R
ruben
Guest
I have purchased along the years only 3 models of Kiev 4AM. All of them came with the same problem: sick pressure plates.
In this post I will deal with this issue, easy to solve at home, but before entering into it I have to make some preliminary explanations.
a) Once the pressure plate problem is solved, and provided you correctly load film in the camera, you are expected to see a frame spacing bigger than usual, not dramatic, but consistent. Live with it. This doesn't apply to other Kiev models, without fixed take up spool.
b) On the contrary, if after fixing the pressure plate misalignment, you continue to have wild problems of spacing, then the next suspect is at the fork spacers and screw, hidden by the take up spool. Here the issue is fixable, but much more complicated to explain without pictures and in a reasonable short post.
c) Don't associate any of the following to other Kiev models but to the ones with fixed take up spool.
.....
What is a Kiev 4AM/4M "sick" pressure plate ?
The best explanation will be to start with how looks a healthy one. A healthy one is separated from the back by a space of around 1cm, with both sides parallel to the back, not one that is closer than the othe and the whole plate closer to the back.
Of course, as always, we don't become fanatical, nor afraid, or will use a calibre to measure half milimeters. We remain cool, curious, and study before acting.
A sick pressure plate may flatten more or less the film against the reels of film transport, but will not effect enough pressure to maintain the film holes along the sprockets through all the roll.
The obvious reason of this specific desease of the 4AM/M models is to be charged to the very much symplified design of the pressure plate in these models. Again, we don't desperate, as we remember other benefits are found at the 4AM/M models.
It is not only the symplification of design, but also the material used as springs, which has relaxed with time. Fortunately this material is soft enough to enable us redressing it with ease.
BUT, before you jump now to your Kiev, notice that the placement of the pressure plate is one directional. I mean that it looks symetric, but it is not.
Therefore, take note very well which side is on the left and which on the right. It is rather tricky.
Secondly we will enter a bit into fine detail of how to redress the four blade legs serving as springs to the pressure plate. It is those 4 legs which we will redress.
After you have taken note of which side is on the left side of the back and wich on the right, you can disassemble the pressure plate by simple pressure inwards of the four legs. As always, gentle hand pressure.
Now, with the pressure plate out, notice that each leg ends in a kind of two fingered "V". Here we will make a pause to study the whole leg.
As you notice the angle of the broad part of the leg is different than that of the ending "V". We will have to redress both parts of each leg, in different ways.
For the broad part of each leg we will use our fingers, understanding that if we bend this part too much, then the "V" will be too far from the locking knobs to re engage.
For the "V" end of each leg we will use a small plyer, understanding beforehand several things:
a) You are using a tool somewhat disconnecting your feeling from the real pressure you are applying. Here your eyes and caution must take command. Again, we are not afraid, specially as the whole leg is rather springy and offering you several "photo-ops".
b) In its original shape, the "V" end is almost parallel, if not absolutely parallel to the back. We will give it a slight slope, meaning bending it as if we wanted it to be a bit more straight with the main leg.
c) In this surgery we will be taking advantage of the height of the knobs engaging the V end. Our final result with each V will be that it will re-enter each knob in full, but not as parallel to the back as before. The V end will enter rather by its tips, as a ballerina on her leg finger tips.
That's all, we are done, provided we have not forgotten which side of the pressure plate corresponds to each side of the back.
It is to be expected that the first roll may feel rather hard to wind and rewind, but this former hardship is to dissapear at our second roll. Again we are talking about some hardship, not about a real forcefull brake.
Cheers
Ruben
In this post I will deal with this issue, easy to solve at home, but before entering into it I have to make some preliminary explanations.
a) Once the pressure plate problem is solved, and provided you correctly load film in the camera, you are expected to see a frame spacing bigger than usual, not dramatic, but consistent. Live with it. This doesn't apply to other Kiev models, without fixed take up spool.
b) On the contrary, if after fixing the pressure plate misalignment, you continue to have wild problems of spacing, then the next suspect is at the fork spacers and screw, hidden by the take up spool. Here the issue is fixable, but much more complicated to explain without pictures and in a reasonable short post.
c) Don't associate any of the following to other Kiev models but to the ones with fixed take up spool.
.....
What is a Kiev 4AM/4M "sick" pressure plate ?
The best explanation will be to start with how looks a healthy one. A healthy one is separated from the back by a space of around 1cm, with both sides parallel to the back, not one that is closer than the othe and the whole plate closer to the back.
Of course, as always, we don't become fanatical, nor afraid, or will use a calibre to measure half milimeters. We remain cool, curious, and study before acting.
A sick pressure plate may flatten more or less the film against the reels of film transport, but will not effect enough pressure to maintain the film holes along the sprockets through all the roll.
The obvious reason of this specific desease of the 4AM/M models is to be charged to the very much symplified design of the pressure plate in these models. Again, we don't desperate, as we remember other benefits are found at the 4AM/M models.
It is not only the symplification of design, but also the material used as springs, which has relaxed with time. Fortunately this material is soft enough to enable us redressing it with ease.
BUT, before you jump now to your Kiev, notice that the placement of the pressure plate is one directional. I mean that it looks symetric, but it is not.
Therefore, take note very well which side is on the left and which on the right. It is rather tricky.
Secondly we will enter a bit into fine detail of how to redress the four blade legs serving as springs to the pressure plate. It is those 4 legs which we will redress.
After you have taken note of which side is on the left side of the back and wich on the right, you can disassemble the pressure plate by simple pressure inwards of the four legs. As always, gentle hand pressure.
Now, with the pressure plate out, notice that each leg ends in a kind of two fingered "V". Here we will make a pause to study the whole leg.
As you notice the angle of the broad part of the leg is different than that of the ending "V". We will have to redress both parts of each leg, in different ways.
For the broad part of each leg we will use our fingers, understanding that if we bend this part too much, then the "V" will be too far from the locking knobs to re engage.
For the "V" end of each leg we will use a small plyer, understanding beforehand several things:
a) You are using a tool somewhat disconnecting your feeling from the real pressure you are applying. Here your eyes and caution must take command. Again, we are not afraid, specially as the whole leg is rather springy and offering you several "photo-ops".
b) In its original shape, the "V" end is almost parallel, if not absolutely parallel to the back. We will give it a slight slope, meaning bending it as if we wanted it to be a bit more straight with the main leg.
c) In this surgery we will be taking advantage of the height of the knobs engaging the V end. Our final result with each V will be that it will re-enter each knob in full, but not as parallel to the back as before. The V end will enter rather by its tips, as a ballerina on her leg finger tips.
That's all, we are done, provided we have not forgotten which side of the pressure plate corresponds to each side of the back.
It is to be expected that the first roll may feel rather hard to wind and rewind, but this former hardship is to dissapear at our second roll. Again we are talking about some hardship, not about a real forcefull brake.
Cheers
Ruben
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