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Zorki curtain stuck
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Just exposed my first roll ... after removing the cartridge, I checked the shutter and ... my heart sank Sad

The first curtain remains open at the half of the exposure window. A gentle push with a finger achieve the exposure cycle.

Now I'm sure the shutter worked correctly when I received the Zorki.

I suspect the culprit might be old grease as it was damn cold when I took pictures. As a matter of fact, I had to dissasemble the lens and relube it because of a very stiff focusing ring (the lens was unscrewing while focusing).

For now, I left the camera next to a radiator to see if the grease will become fluider. I'll see tonight when I'll be back at home.

If it is the reason of the blockage, I'll have to dissasemble the body to gain access to the shutter assembly (found this : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-58.html)

All hints are welcome (Jesito ?)


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Jieffe wrote:

All hints are welcome (Jesito ?)


Hi Jieffe, I've got no maintenance experience at all with my FED-2 yet, but I collected some net resources. I think your approach is right, if the temperature was so low probably the grease somewhat solidified. Applying heat should give a clue on this, and if so, probably you have to disassemble the mechanism, take out the old grease and replace it by a different one with a lower melting point.

If you post some pictures we could better understand the problem and maybe give some additional clues.

Jes.


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Jesito wrote:
If you post some pictures we could better understand the problem and maybe give some additional clues.

I'll do that this evening, thanks !


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Jieffe - Rick's a member here, he might be able to give more advice.


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Jesito wrote:
If you post some pictures we could better understand the problem and maybe give some additional clues.

The heat didn't solve the problem Sad

Here goes the pictures :

At 1/250 :



At 1/1000



The curtains stuck even at slow speeds or Bulb ...


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Richard_D wrote:
Jieffe - Rick's a member here, he might be able to give more advice.

I didn't realize he was a member, thanks ...

Rick, if you are reading this .... heeeeeeelp Smile


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Jieffe,

Hope you get it fixed. I am looking for a Zorki 4 for myself and your problem scares me a bit. Sad


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This sounds like the same problem:

http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page389.htm - looks like a partial disassembly, flush with lighter fluid and re-lube.


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Richard_D wrote:
This sounds like the same problem:

http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page389.htm - looks like a partial disassembly, flush with lighter fluid and re-lube.

Yes, I saw that one earlier ...

No time to do it this weekend and I also need to buy some lighter fluid (versatile product, I used it in the past to thin airbrush paint ...)

Thanks anyway for the link.


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Rick's site has a nice breakdown of part of the Zorki-4 (at the end of the page) http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-58.html

good luck!

Jes.


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Jesito wrote:
Rick's site has a nice breakdown of part of the Zorki-4 (at the end of the page) http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-58.html

I used these instructions to clean the Zorki. High speeds (from 1/250 to 1/1000) seems to be working, but nothing to do for the lower speeds.

Well, at the worse, it will make a very sexy paperweight Very Happy


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Jieffe wrote:
Jesito wrote:
Rick's site has a nice breakdown of part of the Zorki-4 (at the end of the page) http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-58.html

I used these instructions to clean the Zorki. High speeds (from 1/250 to 1/1000) seems to be working, but nothing to do for the lower speeds.

Well, at the worse, it will make a very sexy paperweight Very Happy


Jieffe, did you unmount the curtain?.
I'm thinking that maybe if the left/right curtain is not at the rigth tension, at high speeds could produce such effect. (Just a thought...).

Paperweight, it's the last ressort, don't give up.

Good luck.
Jes.


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Jesito wrote:
Jieffe, did you unmount the curtain?

Well, I'm not *that* bold Smile

Quote:
I'm thinking that maybe if the left/right curtain is not at the rigth tension, at high speeds could produce such effect. (Just a thought...).

That's a possibility. I found some kind of tutorial on Ebay, from someone selling curtains. Just have to find time to read it Wink


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Jieffe wrote:

That's a possibility. I found some kind of tutorial on Ebay, from someone selling curtains. Just have to find time to read it Wink


I've been told it's not too difficult... but I've never tried it, my FED is quite happy and had no problems so far...

Jes.


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If you need shutter curtain material, Aki Asahi is the man (I'm not connected in any way.).

I got some shutter curtain material (very high quality - no pinholes), tapes and leatherette for a couple of my indisposed babies from him and it was delivered to the UK in less than a week after despatch.

The guy is very professional and a pleasure to deal with.

He also does recovering kits as well.

http://aki-asahi.com/store/


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bob955i wrote:
If you need shutter curtain material, Aki Asahi is the man (I'm not connected in any way.).

I also found this : Click here to see on Ebay

Quite a tutorial ...