Jammed Zorki 4k

[chris74]

Hi everyone

Could do with a little help if poss.

Ive got a Z4k that has jammed up solid! The film advance lever wont cock the shutter. I've taken it apart and cannot find anything obvious thats wrong. The shutter speed dial is also stuck but I cant see what is causing it.
I am able to cock the shutter by winding the curtain rollers and I can release the shutter by pulling down the cog at the bottom of the shutter release shaft.
Im guessing then that its caused by the shutter speed dial but Im a bit wary of taking that apart without a bit more advice from you guys.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

 

[wolves3012]

When you say it's jammed but you can wind it via the rollers - does the shutter work properly when you do that? It could be something jammed in the gears (not very likely but possible). Try firing the shutter and then changing the speed - but ONLY go towards a higher speed, or B or 1/30. Does that free it up?

Whatever you do, don't force anything else you'll only break it. If you can get the speed dial to move, try cocking the shutter but again, don't force things. Stop if you feel unusual resistance. I've had one jam up and I freed it by setting the highest speed I could with it uncocked (don't worry about what you've actually set it to) then part-cocking and repeating that until it's fully cocked (should end up on 1/30th that way).

If all else fails, you'll have to start dismantling to find the cause, or send it away (or buy another, they're cheap!).

 

[chris74]

Cheers, I'll give that a try and see what happens. the shutter seems to be working normally and it does feel like its comething in the selection thats jammed it up. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for your help!
Chris
🙂

 

[chris74]

Thanks for the advice Wolves, its now working perfectly, although I think the shutter curtains could do with replacing as one has a mark on it that appears to be from the curtain rubbing against something at some point in its life. Its possible that light could pass through it as the material seems to be a little thinner where the mark is. I've heard that black textile paint can work so may try that first.
Anyway, its now mechanically spot on and everything will be cleaned and lubed before being put back together.
Thanks again for the help.
Cheers
Chris🙂

 

[wolves3012]

Try shining a very bright torch close the curtain material, any holes will show that way when you look from the other side.

Glad you have it sorted mechanically anyway. This kind of jam can happen if the shutter gets changed to a slower speed uncocked, the pin that activates the slow-speed escapement can get stuck on the wrong side of the pin it drives.