Newbie to folders...

FallisPhoto said:
Well, it depends on what you call working condition. Even Zeiss and Welta cameras need CLAs. Most older cameras have sticky shutters. Fortunately, it's not that difficult a job to clean them out and very lightly relube them.
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Knowing your experience and level of expertise I am not going to disagree. However, I have two weltas that worked as soon as I got them. That may perhaps be because the previous owner had already done the work.

My Fuji is so gunked in the shutter I guess I am going to have to do something serious. I have cleaned it three times and it still stops working freely after a few hours. Will lighter fluid loosen the bellows where they attach to the lens standard?

My Mamiya rangefinder is OK except for the focus (is that important? 😀). I am just being lazy about fabricating the springs needed to make that work. Since I have other folders to use, I am not in the hurry I should be.

Hopefully thinkfloyd will have only minor problems if at all.
 
oftheherd said:
Knowing your experience and level of expertise I am not going to disagree. However, I have two weltas that worked as soon as I got them. That may perhaps be because the previous owner had already done the work.
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The only times I ever bought anything on ebay that didn't at least need cleaning were when the items were new. Sometimes even then it needed cleaning.

oftheherd said:
My Fuji is so gunked in the shutter I guess I am going to have to do something serious. I have cleaned it three times and it still stops working freely after a few hours. Will lighter fluid loosen the bellows where they attach to the lens standard?
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I am guessing you are just removing the glass and mopping only the blades, with Q-tips. You need to flush it out a lot more thoroughly. What is happening is that the old lube dissolves and it starts working, but then as soon as the naptha evaporates, the dissolved lube just redeposits on the blades. You are going to have to use enough naptha that it drips out of the shutter, carrying away the old lube. Actually, the best way is to disassemble the shutter and clean each part. You at very least need to remove the cam plate and clean the escapements and really clean the blades, front and back. It isn't hard.

oftheherd said:
My Mamiya rangefinder is OK except for the focus (is that important? 😀). I am just being lazy about fabricating the springs needed to make that work. Since I have other folders to use, I am not in the hurry I should be.
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Well, I'd a whole lot rather you were working too slow than too fast. Camera repair is not the kind of thing impatient people can do well.

oftheherd said:
Hopefully thinkfloyd will have only minor problems if at all.
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From your lips to God's ear.

Charles
 
chippy said:
In essence mh, i dont think anyone here disagrees with this, ...
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Actually, I do, and I don't think his grasp of reality is especially firm. When was the last time you went to an auction? When you were there, did your friends and family bid against you, running the price up? I'm sure that whoever the seller was would have liked it if that happened, but I doubt it did. In real life, short of small children, fighting over Christmas presents, people who are clueless to that degree are usually found confined in institutions.
 
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FallisPhoto said:
The only times I ever bought anything on ebay that didn't at least need cleaning were when the items were new. Sometimes even then it needed cleaning.

Luck of the Irish or beginner's luck. I don't know



I am guessing you are just removing the glass and mopping only the blades, with Q-tips. You need to flush it out a lot more thoroughly. What is happening is that the old lube dissolves and it starts working, but then as soon as the naptha evaporates, the dissolved lube just redeposits on the blades. You are going to have to use enough naptha that it drips out of the shutter, carrying away the old lube. Actually, the best way is to disassemble the shutter and clean each part. You at very least need to remove the cam plate and clean the escapements and really clean the blades, front and back. It isn't hard.

No, I flushed it out pretty good three times. I removed the glass alright, the flushed it well, from the front and back. It is just gunked. They may have used a different lub than usual. I don't want to go into the lens, but may have no choice.

Well, I'd a whole lot rather you were working too slow than too fast. Camera repair is not the kind of thing impatient people can do well.

Yeah, I hear that. I would hate to send a repairman a basket case. 😀 But I think this won't be such a problem, since I will be using some other springy wire to make the springs, and then just inserting them in place.

From your lips to God's ear.

Charles
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Still hoping the OP will have good luck with his purchases.
 
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Cleaning shutters with lighter fluid, naptha, and isopropyl alcohol are certainly excellent ways of cleaning shutters.

I have found that the spray used for cleaning brake pads and clutch assemblies in automobiles is also superb for the job. It may be trichlorethyelene or some other equally ghastly poisonous substance, but it will completely clean a shutter with no residue. None!

Do this outside!!!!!! Wear gloves!!!!

I spray the stuff into a mason jar, and fill the jar until the stuff covers the shutter. Slosh the liquid around the shutter, soak for about 20 seconds and remove the shutter. Longer may remove the painted components of the shutter. A shutter holder made out of a old coat hanger is great.

Exercise the shutter occasionally while the shutter dries. There ain't no oil, grease etc. left.....none. You should lubricate the escapement mechanisms etc. lightly with watch oil. (I still like to clean the shutter blades out of the shutter if I can)
 
I expect my purchases to arrive in a week or two... I'm reading up all I can on cleaning and stuff, so what you guys are talking about really helps... I've always been a tinkerer, so I hope I can manage if ever the camera needs repairing!
 
Welcome to the RFF forum. I once owned and loved a prewar Zeiss Super Ikonta B with separate rangefinder and viewfinder windows. I found the coupled rangefinder was a great convenience. Always fitted my lenshood the same way and marked f stops for flash on the outside. Unfortunately some of the cement seeped out from between the elements of the lens and jammed the shutter. Had the shutter serviced. The shutter jammed again - presumably for the same reason. By this time I'd bought my Rolleiflex (which is a wonderful value for its size and cost). I sold the Super B. So having an uncemented three element lens may have the advantage of durability on an older folding camera. Now I use a Leica M4/M2 outfit, A Linhof Super Technika III four by five and a Retina II along with my sainted Rollei.
JustPlainBill
 
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