Leica IIIf RD - slow speed work as B

[Thomas78]

Hi,


After a much to long time of neglecting I took a look for my LTM Leicas the last days.

While my three pre war Leicas (Leica III chrome, Leica III black, Leica IIIa) seem to work as they should, there is an issue with my Leica IIIf RD.

The fast shutter speeds seem to work, but if I set it to the slow speeds, the shutter works as if in B mode. When I press the trigger, the shutter opens. When I release it, the shutter closes.

The camera has been a shelf queen for many years (at the former owner), had a CLA in 2011. Since that time it had not seen much use.

Is this something you could fix easily or should I send the camera to a professional CLA? The camera and its lens (a Summitar) are in a very good, almost new shape.

 

[xayraa33]

Hi,


After a much to long time of neglecting I took a look for my LTM Leicas the last days.

While my three pre war Leicas (Leica III chrome, Leica III black, Leica IIIa) seem to work as they should, there is an issue with my Leica IIIf RD.

The fast shutter speeds seem to work, but if I set it to the slow speeds, the shutter works as if in B mode. When I press the trigger, the shutter opens. When I release it, the shutter closes.

The camera has been a shelf queen for many years (at the former owner), had a CLA in 2011. Since that time it had not seen much use.

Is this something you could fix easily or should I send the camera to a professional CLA? The camera and its lens (a Summitar) are in a very good, almost new shape.

The slow speed escapement mechanism could be gummed up.

Sometimes this happens even shortly after a CLA when the unit is over oiled and it attracts dust, plus combined with little use, it could start to stall.


Try tensioning the closing shutter curtain just a hair more to see if it will cure the problem, if not, just un- tension it back.

 

[xayraa33]

* also check for film chips in the shutter curtain film gate and check the slow speed brake spring (Flat metal) is well adjusted and not grooved by the cam.

This spring is found under the metal cover where the loading diagram is at the
base of the camera when you take the baseplate off to load film.
( Make sure it is not the flat spring that the shutter release button acts on.)

 

[xayraa33]

Here is a useful video that was originally posted by RFF member Maiku showing the great nobbysparrow taking out the slow speed escapement unit on a IIIf for cleaning.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziAFgEsdl0Q