Not a rangefinder - Nikon F3 Shutter

[Mudman]

Well I would suggest that as well, but he seems hung ho on working on it. Everyone has to start getting ther knowledge somewhere!

 

[De_Corday]

well, I did it. I got me a parts-F3, en route from Louisiana.

 

[mikemc_photo]

You have lost the slit width. This "gap" is how all speeds faster than x sync expose your image. Tensions could be off, but I suspect dirt and crud are slowing thing down.

Pick up the factory manual...

http://www.camerabooks.com/Products/Nikon-F3-Camera-Repair-Manual__R7-90065Repair.aspx

 

[mikemc_photo]

Before I got my hands on it, It sat for probably ten years. Before shooting it I took a blower bulb to it, and I "exercised" the shutter a bit, probably working it about 200 or so times before loading it up with film.

Come to think of it, there was one concerning thing... when my uncle pulled it out of his box of old cameras, the shutter was cocked... would this, theoretically, cause the first curtain spring to lose tension relative to the second curtain spring?

yes. Curtains are set at two different tensions, due to what each has to do...second curtain has to drop the mirror after it is braked to a stop so it does not bounce.

All shutters should be stored in the released position.

 

[NicholasNicholas]

Zombie-ing a dead thread, BUT by chance @De_Corday Did this solve the capping?
I have an F3 that caps at 1/1000th but good at all other speeds! Very strange.