I changed the shutter speed before cocking the shutter

[Eastcolfax]

So I'm sitting there with my brand spankin' new (to me, anyway, it was made in 1957) Zorki 4 I just obtained from Ebay. I was carefully putting drops of lighter fluid on gears, working them, feeling that precision "snick!" start to come into play after half a decade of grease and dust was flushed out. My kids were around, a normal chaotic household, I'm juggling a few things, and...I violated The Prime Directive.

I accidentally changed the shutter speed without cocking the shutter!

So my formerly working Zorki now sits with both shutter curtains visible. The shutter is closed nicely, about a third of the way across the open frame. When I wind the camera, the shutter opening (still closed) moves to the right of the frame, and opens back to the halfway mark when I release the shutter button. When I let go of the shutter button the other half jumps out from the right to meet up with the left half, closing the shutter.

Nothing seems really "broken," it's not like it's grinding or any springs popped out or i ever had to force anything. I can only move the shutter speed dial to the slow speeds, though, otherwise I'd have to force it (and nothing has been forced at this point.)

So what to do, O Rangefinderforum Gods?

 

[captainslack]

At this point, you've got two options:

1. Dissassemble it yourself and try to fix the problem.

or

2. Sent it to Oleg, who'll fix it up better than new.

I broke my Zorki 4 two days after I got it by doing the same damn thing. Sent it to Oleg (his URL in "Russian Cameras" in the Cool Links list) and now it's good as new. I highly recommend him.

 

[ChrisN]

Don't panic!

Many of us have been there.

Have a look at: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5442&highlight=mir


This might be useful too: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6117

 

[RichardS]

Try cocking and firing the shutter a few times. It just may start working again. If you are certain that it is broken, and only if you are certain, try moving the shutter curtains with your finger. That also might work.

Dick

 

[peterc]

Try the following at your risk, but it worked for my Zorki.
My Zorki 4K arrived with the symptoms you describe. I "fixed" the problem by first making sure that the rewind collar was turned counter-clockwise as far as it can go and that the shutter release button was turned clockwise as far as it can go. I then did the unthinkable and lifted the shutter speed dial without cocking the shutter, moved it slightly (less than one shutter speed) and put it back where it had been. I then cocked the shutter and selected a medium speed (1/125 or 1/250 should do) and fired the shutter. It has been working fine since.

Peter

 

[pshinkaw]

Basically there is a pin that rotates out of place when you violate the prime directive. If you are lucky, it drops into a harmless hole and you just get wrong shutter speeds until you figure it out and place it in the correct hole. If you are unlucky it jams and nothing moves.

You can remove the top. The shutter timing gears on the 4 series is easily accessible. A couple of steel dental picks will enable you to lift the parts apart and unjam the shutter. Reset the pin with its attached wheel into a hole. Then re-attach the knob with the top still off and find the B setting. Leave the pin set there and re-assemble the camera. Then set the shutter dial on B.

You can get steel dental picks at Harbor Freight in Aurora. I also bought a set a year ago from an Ace hardware store on South Broadway in Englewood. It was called ___ Trading Post. Can't remember the full name, but it's been there since the 1950's with the same name.

-Paul

 

[Eastcolfax]

Wow, thanks everyone!

This thing is definitely stuck -- no wiggling or fiddling with knobs or gears is going to work. It feels as if something has jumped track or is out of alignment. For what it's worth, though, when I set the shutter speed and broke it, it wasn't harder than normal. It's apparently an easy thing to do.

I'm comfortable tearing into things if that's what it takes, so the specific suggestions are very much appreciated. Worst-case scenario, I suppose I could send it to Oleg, so all is not lost.

Much like old rollfilm cameras, I guess the idea of "cock the shutter immediately after each shot" applies here, as well.

Thanks again!