Shutter Speed and Aperture Wheel Resistance

pushto1600

pushto1600

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Hey guys, been using my Rolleiflex 2.8F for almost 2 years now and love it. Its changed the way I approach taking pictures, slowing me down, making me think harder about composition and exposure among a whole lot of other things. It has truly made me a better photographer. However, one issue I've had from the start is how hard it is to turn the shutter speed and aperture dials. From the moment I got it, its been the worst part about the camera. I sometimes have to use my T-shirt to help me turn the wheel so I don't rip the skin off my thumbs. Its that hard. I don't think the camera has been used since the 70s and I realize they're not supposed to be like that. I even sent it in for a CLA and they did everything but that. I've heard people can use one finger to turn it, which sounds great but that's not my reality unfortunately. Should I send it in someplace or should I try and oil it up myself? Its the only thing that's wrong with the camera.
 
Send it back to whoever did the CLA because no Rolleiflex should behave that way. If they didn't notice the stiffness in the settings dials, they didn't do a CLA.

Phil Forrest
 
Definitely it shouldn't be that difficult. The Rolleiflexes are harder to turn than the Yashicas, but still it should not be as torturous as you describe. I would send it to a good repairer -- Harry Fleenor in CA might be most convenient for you. I would very strongly urge you to not be trying to drop any oil into the mechanism! It's hard to know what needs lubing, so in all likelihood it won't reach where it needs to and will instead end up someplace bad (like the shutter). You don't want to use oil to lubricate a camera's mechanism -- grease is the way to go with a camera's internals, with the exception of a shutter (which sometimes can be oiled very sparingly).
 
KoNickon said:
Definitely it shouldn't be that difficult. The Rolleiflexes are harder to turn than the Yashicas, but still it should not be as torturous as you describe. I would send it to a good repairer -- Harry Fleenor in CA might be most convenient for you. I would very strongly urge you to not be trying to drop any oil into the mechanism! It's hard to know what needs lubing, so in all likelihood it won't reach where it needs to and will instead end up someplace bad (like the shutter). You don't want to use oil to lubricate a camera's mechanism -- grease is the way to go with a camera's internals, with the exception of a shutter (which sometimes can be oiled very sparingly).
Click to expand...

I'd send it to Fleenor except for that I'm certain his waiting list is 20 years long and I live in Germany so that wouldn't be super convenient
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Send it back to whoever did the CLA because no Rolleiflex should behave that way. If they didn't notice the stiffness in the settings dials, they didn't do a CLA.

Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

I was happy with everything else they did, they even cleaned the lens super well, but the fact that they didn't relieve the stiffness in the dials is kinda absurd. It was Camera Center of York in PA
 
Oh, so your location isn't Hawaii, like it says? There are Rollei repairers in Germany -- seems like there is a recent thread here that mentions several in Deutschland.
 
KoNickon said:
Oh, so your location isn't Hawaii, like it says? There are Rollei repairers in Germany -- seems like there is a recent thread here that mentions several in Deutschland.
Click to expand...

which thread is it if you don't mind me asking? I feel dumb but I can't for the life of me find it
 
depending what version of the F you have, it may have the shutter/stop coupling button (planetary gear) which is more of a pain the rear to service
 
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