Fed 2 has Shutter Curtain Problem

[Michael W]

Helllo All! My first FSU, a Fed 2 arrived less than an hour ago. It looks to be in good shape but there is definitely a problem with the shutter curtain. At speeds of 50 or below, the shutter curtain returns about 1/2 closed, then slows to a slow-motion crawl as it closes the rest of the way. Speeds of 100 and up seem to snap closed OK. Any ideas?

--Michael

 

[Blank288]

After some 50 years or so it looks like your Fed-2 needs a good CLA. Shutter curtain running probably is obstructed by dirt and hardened grease. You can clean and lubricate the mechanism by yourself (instructions are widely available on the net), or send your camera to a good repairman.
A well CLA'd Fed-2 is a nice user camera - congratulations!

 

[wolves3012]

CLA needed, almost certainly. You could increase the closing-blind tension slightly but even if that cures it you're delaying the inevitable.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Another pitch for the cleaning and lubricating mode. Extra tensioning may help, but a really clean, well-oiled mechanism will work nicely with the minimum required tensioning. Low tensioning makes the mechanism work lighter and quieter, too.

If your camera looks dry - check the insides and if it looks dull, especially at the areas close to the bases of the drum and rollers, it may indeed need a good clean-up and lube job.

However, if the rollers seem to be clean, check the tensioning too. It may have been serviced and the repairist "forgot" to tense it right.

There could also be stuck film chips in the shutter blinds. The hooked spool used in FED and Zorki may do good in holding the film's tip in place, but it is also cause for getting film chips in the camera. Everytime film is rewound, the hooked end of the film always breaks and there is always a chance of a torn bit being left and getting stuck somewhere in the works.

Jay

 

[mike goldberg]

I'm with Jay and others above on the need for CLA, and caution with the hooked spool for film leader. This is what I do with the spool problem: After Rewinding 70 or so turns of the Rewind knob 😱 I can feel the tension increasing. That "hook" on the take-up spool is so good at grabbing the film leader, I couldn't pull it out after a recent shoot. Next time, I'll tape it in, like Kodak does in their film cannisters.

Re: the shutter problem: If you like the Fed-2, have Youxin Ye [Canton, MA] do the CLA, especuially if you are going to be on the east coast. Since these cameras are relatively cheap from Ukranian based FSU eB@y sellers, you could even start over. Email me, and I'll give you the names of 3 reliable sellers. It's not that I'm "so smart." I've been burned a few times, myself.

Good luck, Mike ;-)