Muggins
Junk magnet
Apologies to those who've already seen this on the Classic Camera Repair Forum...
I've just been given an early Edixa Reflex - no slow speeds, no automatic diaphragm, no self-returning mirror - which with a little cleaning will look very nice. However the shutter is sluggish on 1/50th and on 1/25 and B it doesn't travel fully across the opening.
I suspect that it will be a big job to get into it - I took the film gate off last night, and will need to dismantle the tapes and so on to get in further - but I was wondering whether anyone else had atempted this?
The internet suggests that few still work, so I might have to grin and bear it - pity, it came with lots of accessories. Exercising it does improve the shutter temporarily, but if I leave it overnight it goes back to its old ways. At the moment I think I will try to put a tiny bit of Ronsonol on each moving part I can get to, and see if that improves matters. If not... shelf queen, or Oxfam camera sale!
Adrian
I've just been given an early Edixa Reflex - no slow speeds, no automatic diaphragm, no self-returning mirror - which with a little cleaning will look very nice. However the shutter is sluggish on 1/50th and on 1/25 and B it doesn't travel fully across the opening.
I suspect that it will be a big job to get into it - I took the film gate off last night, and will need to dismantle the tapes and so on to get in further - but I was wondering whether anyone else had atempted this?
The internet suggests that few still work, so I might have to grin and bear it - pity, it came with lots of accessories. Exercising it does improve the shutter temporarily, but if I leave it overnight it goes back to its old ways. At the moment I think I will try to put a tiny bit of Ronsonol on each moving part I can get to, and see if that improves matters. If not... shelf queen, or Oxfam camera sale!
Adrian
ZeissFan
Veteran
The fact that it loosens when you add some lighter fluid tends to suggest that it's a lubrication issue.
Adding the lighter fluid softens the grease, but when it evaporates, the grease either re-hardens or is simply dry again.
I don't know this camera, but it might be something as simple as the ends of the spindle. Or it might be more complex.
I offer this suggestion, because it's similar to what I've encountered with lens helicals and other greased parts of older cameras.
Adding the lighter fluid softens the grease, but when it evaporates, the grease either re-hardens or is simply dry again.
I don't know this camera, but it might be something as simple as the ends of the spindle. Or it might be more complex.
I offer this suggestion, because it's similar to what I've encountered with lens helicals and other greased parts of older cameras.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Righty-ho, an update.
As suggested above, I've removed the film gate. I lifted the shutter curtains and/or tapes, depending on which bit I was fiddling with, with a cocktail stick and cleaned the bottom of the metal trim on the curtains with Ronsonol on a cotton bud. I also cleaned where they ran. I then dabbed the rollers that the curtains & tapes run on with a cotton bud (Q-Tip, for those across the pond) just barely moist with Ronsonol, and worked the shutter.
Result - 12 hours later, I still have a functional bulb setting, and the shutter speeds up as the indicated speeds go up. The curtain closes at all speeds. Hopefully that will keep happening, and I haven't just moved gunge elsewhere...
Adrian
As suggested above, I've removed the film gate. I lifted the shutter curtains and/or tapes, depending on which bit I was fiddling with, with a cocktail stick and cleaned the bottom of the metal trim on the curtains with Ronsonol on a cotton bud. I also cleaned where they ran. I then dabbed the rollers that the curtains & tapes run on with a cotton bud (Q-Tip, for those across the pond) just barely moist with Ronsonol, and worked the shutter.
Result - 12 hours later, I still have a functional bulb setting, and the shutter speeds up as the indicated speeds go up. The curtain closes at all speeds. Hopefully that will keep happening, and I haven't just moved gunge elsewhere...
Adrian
FallisPhoto
Veteran
You did pretty much what you are supposed to, except (if I were doing it that way) I'd use a LOT of lighter fluid and sop it up afterward -- to get entirely rid of the crud -- and I'd use a needle oiler with a tiny amount of Rem Oil or Nye watch oil to replace the old lube. At any rate, barring anything freakish (can't really count on a lack of weirdness with old cameras) it should keep working for a long while.