Lubitel problem

[dubtom]

My beloved Lubitel has scratched the negs since I got it, 4 track marks running down the center of every image. I had considered retiring it, the tripod mount fell off too but I've glued a few washers and the mount back so hopefully it will do. Today I used some celotape and stuck some on what I thought was the offending piece,the little metal thingy that holds the unexposed roll in, it had felt a bit rough so I sanded with wirewool to try and get it smooth,alas the scratches remain. I also put some tape on the two corners that the film passes over, just before the rollers, in the hope that that's were the problem is,truth is I'm stumped. There aren't so many places in a lubitel that the film comes into contact with,and if my tape trick fails it's not really worth paying someone to fix it,only cost me €30 to buy. Any suggestions,apart from 'buy a decent TLR',I do love my Lubitel.

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[Dan Daniel]

First, drag some cotton lightly around any surface the film might touch. Burrs and such might grab it and show you right away where the problem is.

Second put a small drop of oil at the ends of any rollers.

I don't know how the Lunbitel is built. On a camera like the Yashica-Mat, the metal bar that forms the bottom of the film frame is adjustable in height. It should be at or below the height of the sides.

Another possibility is that the pressure plate is riding too tightly. Look to see if there are places on each side of the film path where the plate rests. The film should not be 'pressed' going through the opening. The opening should be just a touch wider than the thickness of the film so that the films floats. Slightly, meaning .001-2" or so (.05mm). Try cellophane tape as a shim material on the places where it rests.

Finally, get some 1500-2000 grit sandpaper. Now lightly wet-sand any possible scratch maker- rollers, etc. Heck, it's a Lubitel, not like you will be hurting much.

Looks like a light leak on the left side there. If it goes outside of the image area into the border, maybe a missing seal around the back?

 

[Larry H-L]

The tightest bend of the film, at the bottom, would be suspect. The problem has to be in the middle area of the camera, either above or below the "square hole."

It shouldn't be the film tension retainer as the paper backing should protect the film.

Could the problem be occurring during processing?

 

[dubtom]

Thanks Dan and Larry for the replies. Cotton wool is a good idea Dan, I'll do that. I was a little weary of sanding anywhere else, but your right,it can't hurt. That light on the left of the pic only happens on this neg,I had assumed it was the scan,I'll investigate. For sure not processing Larry,I've done negs in batches and it only happens with the lubitel. I agree with you,it has to be the square hole. I put the tape on both of those edges and have a roll in,so will process that hopefully tomorrow, even if the scratches are slightly less I'll know that's the area to concentrate on. Thanks again for the suggestions.
Tommy.