Zorki 4 Film Winder/Shutter skipping

[ektorp]

I own a Zorki 4 and whenever I wind the film the shutter speed selector winds like it should but sometimes it "skips" and I have to wind again, this sometimes happens repeatedly when winding the film.

I don't think I cocked the shutter before winding the film. I was playing around with the self timer beforehand.

Has this happened to anyone else? Fixable at home or is this a job for a pro?

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Is the shutter disengaging ring turned all the way to the winding-on position? If the lube is sticky down there it could be not fully engaged to wind on.

 

[wolves3012]

Take the back off the camera and have a look at the driving pins below the film sprocket - do they drop one behind the other after the shutter is fired or do they end up sitting on top of each other? If they are sitting on top of each other (maybe only sometimes), you would have to double-wind, first to drop the pins into position then again to cock the shutter. I had a Zorki 1 that did this and it was caused by wear in the bottom bearing of the sprocket shaft (you could wobble it). Unfortunately, the cure was a stripdown and a bush had to be fitted - certainly not an easy job and not economically justified had I not been able to do the job myself. As noted by davidnewton, also check that the rewind/release collar isn't sticking, this could also cause it.

 

[Wulfthari]

Take the back off the camera and have a look at the driving pins below the film sprocket - do they drop one behind the other after the shutter is fired or do they end up sitting on top of each other? If they are sitting on top of each other (maybe only sometimes), you would have to double-wind, first to drop the pins into position then again to cock the shutter. I had a Zorki 1 that did this and it was caused by wear in the bottom bearing of the sprocket shaft (you could wobble it). Unfortunately, the cure was a stripdown and a bush had to be fitted - certainly not an easy job and not economically justified had I not been able to do the job myself. As noted by davidnewton, also check that the rewind/release collar isn't sticking, this could also cause it.

Wolves, I redirected that user to your Technical Expertise from another board:

http://www.apug.org/forum/index.php?threads/zorki-4-what-sort-of-shutter-issue-is-this.138517/

Here you can see the pics.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

That reminds me, one of the pins could be bent very slightly or worn and slip out of engagement. I had it happen on an older camera but could see it easily. Not being familiar with this model I'll offer this as an aside.

Regards, David

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Also at the other end of the winding shaft, could the coiled clutch spring be dirty or dry and cause a slip?
I don't know if the 4 is the same as a Zorki 1 with the coiled spring at the upper end of the wind shaft.

 

[wolves3012]

Also at the other end of the winding shaft, could the coiled clutch spring be dirty or dry and cause a slip?
I don't know if the 4 is the same as a Zorki 1 with the coiled spring at the upper end of the wind shaft.

No, the Zorki 4 has a ratchet at the top of the film spool mechanism, not the coiled spring arrangement.

 

[wolves3012]

Looking at the pictures Wulfthari links to, it's clear the camera is stuck in "rewind" mode, or at least partly stuck. You can see the long spring is curved downwards, which is should not be, keeping the driving pins from engaging properly. Also, the shutter is not running properly, based on the other photos shown. The whole thing needs a proper CLA.