Kiev-2: Can't set shutter speed to 1/1250

[styvone]

Hi all,

I'm a proud new owner of a beautiful Kiev-2 imported from Russia. It seems to be working correctly except for a very small issue. For some reason, I sometimes cannot set the shutter speed to 1/1250. Here are my steps when I'm trying to do so:

1.) Cock the shutter by winding.
2.) Lifting the winding knob and turn to 1/1250 from whatever speed I was at before.
3.) Sometimes, the winding knob will go down on 1/1250 (I notice that this happens most often if I'm coming around full swing from 1/25 or slower speeds). Sometimes, the winding knob will not go down and just stay in the "lifted" position. This is most pronounced when I'm at 1/500 in Step 2, and I try to lift and turn a tiny bit over to 1/1250. It'll just hang in the "up" postion.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what I should do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[David Hughes]

It was recommended in the instruction books to go from the slower speeds past the faster speed a fraction and then go back to the speed wanted. I don't know if you can go past 1250 though...


I'm sorry I can't say more than this but I'll wish you luck.


Regards, David

 

[styvone]

David,

Thank you for the help. I've reached out to the famous Oleg for some help and he replied:

Looks, every speed have an own slot in brass drum.
But 500 and 1250 have a wide slot with moving part inside.
On picture now selected 1250, and steel part moved left. For setting 500 you need to move knob up, turn it slightly and push it down with moving that steel part to other side of slot.
So, for moving that part you not just move knob down, but also you need easy wiggle knob or little turn it left-right.
You’ll easy set desired speeds after you finding a way how to do it.
It’s not a problem, it’s a camera design made in 1930th.
With warmest regards,
Oleg

I can somewhat achieve what he is saying about "wiggling" in the speed at 1/1250. Though, it'll probably take me some practice. Just wanted to leave this bit of information here, in case anyone else was having the same issue with their Kiev!

 

[David Hughes]

I often think that he and a few others should have statues put up somewhere for all the help they give us. Alas, what gets you a statue these days is the exact opposite...


Regards, David