Problem on slow speeds - Zorki 4

SergioGuerra

SergioGuerra

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Jan 2, 2006
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366
Hi!

I have been using my zorki 4 and like it very much. However I notice it has a problem. On the slow speeds, the second curtain seems too slow. It acts too slow from 1:30 to 1:2 and on 1:1 and B it freezes at half way.

I didnt dissasemble the camera, but it seems very clean, and all things function well, on faster speeds shutter curtains seems to work wonderfully well, so i dont think it might be because of dirt on the curtains mechanism...

I ask to the FSU veterans what would it be the problem, and what would it be the easy fix, if any :)

Thanks!

Sergio
 
Hi Sergio,

I just posted a possible cure last night in this thread for a similar problem on another FSU. Maybe it would help.

Good luck!

Joseph
 
hmmm thanks Joseph,

I think I might try that... I do have a problem, because i miss a very small screwdriver to dissasemble the top of the camera, but as soon as I find one I'll try this fix!
The problem I am facing is very similar to yours, and if you solved it like that, I might do it too...

Thanks for the good tip :)
 
I think this problem arises because of the thickened grease inside the camera. Make the following: take off the lens from the camera, and put the camera body on the central heating radiator (or something like that). Camera body must lay on the radiator for an hour or a bit more, and be warmed to +40C approx. Than start to fire the shutter on the all speeds several times each (to spread the grease).
This simple procedure might help to defreeze the curtain without the disassembling the camera.
And as to my experience 90% problems with freezing the shutter curtains are solved this way.
Important! Do not use open fire to warm the camera, you can burn the shutter curtains. Camera must be only warmed, not made red-hot! Good luck! ;)
 
Last edited:
Evgeny S said:
"... 90% problems with freezing the shutter curtains are solved this way."
Click to expand...
Interesting tip. Certainly worth a go. I'll file that in the brainbox... errr, okay, I'll make a note for future use. Thanks Evgeny! :cool:
 
Thanks for that tip. My Zorki is currently sitting on a warm heater, since i do not have the screwdriver to open it, I hope this method might work :)

Thanks!

(I ll report the results after)

Sergio
 
Hi once again!

I got the camera warm yesterday night, and shot through all the speeds with success. The second curtain was good, and fast both on fast and slow + B speeds.
However today morning, and after passing the night at around 6 Cº temperature, they got slow again...

While it was warm I shot a lot of times on several different speeds plus B... Should I repeat the process?
errr.. Can I only use the slow speeds in spring and summer? :D

I guess I ll repeat the process later and maybe warm a bit more..


Cheers,

Sergio
 
Sergio, regarding the results of the warming of your camera, I suppose that the problem was (and still is) with the thickened grease. But if the second shutter curtain has frosen again, I think that you should warm the camera body a bit longer or rise the temperature a little bit.
What type of the "heating machine" did you use?
 
Sounds like you need to clean it for a permanant fix.
If you don't have a small enough screwdriver, grind or file one down to size with a whetstone or small file. That way you get a perfectly fitting screwdriver that won't slip and ruin the screw heads (if you are careful!).
 
I don't know if this will help but I had something similar with my FED 3a. I took off the top and noticed some gears (parts that move) were dry. I just added a little oil on those parts and that took care of the problem.
 
greyhoundman said:
You will soften the grease by warming. But, in the end make the problem worse. When you warm the grease, you are hastening the evaporation of the volitiles. Then every time the grease cools it will be a little stiffer than before.
At best it is only a temporary solution.
Click to expand...
I don't agree with you. Zorki's shutter practically doesn't contain grease, but that small amount of grease is also not volatile. On the contrary, with time this grease tightens. The warming of the camera and firing of the shutter will allow to soften the grease and spread it to prevent the new agglomeration of the grease.
 
Oh well, on my way home I bought some small screwdrivers to open the zorki up.

Unfortunately i had bad luck with my zorki, one of the very small screws, the one that holds the advancing turn wheel is stuck and looks like its head is no longer good :( Cant get grip on it with my brand new 1.4mm screwdriver :((( All the others got out easily and without problems :(

I bought them because I also wanted to adjust the vertical alignment of the rangefinder (it is a bit out of alignment) but it looks like this zorki will be forever like this :(

Anyone knows of a possible way to open that screw? Any possible way to adjust vertical alignment from outside?

It also eliminates the possibility to open the top to clean the speeds... I am currently warming the camera again...

I feel frustrated :(

Anyway thanks for all the tips and help :)
 
errr drill :D ehehe now i dont have a hmm tool for that... (I have a drill machine, but no hmmm dont know the name in english for the part that does the hole itself ehehe)

Another thing to buy... :|

Will I turn this camera into a parts unit if I continue with these "repairs"? :D
 
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