Kiev 4 top plate removal.

[fidget]

Hi, my first two Kiev 4 shooters turned out to be dogs. One looked fine but locked up the advance mechanism on frame number 5. The second was very poor, changing from the selected shutter speed in between shots. Being fairly inexpensive, I thought that I would open up the jammed camera and look for obvious debris, can't lose anything! I fell at the very first challenge. I cannot get the top plate off, being stuck trying to free the top/lightmeter track/lightmeter rewind post. Having got knobs off and front plate and its attachment under the meter carbon track has stumped me. A few web sites have good info on Kiev strips, but seem the show the 4a (meterless?) example. Can anyone help with the removal of the rewind post?
My desires to play with FSU shooters almost died with my dissapointment in my Kievs, further successes with a few FEDs (plus tool kit, cotton buddies and a tub of grease) has resulted in a small collection of very nice users. Thought that I should give the Kievs a further shot. (have you seen how many little cogs are in these, even a Swiss watch repairer might baulk at the prospect of a repair!)

 

[Pherdinand]

I had the same problem with the same, metered Kiev. Just could not figure out how to get it off. Frustrating experience.

But then I gave it up; it turned out that it IS possible to realign the rf a bit by reomving only the top plate...

 

[pangkievrange]

Hi, my first two Kiev 4 shooters turned out to be dogs. One looked fine but locked up the advance mechanism on frame number 5. The second was very poor, changing from the selected shutter speed in between shots. Being fairly inexpensive, I thought that I would open up the jammed camera and look for obvious debris, can't lose anything! I fell at the very first challenge. I cannot get the top plate off, being stuck trying to free the top/lightmeter track/lightmeter rewind post. Having got knobs off and front plate and its attachment under the meter carbon track has stumped me. A few web sites have good info on Kiev strips, but seem the show the 4a (meterless?) example. Can anyone help with the removal of the rewind post?
My desires to play with FSU shooters almost died with my dissapointment in my Kievs, further successes with a few FEDs (plus tool kit, cotton buddies and a tub of grease) has resulted in a small collection of very nice users. Thought that I should give the Kievs a further shot. (have you seen how many little cogs are in these, even a Swiss watch repairer might baulk at the prospect of a repair!)

Check Russ's survival site. You need to take the top plate as a whole block (don't take the meter apart). The trick to un-jam is to use a small screw driver to pry up the counter disk and the disk under it from the front when you lift the top plate.

pangkievrange

 

[rpinchbeck]

Here's the link to the Kiev Survival Site to remove the top casting:
file:///c:/Kiev%20Survival%20Site/the%20basics%20top%20casting%20removal.html

Good Luck

 

[fidget]

Many thanks for the link. What a useful site. Top casting off in minutes! Found some glass chunks jamming the gears when looking in from the side, a further 6mm triangle of glass fell out when knocked. This glass is the same thickness as the small plate of glass which provide covers for the viewfinder/rangefinder windows. As those parts are present and OK in this camera, maybe they've been there since manufacture? Shutter now free and operating nicely. The challenge was to remember where all the screws went from my attempts to remove the top plate/meter etc. Final hurdle is to get the ball bearing and spring to fit into the rewind post......
Got a working Kiev, and learned a little!