kiev 4 not cocking

[garythegit]

Hey guys, bit of a bad experience with a ebay seller who gave me one kiev 4am with a broken rangefinder and then a replacement one which has a shutter that doesn't cock!! The shutter speed selector/shutter cocking wheel just turns and turns and nothing happens! Has something snapped inside? How can I check and how can i fix it?? Thanks!! I think its a 1980 model (from the serial number on the flash hotshoe)

 

[darkkavenger]

Hello, try turning the small dented inner ring (on the inside of the cocking ring), this is to lock the camera on B position... move it and try winding after. 🙂

 

[BillBingham2]

Sounds like you should try for another. I had that when I moved the shutter speed dial before winding the shutter. I sent it to Oleg and he was able to fix it. My research said it might have been not fixable.

Sorry.

B2

 

[darkkavenger]

heh, I forgot that's a 4AM you're mentioning... what I said is how it works for a 2A *blushes*

 

[garythegit]

thanks guys! oh no! not another paper weight!!!! 🙁 I just had nothing but bad luck with kievs! they seem like such nice cameras as well!!

 

[Creagerj]

Disasemble the film advance knob. Mostlikly the shutter release has been jammed in the down position. Works everytime with my kiev.

 

[Mister_Hat]

The Kiev Survival Site has detailed instructions on getting inside a Kiev. I had a similar problem with a Kiev 4 that turned out to be easily fixed by pushing a little connector back into its proper place.

 

[varjag]

I had that when I moved the shutter speed dial before winding the shutter.

I would just mention that this can't be a casue of Kiev shutter failure.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Note: this is for Kiev 4 or Contax II
Dissassemble the shutter dial/cocking knob.
Check if there is a small extension spring broken (inmediately beneath the dial). If this spring is broken, shutter speed selection is not operative, or some other defects may show up. If not, probably the shutter button mechanism is locked in "down" position.
Hope this helps.
Chhers.
Ernesto

 

[Xmas]

Gary

The wind on cum shutter arming logic has jammed or broken, the jam is 95% most probable, the Ru grease is past it's best before date...

If you try winding the film and take up spool independently, you should try all four options for direction and wind this might reset the logic. This is unlikely to work.

It is remove the top facia plate and top casting time to remove all the grease near to the logic & replace with a single drop of liquid PTFE, which wont migrate...

You need a special tool for the shutter ring, any of:-

- a pair of needle nosed pliers, file to just fit
- a pair of circlip pliers that just fit (you will have to take the Kiev to the auto factors, or other shop)
- a soft pencil eraser or bottle stopper (the former we would call a rubber - in English)

should do but dont mar the finish, if you use pliers.

The strip and rebuild will need 7 to 14 hours the first time, but it will give confidence for when

- the shutter escapments gum or
- rangefinder slips
- ribbon sewing snaps
- or light leaks

happens. You need to do the strip & rebuild over a 8x10" paper development tray or similar as some screws are small, they are steel so if lost you need a Dyson and a magnet, wash the Dyson out first.

You did not buy the Kiev for photos? The (most) Kiev lens will out perform some of the Leitz lens from the '70s, if you use a good hood on both, even if you have a J8. The Helios are even more variable, but a good one will be better then a J8, again you need a hood.

Your vendor may send you money back if you complain he is not trying the cameras before he ships, haggle at 50%, & fix it yourself. If you need a small spring, upgrade your computer disc and remove all the spring material form old disc, or similar. 60% of my Kievs needed strips when procured but they are all reliable now, they all have been neglected.

Noel

 

[garythegit]

wow thanks for all the replies guys! after checking it out a bit more without taking it apart, it seems the most likely problem is the shutter jamming in the downward position. I checked the survival site and couldn't find anything on how to solve this. My previous experiences have always been with FEDs so i have no clue around a Kiev! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Cheers you guys!


EDIT: ok ive taken the shutter release housing apart... what now?? I can see the gears and stuff under the circular plate thingy with the notches for the different speeds. When i lift up the plate above there seems to be an arm which moves towards the gear with the notches. Is something supposed to engage here?? There is also a small movable 'arm' in between one of the notches. I guess that was the speed at which it was last set at....

 

[Mister_Hat]

Put the winding knob back on and turn it slowly. Watch how the assembly under it rotates. When it's working properly, it should come around and stop against a little brass stop that halts the rotation at the set shutter speed. If the stop isn't engaging, the shutter may stuck in the down position. Try pressing the shutter and watch to see if anything moves... the shaft/assembly should go up and down as you work the shutteer button. If everything looks stuck, a bit of lubrication might help. If it does move, start looking at the linkage that connects the shutter button.wind knob assembly to the rest of the shutter assembly. It may have come loose and need to be pressed (GENTLY!) back into place.

Don't be too afraid to experiment... after all, it's not working anyway. Good luck.

 

[garythegit]

Hey Dave! Thanks for that. Sorry for being an idiot though but i don't know where to look for the 'catch'. The shutter won't go down at all and nothing moves. Where should I be looking for the 'linkage'? Do you know a site with some pictures of the different parts in the shutter dial assembly (the kiev survival site doesn't really explain it!)

EDIT: OMG i've fixed it! All i did was gently pull on the stuck shutter release button with a pair of pliers! Snap! Everything went back into place! 😀 The funny world of Soviet camera repairs!

 

[Mister_Hat]

Glad you got it fixed while I taking a picture of the shutter assembly on a Contax III I have in pieces right now. A bit of lubrication is probably in order to keep it from sticking again.

For future reference, here's what happens when you cock and snap the shutter. When you wind, the brass gear (1) rotates until it comes up against the stop (1A). Pressing down on the shutter button moved the shaft downwards, pushing down the flat arm (2), which releases the shutter curtains. At the same time, it pushes back on the hook-shaped linkage (3), which moves back and forth in the direction indicated by the red double-headed arrow. This linkage is powered by spring (4). If this linkage jams, or the spring breaks, the shutter button won't return properly.

Hope this is helpful if anything goes awry in the future.

 

[garythegit]

Thank you so much for all your help Dave! That picture explained it really well! I did fiddle around with the gears and stuff and got a general idea but was still baffled as to how the linkage worked. Cheers!

Gary