Fed2 sticky curtain?

Proteus617

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I haven't opened the camera yet as I'm still trying to decide what to do with the almost fresh roll inside, but...



I was shooting in fading light and the issue became worse toward the end of the roll as my shutter speeds became slower. What's up with this? Is the trailing curtain hung up so that it sticks somewhere in the middle of the frame as I wind on?
 
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Sure looks like a curtain problem. Most likely a CLA will set it right. I've used the fedka.com repair service in the past, and have been pleased with the work.
 
Sometimes the problem can not be tightening the shutter advance enough. I sent a Fed2 for repair and got that piece of advice. When the Fed2's shutter is not tensioned enough its possible to get capping or overlapping.
 
Looks as if the first curtain has stopped part way across the film gate. The second curtain has set off and hit the first, helping it to close.
This looks like a fairly extreme case, it's usually the second curtain that doesn't play properly.
It might work at faster speeds because the first curtain is helped by the movement of the second.
Check that there is no debris in the curtain shields or caught up on the first curtains. Check around the restrictor cog on the bottom of the body under the sprocket shaft. Bits of old film can get around the insides of a camera.
Check that the curtain can move freely across the film gate and that the material of the curtain is still flexible across its whole length.

Time to buy a good screwdriver set!

Dave..
 
Time to buy a good screwdriver set!
Dave..

Yeah...this may have been my fault. The Fed2 showed up with a curtain like swiss cheese. I patched it w/a good amount of liquid electrical tape that I hoped would hold together while I awaited new curtain material from Mr. Nakamura. The patched curtain is indeed the lead curtain and I shouldn't be surprised that my stop-gap repair has affected it's travel.
 
Good luck with the curtain repair.
I have replaced a few sets with "ready made" curtains from FSU land (and sometimes regretted it). It is full of things which can be done wrong. Replacing the material might be an easier way to do this. Good luck and stick with it. When you have finished you will have learned more than you might have expected, probably all the hard way.
They say it's a character building thing.

In the meantime, best buy another. You may appreciate it more as a reference for the soon-to-be in pieces FED2.
 
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