvintagecameras.com or from fedka.com, and maybe someday later - when you are more experianced in repairs try to repair it. I have repaired a couple cameras but I have yet to replace shutter curtain...

But that is just myy point of view - wait for Jay (ZorkiKat) - what he will have to say 😉
 
Spyderman said:
I think you should buy a good FED 1 or Zorki 1 from Oleg of okvintagecameras.com or from fedka.com, and maybe someday later - when you are more experianced in repairs try to repair it. I have repaired a couple cameras but I have yet to replace shutter curtain...

But that is just myy point of view - wait for Jay (ZorkiKat) - what he will have to say 😉
Click to expand...

Spyderman,

That would be the idea option. Unfortunately, I'm still a student and do not have the cash to get another camera. Furthermore, my beautiful FED lying broken and unused in my drybox is heartwrenching...

Samuel
 
Then go for it! I know you can do it!

Just read jays Zorki survial page and there is also a page by Rick Oleson about how the shutter works, and also the sticky thread about shutter curtain tension.

When you know all this by heart, go get some quality watchmakers screwdrivers and a big box or something to work inside - you dont want to lose any tiny screws...

The last advice: when you are not sure what to do next - ask here before 😉 We ll all try to help...

Good luck
 
Spyderman's advice is sound. The only real problem with a FED 1 is possibly undoing the VF/RF windows. Jay's site has advice on that too though. Other than that it's not a terribly difficult task, just tedious and fiddly and timeconsuming. Set aside an area where you can leave it untouched for a while if needed, that way you won't be under pressure to clear the kitchen table or whatever. Find some small containers or "zip-loc" plastic bags to put screws in and keep them labelled "case screws", "lens mount screws" etc. A digital camera to photograph how things look before you start sections can also be useful too.

I think if you can get hold of it it would be better to cut your own blinds from shutter cloth. The ready-made replacements will work fine but they can be noisier - something to do with the wrap-over on home-made versus crimped metal laths on ready-made. I don't actually know where cloth is available but I'm sure there will be posts suggesting sources.
 
I have some shutter curtains that I can send to you. They are originally from Alx-photo on ebay. I was going to use them in the repair of my Zorki 3, but they weren't wide enough. They may work in your FED. I am more then happy to send out so you can try. I did the curtains on my Z3. It was a duanting task, but nearly as terrifying as I thought it would be. As others have said, just get yourself one of those clear multi-compartment cases and use each compartment for a different piece. I bought something like a 30 compartment case. I then just put the parts into different compartments as I disassembled the camera. When I needed to put it back together, I just reversed the order of the compartments. Also, if you have or can borrow a digital camera, they help immeasureably when you get to a tricky step. I will check the conditions of the curtains when I get home and let you know. Most importantly, MARK THE LOCATIONS OF THE OLD CURTAINS ON THE SPINDLE BEFORE YOU REMOVE THEM!!!! I speak from experience😀
 
Sure, if it isn't too much of a hassle. You see, I live far NE from the USA, in Singapore. 😀 So if you don't mind sending it all the way there, I don't mind paying.
 
Thanks for all your advice. Since then, I've gotten a FED 2 absolutely free! The shutter curtains are totalled and the film counter is gone. The body is in pretty bad shape. No lens. I'll probably send this and my other fed to OK once I come up with the cash. This means that I have the Fed 1-3 in my possession now! 😀
 
alternatve said:
Thanks for all your advice. Since then, I've gotten a FED 2 absolutely free! The shutter curtains are totalled and the film counter is gone. The body is in pretty bad shape. No lens. I'll probably send this and my other fed to OK once I come up with the cash. This means that I have the Fed 1-3 in my possession now! 😀
Click to expand...
Well that just leaves the 3a or 3b that you haven't got, the 4 and 5....then you can start on the Zorkis and Kievs ;-)
 
Samuel

Zorkikat (Jay) who lives in the Phillipeans should be able to tell you local sources for ribbon and cloth, as well as help.

Oh a Fed 2 counter should not break or rather should be repairable...

noel
 
Xmas said:
Samuel

Zorkikat (Jay) who lives in the Phillipeans should be able to tell you local sources for ribbon and cloth, as well as help.

Oh a Fed 2 counter should not break or rather should be repairable...

noel
Click to expand...

Noel,

I prefer if the source is local or in the region. Otherwise, the cost of buying the shipping the curtains would probably allow me to send the feds to ukraine and back!

It's not supposed to, but my film counter is spinning like a top. Evidently something's broken or someone blotched a repair. And both cases are bad...

Samuel
 
If you still want the shutter curtains, I have located them. They are both new. I attempted to install them into a Zorki 3, but never got that far. They both have traces of Pliobond on them, but not in places that would hinder their function. They don't weigh much, so shipping can't be that bad. Let me know
Ken
 
alternatve said:
Noel,

It's not supposed to, but my film counter is spinning like a top. Evidently something's broken or someone blotched a repair. And both cases are bad...

Samuel
Click to expand...
There's a wavy-shaped spring, that fits over the centre boss of the knob, that bears on the counter disc. If that's missing or damaged the counter will spin. Slacken the little grub screw in the knob and unscrew it (counter-clockwise) and have a look. 2 minute job...
 
Oh darn, I just found out another defect. The B setting on my FED 1 isn't firing properly. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't. Can anyone suggest a remedy?
 
It has to do with the stops and the shutter dial on the top. I don't know how to explain it. The shutter has two levers that spin when it is released. The first curtain is attached to the shutter dial. It begins to spin and then catches or releases the second shutter depending on the speed. On the Zorkis, the is a cresent shaped arm that catches the second shutter curtain and holds it until it is bumped by the first curtain which then allows the second curtain to follow the first.
Here is a pic that might help to explain it.

zorki6.jpg

You can see that arm that catches the second shutter curtain just below the shutter speed shaft next to the rangefinder. You can just make out the second shutter curtain lever just above that arm. The first shutter lever is at the nine o'clock postion on the shaft.

On the B setting, you depress the shutter release, which releases both shutters. The first curtain opens and spins around. The second shutter curtain(SSC) catches in the detent on the cresent shaped arm. The first curtain 'catch' continues around and stops on the SSC lever, which is being held open by the detent in the arm. You then release the shutter button, which raises the cresent arm, which in turn releases the SSC. The SSC through the tension of the springs and the first curtain tension then snaps shut.

Now, after explaining all that, here is what is most likely causing your problem. There is a small tension spring that holds the cresent shaped arm against the SSC. Sometimes, this comes off or loses its tension. If this spring is not on the arm or does not extert enough tension on the arm, then first shutter curtain can push it away and allow the SSC to close. This might be the cause of your problem. The easiest way to figure out what is going on is to remove the top plate and just observe what is going on. You can then make a diagnosis and figure out the solution.
 
As TV has said, the problem quite probably lies with the second curtain release. Take a look at the Zorki 4K CLA sticky thread and look at photo 26A,. This shows the arm TV is referring to (it's almost identical on all FEDs and Zorkis).

You need to get the top off the camera and see that the spring that pushes it is not damaged or misplaced. It should press the arm inwards and downwards lightly. It would be worth unhooking the spring (carefully!) and removing the arm by lifting it out. Give it and its shaft a clean and light lube and replace it - it needs to go back in absolutley square or the bottom bit won't drop in place. Don't forget to replace the spring!

Fire the shutter on "B" and see what happens, you will probably be able to see the cause. When you press the shutter the arm should drop too and trap the second curtain arm until you release the button.
 
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