Graflex.org

[alzinn]

Hello friends - I am a first time visitor to your site and I need some advice. I recently acquired a mint condition Pacemaker Speed 4X5 - a later top RF model. I was playing around with the various movements and had the bed dropped and the lens tilted and suddenly realized that my focusing inner track had somehow come out of its track and was now binding.

I have no idea how I did this and I have tried every combination of bed extension and bed drop that I can think of to get it back in.

As far as I can see, there is no way to extend the focusing rails enough for the rear section to have enough clearance to be re-aligned and backed into their track.
And yet - I got it out that way somehow...

And advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks, Al Zinn

[troublemaker]

OK, being careful, place the focus track in a position where you can drop the bed into the lower position without doing any damage, which is generally done with the track at infinity or just a little forward from all the way back. Now carefully turn the focus track down the rails with the rear set following and very carefully align and get the rear rails into the forward guide rails and far enough forward so you can put the bed back in the normal straight taking position. The rear set should go right back into the rear guides without any binding. Some are out of whack and or broken. They get broken by closing the camera or forcing incorrectly. Check for breakage in the rear guide rails and sight down the guides to see if they are aligned properly.
It may be easier to get the rails back in with the front standard removed from the focus rails and laying the camera on its side. I do repairs on damaged or misaligned rails with the standard and bellows removed so I can get at it and then get it re-assembled properly.
Some Graphics have shims under the rear guides to bring them into straight with the longer front rails. I've also seen where the drop bed mounting hinge has come loose in the lower part of the camera body housing and have had to remove everything and start over after repairing the body by filling the old holes and re-fastening.
No telling what's up with yours. If the rear rails just fell out, I suspect the rear guides are broken.

[alzinn]

Dear troublemaker:

Thanks for your advice - it looks like it should work easily. The trouble is: I am able to get the rear track running into the front track no problem, but I can't bring it forward far enough to clear the rear section - it needs to come forward another 1/2 inch, but my front track comes up against a stop somewhere and I can't go further.

I have removed the rangefinder stop on the right side - no difference. I appear to be out of travel. Fortunately, nothing appears to be broken.

Ideas?

Al Zinn

[alzinn]

Dear troublemaker:

Success! I have no idea what I did, but suddenly I was able to extend the tracks enough to clear the rear rack and back it back in. everything works fine, but now I have a new problem:

I removed the moving stop that couples with the rangefinder plunger, as it appeared to be interfering with forward travel of the track . I thought it was screwed into too small holes, when in fact it clamps to a small gib. Of course, I didn't have enough sense to mark the spot- that would be too easy!!!

Are there any instructions for recalbirating a top RF model?

Tks, Al Zinn

[45PSS]

http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/servicemanual.pdf

http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/TRFService.pdf

http://www.southbristolviews.com/ graflex manuals link.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_4.html

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_5.html
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