Lubrication help

[Double N]

Help I need some lubricant! 😀

Seriously though; I'm about to tackle a CLA (my first one ever) on a Retina IIa (016) that I just picked-up for $5 and I can't find name brands or where to buy the proper lubricant.

Any help would be most appreciated and hopefully I'll be able to get the little Retina cleaned-up, lubed-up and shooting pics before too long.

Thanks!

 

[nobbylon]

I use the oil for tiny electric motors if I need to lube anything. The main thing is to use tiny amounts. If you can see the oil after you have applied it then it's too much.

 

[literiter]

Help I need some lubricant! 😀

Seriously though; I'm about to tackle a CLA (my first one ever) on a Retina IIa (016) that I just picked-up for $5 and I can't find name brands or where to buy the proper lubricant.

Any help would be most appreciated and hopefully I'll be able to get the little Retina cleaned-up, lubed-up and shooting pics before too long.

Thanks!

By now you may have explored this site, if you haven't then please see: http://rawhiti.tripod.com/

Cleaning and lubricating a tiny shutter like the Synchro Compur is a bit like working on a watch. And just as easy to really bugger up. Do not just drop the shutter in cleaning solution.


With a shutter like the Synchro Compur shutter in your iia I'd be very cautious of where and how I applied the lubrication. In fact I'd be more inclined to remove the escapement and just clean it in lighter fluid.

If I were to lubricate the escapement I'd look for Moebius oil available from watch repair suppliers or on Ebay. This would only be applied carefully to the pinions using a toothpick. Too much oil will cause more problems than it's worth. It may be wise not to oil the thing if you can't find the right oil.

A product called Nyoil is very suitable for lubricating cocking and advance mechanisms, drive spindles and larger parts of the shutter mechanism. If you have to re-lube the focus helicoid you must completely clean the old grease before applying the new. This is not a nice operation.

If oil migrates to the shutter blades it can only be removed by taking the shutter blades completely out and cleaning them individually with denatured alcohol. Any amount of oil on the shutter blades will compromise the shutter.

 

[Double N]

By now you may have explored this site, if you haven't then please see: http://rawhiti.tripod.com/

Cleaning and lubricating a tiny shutter like the Synchro Compur is a bit like working on a watch. And just as easy to really bugger up. Do not just drop the shutter in cleaning solution.


With a shutter like the Synchro Compur shutter in your iia I'd be very cautious of where and how I applied the lubrication. In fact I'd be more inclined to remove the escapement and just clean it in lighter fluid.

If I were to lubricate the escapement I'd look for Moebius oil available from watch repair suppliers or on Ebay. This would only be applied carefully to the pinions using a toothpick. Too much oil will cause more problems than it's worth. It may be wise not to oil the thing if you can't find the right oil.

A product called Nyoil is very suitable for lubricating cocking and advance mechanisms, drive spindles and larger parts of the shutter mechanism. If you have to re-lube the focus helicoid you must completely clean the old grease before applying the new. This is not a nice operation.

If oil migrates to the shutter blades it can only be removed by taking the shutter blades completely out and cleaning them individually with denatured alcohol. Any amount of oil on the shutter blades will compromise the shutter.

Thanks literiter! Great advice and much appreciated.

 

[ErnestoJL]

In general, shutters of the leaf type are designed to run dry, specially in the escape movements.
The only places that were normally lubricated are those where big springs apply its force, and it´s done with light grease. This grease is the cause for many malfunctions after some time, when the grease leaves it´s oil to migrate to shutter blades or other delicate movements stoppimg them or just making them to run slow.
I use lighter fluid in an ultrasonic cleaner, and later denatured alcohol to remove the light greasy residue it leaves. Drying is with low pressure compressed air aplied very carefully.
In my experience, once done this a shutter should be working as new. If you find that oiling helps, remember literiter words: if you can see the oil, then it is too much.
Hope it helps.
Cheers
Ernesto