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Negative Energy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Philadelphia

Seems to be jammed in the shut postion. The wind knob won't turn and it won't release. Any ideas.

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

Check for impact damage; the knob may be bent or distorted. I had one where the knob was torn off and the plate covering the winding gears was distorted; check carefully, especially the plate. It has to be FLAT. If no damage is visible then it is time to explore the innards as something may have gotten jammed in the gears. The inner works are really rugged and I've never seen them fail.

Negative Energy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Philadelphia

Doesn't appear to have been hit, but I'll take another look at the camera on Monday. I suspect it will need to be opened up. Is there a repair manual online somewhere? A repair person you could recommend?

45PSS · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:45 am Post subject:

I ass u me that you have an Anny. The old shutters will not operate if all levers and wheels are not in their home/neutral position.
1). What tension setting is the tension knob set to? Will tension knob and tension wind up to maximun and step baack down to base setting of 1?
2). Is the trip lever moving smoothly? Does it have a spring action or must it be moved both directions?
3). Graflex camrea's shutters have an arrow for wind which is usually counterclockwise. There may be a step down to wider slot knob that moves the curtain without triping the release. Which direction did you try to turn the wind key? Does the wind key attempt to turn any at all if so how much?

Not working yet?
1). Remove the camera back. Pay attention to what screw came out of what hole, they are not the same length or diamater!
2). Examine curtain for being kinked, not winding evenly, not winding tight, being wound backwards due to wind key being turned the wrong way.
3). Gently lift the curtain from the track over the film gate and pull from the bottom roller, you should feel tension and it should return when released.
4). Put 1 to 3 drops of light weight oil on the ends of the curtain rollers where they enter the body sleves. Too much will cause more problems.
5). If curtain is dry or britle, unroll as much as possible or if you now have it winding and unwinding on the rollers, position each section over the film gate and saturate with Lemon Pledge, let stand 3 to 5 minutes, wipe off excess with soft towel wile supporting the under side with one hand rubbing the wax into the material.
6). Email Bert Saunders for tension adjustemt procedures or futher repair information if this did not fix it.
Charles

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

bertsaunders · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:45 am Post subject:

Neg,
Will walk you thru the proceedure via email
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com
Have a nice day.....Bert

Negative Energy · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Philadelphia

Hi:

I gently nudged the "front-back" switch to "Back" as well as the wind knob and voila! It released! So for now, I'm good to go. I think the focal plane shutter may be a little slow or need adjustment, but it seems to work. I didn't realize that the speed adj for the focal plane is set by how far you wind it.

Most importantly, I can open the curtain so I can use the front shutter! Thanks to all who advised!

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

"front-back" switch means you have a PACEMAKER, not an Anneversary as your personal info implies. The shutter must have been wound up all the way, as the switch will let you wind it but not release it when set to "front". BTW, note that the body release will also work the rear shutter when the switch is set to "back"; did you try that?

Glad things are working.