Retinette 1a kaput!

[Muggins]

My Retinette 1a - see below for link to pic of what appears to be the same model - has gone pear-shaped on me, luckily just before I put a film in it.

When I press the shutter release, having wound on, the shutter blades twitch and no more. They open and close on B, so it's not the blades jamming.

Has anyone any bright ideas? I'm not even sure whether I should be looking in the camera body or the shutter assembly for this. If it's the latter, I can take it down, but I've got no idea if it's inside the body.

Many thanks,

Adrian
(and I know it's not a Retina or a rangefinder, but between here and APUG it's the best place I can ask)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33438906@N06/3114879668/

 

[Sid836]

Does this happen on the slow speeds only? Usually these shutters when a slow escapement catch gets bent they leave the shutter open.

 

[Muggins]

No, fast speeds as well.

Adrian

 

[Chris Sherlock]

When I press the shutter release, having wound on, the shutter blades twitch and no more. They open and close on B, so it's not the blades jamming.

Classic symptoms of a Retinette needing the shutter serviced.

You can find a service guide to this job here.

http://retinarescue.com/files/retinette_1a_shutter_repair.pdf

Regards, Chris Sherlock

 

[Muggins]

Thanks, Chris - incidentally the Retina II you rebuilt for me is going strong, only problem with it is the nut that presses the shutter...

I'd discounted that as mine is an earlier model with a Compur, in fact it turns out it's not quite the same one as I posted the pic of (it's an 022, I think), but if the principle's the same I'll give it a go, especially as someone on APUG has posted a link to the Compur repair handbook.

I have an appropriate light oil for the shutter pivots, what brand of grease do you use (he says, expecting to find that it come in half-hundredweight cans from New Zealand!), please?

Thanks!

Adrian

 

[Muggins]

Right, that's better! I've had it apart and back together again, now I understand (after a fashion) how it goes. Now to get some appropriate lube and go back in again knowing what I am doing...🙄

The main problem appears to relate to the positioning of the part that the shutter release rotates, which is interesting.

Adrian

 

[farlymac]

You can always get a small jar of Mobius oil, and put a very tiny, almost insignificant amount on the ends of the gear shafts of the escapement. But the rest of the shutter should be dry. Check with a watch repair place for the oil.

I don't lube any shutter unless it's a Synchro-Compur (which actually has a lube chart), and then I use a synthetic.

PF

 

[Muggins]

Thanks - I have a Compur lubrication chart as I also posted this to APUG, will check that I am lubing the right shutter version!

I have a tiny bottle of trumpet valve oil, which I was intending to use, just wanted to check on the grease... so if it's only the Synchro-Compur that needs it I'm good to go.

Adrian

 

[farlymac]

Unless your trumpet slide oil is very viscous (and from what I remember from band class it isn't), it's not a good idea to use it. It will keep on spreading until it gums up the gears from dust sticking to it. Moebius (correct spelling) is thick, and should stay put on the shaft ends. But if this actually helps (I'd test it dry first after you've cleaned the escapement), then it's a symptom of the escapement being worn out. I've got an old Agfa with a Compur that I couldn't get to run correctly until I lubed the escapement, so I quit using it. You just can't find new, or good used escapements for the older model Compur (with T setting).

PF