Is my Zorki 4 a brick? Shutter problems.

[klownshed]

Hi,

New to the world of Russian cameras and this forum!

I've read through loads of threads but can't seem to work out what is relevant.

I've just picked up a Zorki 4 from a well known auction site on a whim (silly, I know) and have received a cosmetically very nice lump of metal.

When I open the back, the left hand shutter curtain is roughly in the middle of the frame, and the right hand curtain is sticky, usually not to be seen.

If I play with the controls a little I can get the shutter to cock and then release. When it releases the right hand curtain sometimes comes to meet (slowly) the left hand curtain, but always slap bang in the middle of the frame.

When I cock the shutter by winding on, the left hand curtain winds right and the end disappears behind the metal housing.

I know you're not supposed to change shutter speeds without cocking first, and I was careful not to. Previous owners obviously weren't so careful.

Also, the sutter knob doesn't travel more than about 90° when the shutter is cocked.

Is this a common problem? Fixable or have I bought a paperweight? I've read through the CLA sticky and it's a bit daunting, but if this problem is fixable and some numpty hasn't broken anything then I may give it a go.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[andephotographic]

I had one ages ago that did that at slower shutter speeds. Hope you get it fixed.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Assuming you want to keep the camera......I am not a fan of doing first time one time repairs. I have a Zorki 4 that is a nice working camera and they are very nice when working well. I would send the camera for a repair and CLA to Fedka in NY. His web site is www.fedka.com

Yuri is a great guy and will correct your problems. Lol he is not related in any way.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Did you also read the curtain tension sticky? Usually the curtains are too tight but I wouldn't rule out that somebody accidentally loosened them.

Welcome, by the way.

 

[klownshed]

Thanks for the quick replies! Wow!

First things first, I'm in the UK so would need a repair guy this side of the pond.

Secondly, I've just had the top off to see what's happening...

Underneat the shutter dial there is a cog with a pin underneath it the the 'selector arm' hits and seems to prevent the curtain opening beyond half way across the frame. There is another pin on the bottom selector bit that has notches for what I assume are the shutter speeds and this pin is the one that seems to allow the selector arm thing to move the bottom selector gear.

Now, if I cock the shutter and hit the shutter release, the shutter dial needs a bit of help to then turn. When it turns, the curtains move but are definitely not in the right positions.

If I turn the shutter speed dial with the shutter uncocked, the left hand curtain (viewed from the back) won't move beyond half way across the frame. Also, if I gently try and pull the curtain, it won't budge. It seems to be at the end of it's travel.

It might be that the selector arm thingy in the shutter speed dial is all out of whack.

Any ideas?

I haven;t seen a photo of the precise part I'm talking about online anywhere, so can't see how the mechanism is supposed to be set.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Have you found Rick Oleson's pages yet?

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-58.html

 

[Steve M.]

I'm sure you could eventually puzzle it out, but you have to wonder when. Might take a while, and in the mean time you'd have a taken apart camera in a box. That's usually the last place mine reside before heading to the trash can.

So I'd say, after giving it a good look over, send it off to be fixed, or buy another one in your neck of the woods that can be easily returned. Or find a seller that guarantees their cameras. Most attempts to snag working FSU cameras on the auction sites just result in owning multiple paper weights.

I second the idea of checking out Rick's site and seeing if you can get any ideas there. He's come to my rescue on these cameras more than once..

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Thanks for the quick replies! Wow!

First things first, I'm in the UK so would need a repair guy this side of the pond.

Secondly, I've just had the top off to see what's happening...

Underneat the shutter dial there is a cog with a pin underneath it the the 'selector arm' hits and seems to prevent the curtain opening beyond half way across the frame. There is another pin on the bottom selector bit that has notches for what I assume are the shutter speeds and this pin is the one that seems to allow the selector arm thing to move the bottom selector gear.

Now, if I cock the shutter and hit the shutter release, the shutter dial needs a bit of help to then turn. When it turns, the curtains move but are definitely not in the right positions.

If I turn the shutter speed dial with the shutter uncocked, the left hand curtain (viewed from the back) won't move beyond half way across the frame. Also, if I gently try and pull the curtain, it won't budge. It seems to be at the end of it's travel.

It might be that the selector arm thingy in the shutter speed dial is all out of whack.

Any ideas?

I haven;t seen a photo of the precise part I'm talking about online anywhere, so can't see how the mechanism is supposed to be set.

If you are able to show us a picture of the shutter speed selector and its environment, we are better to able to give a diagnosis...

 

[klownshed]

Here are a couple of photos of the mechanism.

The pin that 'drops down' from the top cog seems to be the one preventing the curtain going past half way through the frame.

I'm not sure if there is enough detail to see what I'm trying to describe. Hopefully it will make some sense to the experts on this forum...

 

[klownshed]

Sorry about the size of the photos! Posted them directly from my phone, didn't expect them to be so large.

 

[wolves3012]

Hmm, I think your phone isn't the tool for this job, it doesn't focus well so close. From what you are describing, I'm wondering if some careless previous owner has managed to get the slow-speed mechanism in a tangle. When that happens, it often causes something like you describe.

If you want to fix it yourself, take the slow-speed mechanism out and re-fit it, that will likely clear the fault. At the top of this sub-forum there's a sticky on CLA-ing a Zorki 4 or 4K, that thread will show you how to remove and refit the mechanism.

If you don't want to do it yourself, you can send it to someone like Oleg (Google OK camera) but he's not UK-based. If you're stuck, PM me and I'll have a go at it (I did write the sticky so I'm no stranger to the insides of FSU cameras).

 

[klownshed]

Haha, yeah, I have all these cameras and sometimes the only one I have close to hand is the phone.

I will definitely give your suggestion a go. Thank you for your help.

The camera is in very nice condition cosmetically, and I really would like to use it. Hopefully the slow speed mechanism will be all that's stopping me running a film through it soon....

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Hmm, I think your phone isn't the tool for this job, it doesn't focus well so close. From what you are describing, I'm wondering if some careless previous owner has managed to get the slow-speed mechanism in a tangle. When that happens, it often causes something like you describe.

If you want to fix it yourself, take the slow-speed mechanism out and re-fit it, that will likely clear the fault. At the top of this sub-forum there's a sticky on CLA-ing a Zorki 4 or 4K, that thread will show you how to remove and refit the mechanism.

If you don't want to do it yourself, you can send it to someone like Oleg (Google OK camera) but he's not UK-based. If you're stuck, PM me and I'll have a go at it (I did write the sticky so I'm no stranger to the insides of FSU cameras).

+1 the slowspeed escapment pawl is sitting on the wrong site of the shutter speed selector.

 

[Uglee]

I had a similar problem with my first FED 3A. After reading the sticky for the CLA. I traced the problem to the slow speed mechanism. Removing, cleaning and re installing the slow speed cured the problem. You may also need to check and adjust the shutter curtain tension after you get it working. Also check the Zorki survival site for additional repair information.

 

[klownshed]

Thanks everybody for your help. I think I'll send it for a CLA as whilst I could probably remove and reinstall the slow shutter speed mechanism, I don't fancy mucking around with the shutter and I think that will also need adjusting.

If I try and fix it first, I'm only making the job for the professional that bit harder! ;-)