Contax II problems after new ribbons

[micromoogman]

Press it firmly, but not too hard. It must go!

I am about to stitch the ribbons on mine now. Bought two Kievs with fine shutters to take parts from. I decided to use the drums along with the lower curtain from the Kiev. In that way I will use the correct friction loops for Arsenal ribbons. Contax has smaller frictions loops, I can confirm it now.

 

[Highway 61]

Not too sure if the Kiev lower curtain catches can grip the Contax upper curtain dots properly (especially if you use Arsenal ribbon), and not too sure if the Contax main shutter release catch can release the (Kiev lower) shutter (curtain) properly, either.

By mixing those parts you may have capping problems (the two shutter curtains getting apart when you wind the shutter : film veiling) and firing problems (the shutter not wanting to fire or not wanting to remain cocked).

Time (and you) will tell.

 

[Socrates]

shutter speed

shutter speed

I know its not about the shutter ribsons, but wouldn't want to make a new thread for my question.
My Contax II came with the shutter speeds a bit low. After firing the shutter a few times it became "loser" and the speeds looked better but not correct. Then I opened the back of the shutter to look or there was something to see. To my suprise the shutter ribbons seems to be new and after some firing without the back (I actually don't mean the back of the camera but the thing where the film goes on and protect the shutter mechanism) the shutter speeds seams right fine. After put it together the shutter speed was like before, not correct.
The back must be slowing the curtains down or something like that. Has anyone a idea how to solve the problem?

 

[Highway 61]

I know its not about the shutter ribsons, but wouldn't want to make a new thread for my question.
My Contax II came with the shutter speeds a bit low. After firing the shutter a few times it became "loser" and the speeds looked better but not correct. Then I opened the back of the shutter to look or there was something to see. To my suprise the shutter ribbons seems to be new and after some firing without the back (I actually don't mean the back of the camera but the thing where the film goes on and protect the shutter mechanism) the shutter speeds seams right fine. After put it together the shutter speed was like before, not correct.
The back must be slowing the curtains down or something like that. Has anyone a idea how to solve the problem?

Well this is another problem caused by using the Arsenal ribbon (if some has been used on your camera) on a Contax shutter. The inside of the shutter crate (the shutter cover you removed to get access to the shutter unit) may touch the ribbons when they enroll around their bottom rollers.

The fix is to file down the rails located at the bottom of the inside of the shutter crate.

This also happens when a Kiev shutter unit is fitted in a Contax II body, for the very same reasons. Removing half a millimeter of metal off the shutter crate bottom rails will fix it.

 

[Socrates]

Thanks for the help.
I can't build a cheap shutter speed tester now so I think to test it I will run a film through. I will post results as soon as I made the 36 exposures.

Is there anyway how to recognise a contax or kiev schutter?

 

[micromoogman]

OK. I didn't get the new ribbons to work (or if it was something else) with the mix of Kiev and Contax curtains. Physically the Arsenal ribbons should be fine with the lower curtain from the Kiev, and I can't see any other problems using them together. All measurements are identical. But my ribbons seem to sit too tight even for the Kiev... I don't know. I'll continue work on the shutter.
Meanwhile I will enjoy the 1963 Kiev shutter now implemented in the Contax. Two places needed to get some work with the file. The "fork" from the self timer hit the crate at one spot, also the Contax cover prevented the little arm in the advance mechanism to move freely... Another thing, the original shutter speed ring under the advance knob, didn't work either.
But still, I got a working Frankenstein's monster...named "Contiev"

Cheers all, and thanks especially to Highway 61.

 

[micromoogman]

Thanks for the help.
I can't build a cheap shutter speed tester now so I think to test it I will run a film through. I will post results as soon as I made the 36 exposures.

Is there anyway how to recognise a contax or kiev schutter?

Both my Kiev shutters had numbers stamped in them. Kievs might have a flash synch contact. Contax has "weird" coarse threads all over the body. If you're swapping shutters make sure to use the right Contax screws. The lower drum's "lifting heel" or "brake", is made of leather on a Contax, Kiev some fabric...blueish on both mine...

 

[micromoogman]

Update. The Kiev shutter also broke down on me. Not while shooting film though. I ordered the Aki-Asahi ribbons and I must admit that these are better. Also for the Kiev. Everything was easier with these. The Arsenals were almost impossible to fit into the small holes in the secondary curtain.

 

[phototooker]

These info is so valuable, I just ruined my Kiev as my first trial

 

[dee]

If you can't get anywhere , Oleg could probably fix it for you - he usually does Kiev , but does tackle Leica , I don't see why he can't fix a Contax .

http://www.okvintagecamera.com/ I bought my 1st 1976 Kiev 4 & 4m from him with new meter cells and they work fine .

My Contax is a fran-kiev-stein - box of Contax II parts with new Kiev II shutter assembly - COMPLETE - which , in some respects , seems the right way to keep a Contax running . By ex-Arsenal techs .

They revived a Contax III for me with original shutter , and it works fine .
En Route is a terrible Contax II which they have completely revived ,with tan leather , but more brass than chrome LOL .