Mishker
Newbie
I recently got this Zorki 4 from Craigslist and the curtain seems to be stuck.
Is there a way to fix it?
I've added a video of the issue on Imgur. Hopefully someone will know a way to repair it.
https://imgur.com/a/4AVyVI7
Thank you!
Is there a way to fix it?
I've added a video of the issue on Imgur. Hopefully someone will know a way to repair it.
https://imgur.com/a/4AVyVI7
Thank you!
GMOG
Well-known
I watched the video. I noticed . . .
. . . . that the brown colored wheel I've pointed the red arrow at isn't moving with the film sprocket above it. That wheel must rotate for the shutter to be cocked (unless the shutter is already cocked). It also rotates with the shutter once released and the 1st curtain is moving.
Above and to the right of my arrow's head you will notice the pins that catch each other in order to rotate the brown wheel to cock the shutter. Those pins catching each other also prevents the shutter from being released. Normally when you press the release button the brown wheel moves down, the pins disengage, and the shutter releases. When you wind on the pins come together to reset the shutter, and they stay together until you press the release button.
Can you rotate the brown wheel using a probe of some kind (toothpick)? Which shutter curtain are we seeing? 1st or 2nd? If it's the 1st the shutter is in cocked position. If 2nd the shutter is in released position.
I've used poor terminology, but I hope this helps.
. . . . that the brown colored wheel I've pointed the red arrow at isn't moving with the film sprocket above it. That wheel must rotate for the shutter to be cocked (unless the shutter is already cocked). It also rotates with the shutter once released and the 1st curtain is moving.
Above and to the right of my arrow's head you will notice the pins that catch each other in order to rotate the brown wheel to cock the shutter. Those pins catching each other also prevents the shutter from being released. Normally when you press the release button the brown wheel moves down, the pins disengage, and the shutter releases. When you wind on the pins come together to reset the shutter, and they stay together until you press the release button.
Can you rotate the brown wheel using a probe of some kind (toothpick)? Which shutter curtain are we seeing? 1st or 2nd? If it's the 1st the shutter is in cocked position. If 2nd the shutter is in released position.
I've used poor terminology, but I hope this helps.
Attachments
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
I'm 99% certain that the problem is actually under the top plate - I was given a Zorki 4 with exactly the same problem.
I forget the exact fix, but the cause of the problem (if I remember right) is the arm which is lifted and dropped into place around a central shaft by the shutter speed dial when you change the shutter speed. It's very easy for it to jump out of place on the Zorki 4, meaning the pins below the sprocket wheel (the ones CMOG is pointing at) don't engage with each other properly.
Here's the related section from Maizenburg's repair manual:
"This is one of the most common malfunctions. It usually comes up suddenly while you are shooting, although the shutter may have worked well before that.
"The exposure lever has jumped over" - this is the way that camera repairmen describe this problem. Indeed, it occurs when the exposure lever 4 arm gets on the other side of the pin 3. In this position its turning is restricted by the post that closes the flash synchronization circuit on one side and by the pin on the other side. It is impossible to set the "B" speed, and the curtains shift a little and stop if the shutter release button is pushed.
This problem is most often caused by two factors: first, the speed knob was set before the winding of the shutter; second, the pin 3 or the delay mechanism was displaced and as a result, the lever jumped over the pin 3 during the shifting of the speed knob from 1/60 sec to 1/15 sec. When the speed knob is lifted, the exposure lever that bears it is lifted too. It's arm along with the pin is next to the pin 3. Right away, the lever arm catches the pin 3 and turns along with the gear 2. Sometimes the pin shifts slightly (due to looseness or a displacement of the mechanism). Then the exposure lever arm does not set next to the pin during the switching to 1/15 sec speed, but instead, sets right on the pin, and at the next turn of the lever, it jumps over without catching the pin. Usually this problem is easy to correct. Remove the top plate 12, examine the mechanism and gently lift the edge of the plate with the gear 2.You should now reset the exposure lever. Lastly, check whether the delay mechanism fastening screws are tight."
I can't remember where I got my PDF copy of the Maizenberg repair guide from, but if you PM me your email address, I'm happy to email you a copy so you can see the diagrams you'll need.
I forget the exact fix, but the cause of the problem (if I remember right) is the arm which is lifted and dropped into place around a central shaft by the shutter speed dial when you change the shutter speed. It's very easy for it to jump out of place on the Zorki 4, meaning the pins below the sprocket wheel (the ones CMOG is pointing at) don't engage with each other properly.
Here's the related section from Maizenburg's repair manual:
"This is one of the most common malfunctions. It usually comes up suddenly while you are shooting, although the shutter may have worked well before that.
"The exposure lever has jumped over" - this is the way that camera repairmen describe this problem. Indeed, it occurs when the exposure lever 4 arm gets on the other side of the pin 3. In this position its turning is restricted by the post that closes the flash synchronization circuit on one side and by the pin on the other side. It is impossible to set the "B" speed, and the curtains shift a little and stop if the shutter release button is pushed.
This problem is most often caused by two factors: first, the speed knob was set before the winding of the shutter; second, the pin 3 or the delay mechanism was displaced and as a result, the lever jumped over the pin 3 during the shifting of the speed knob from 1/60 sec to 1/15 sec. When the speed knob is lifted, the exposure lever that bears it is lifted too. It's arm along with the pin is next to the pin 3. Right away, the lever arm catches the pin 3 and turns along with the gear 2. Sometimes the pin shifts slightly (due to looseness or a displacement of the mechanism). Then the exposure lever arm does not set next to the pin during the switching to 1/15 sec speed, but instead, sets right on the pin, and at the next turn of the lever, it jumps over without catching the pin. Usually this problem is easy to correct. Remove the top plate 12, examine the mechanism and gently lift the edge of the plate with the gear 2.You should now reset the exposure lever. Lastly, check whether the delay mechanism fastening screws are tight."
I can't remember where I got my PDF copy of the Maizenberg repair guide from, but if you PM me your email address, I'm happy to email you a copy so you can see the diagrams you'll need.
GMOG
Well-known
Found this copy of a repair manual for Zorki-4. Looks pretty good:
https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=757
https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=757
David Hughes
David Hughes
Mishker
Newbie
Just wanted to leave a quick update here and let you guys know that I got it working!
After a couple of hours of tinkering with it and following some manuals, I was able to reset the shutter and fix the slow speed escapement. The 2nd curtain latch also needed a little bit of lubricating and everything works perfectly now! It was my first time fixing a camera, so I also got to learn quite a bit about the inner workings of the Zorki.
Can't say that it wasn't a frustrating experience, but definitely worth it when I got to see it working in the end haha. These cameras are amazing!
Anyways, thanks a lot to everyone that took the time out to reply to my question, and special thanks to Coldkennels for sending me the repair manual!
Can't wait to go through some rolls with it
After a couple of hours of tinkering with it and following some manuals, I was able to reset the shutter and fix the slow speed escapement. The 2nd curtain latch also needed a little bit of lubricating and everything works perfectly now! It was my first time fixing a camera, so I also got to learn quite a bit about the inner workings of the Zorki.
Can't say that it wasn't a frustrating experience, but definitely worth it when I got to see it working in the end haha. These cameras are amazing!
Anyways, thanks a lot to everyone that took the time out to reply to my question, and special thanks to Coldkennels for sending me the repair manual!
Can't wait to go through some rolls with it