Kiev 4A rescue, help!

[grifon]

Well there it goes, one of the ribbons on the kiev broke, and naturally i thought i'd replace it myself. So I tore the thing apart, trying to figure out what goes where, and all was good and fine until it was time to put it back together.

Basically the problem is, I accidentally took out the top curtain cylinder, and as it goes, it is the only thing that couples the "escapement mechanism" (for slow speeds) to the shutter speed selector and film advance mech. Now, for the life of me, I can not make the two of them synch together.... Would anybody know what position the main gear should be in, and at what shutter speed etc. so I can put it back together?

Thanks!

 

[Stu W]

I've done the same thing. Basically, with the camera wound on to the top speed there should be about a 2mm gap between the 2 curtains. It's really a trial and error thing, but if you have about 1/8" between the curtains at top speed then all the rest of the speeds will fall into place. Also, if the top roller isn't set right you wont be able to select all the speeds-the camera will just wind so far and then jam, usually when trying to select "B". Stu

 

[grifon]

Yep, thats exactly what i've been experienced. Do you happen to know which position the gear (the big one, just below the top curtain cylinder) is supposed to be in, so that all speeds work?

 

[Stu W]

It's been a couple of years since I made that mistake, but from what i remember it only took a couple of guesses till I got the upper roller in right. I do remember that I thought everything was perfect, reassembled the camera, only to find that "B" wasn't happening. You know it's right when you see that narrow slit at top speed. Stu

 

[grifon]

OK, i think i finally got it, took me a while though.
As I figured out, there is a specific point where the main gear should mesh with the top roller, and to find it, you have to feel where the escapement mech's engage, the first one should engage when the shutter speed selector is between 125 and 50. Once the gear is in the right spot, the roller can be dropped back in (minor adjustments can be done after its in, there is two black screws where the gear on the cylinder is, if you loosen those, the roller can move (its very tight thouhg) independent of the gear)

Now all i have to do is find ribbons that fit, does anybody know where i can find replacement ribbons, without having them shipped from Oleg?

 

[Mister_Hat]

Fedka sells them here. It's the original ribbon for the Kiev, and since Yuri is in New York, shipping is fast.