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Gammanine · Joined: 11 Aug 2001 Posts: 46 Location: Brooklyn NY

Latest bit of difficulty.
I've got a copal 0 shuttered lens. I drilled the hole in the lever that actuates the shutter, to receive the solenoid c clip. Mounted the solenoid, popped everything into place, hooked up my flashgun and no go. The solenoid trips fine. Everything is aligned correctly. Voltage out of the gun through the cord is ok too.
Seems there isn't enough travel in the solenoid plunger to trip the shutter.
Solenoid is a number 2.
I had this set up before, on a crown with a Nikkor 135 in copal 0 a few years ago. It worked perfectly then. I don't have that camera anymore, so I can't check it.
Maybe I had a solenoid #3 on it? Can't remember.
If anyone has a clue, please share it. I'm going to go search for a #3 and double check the current set up again later.
Funny business these graflexes.......

[ This Message was edited by: Gammanine on 2004-10-02 11:02 ]

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

Oh they can certainly accerlerate male pattern baldness alright.

solenoids are a finicky lot. They need some slop in the linkage to get some velocity and yet there are times when you have to rotate the shutter untl it almost trips standing still or you don't have enough throw.

Early on the #2 was for 2 cell flashes, the #3 was for three cell flashes and the world would come to an end if you mixed them up. Well they got mixed up and the world is still here.

Later on when the solenoids were used mainly to trip and not sync, the #3 went with larger Scattermatics...er Shuttermatics as they might have more torque.

They also dropped the #2 and came up with a #0. Not sure what the 0 went on.

Gammanine · Joined: 11 Aug 2001 Posts: 46 Location: Brooklyn NY

I never saw a zero, just 2's and 3's. I'd like to try one of the zero's too. I guess they're harder to find though. I'll keep looking.

Top · Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:38 pm Post subject:

You might want to look at Sol/HR and King Sol solenoids. I've had good luck with them.
Top

worldphoto · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:23 am Post subject:

Check your private messages.
Harry

Gammanine · Joined: 11 Aug 2001 Posts: 46 Location: Brooklyn NY

I got the number 2 to work. I had to shimmy the lens a bit, and futz with it for a bit more and finally I found the sweet spot. Seems to be working 100 percent.
This box is almost ready to go.
WooHoo!!

Gammanine · Joined: 11 Aug 2001 Posts: 46 Location: Brooklyn NY

Note on the 0 solenoid.
Seems that this solenoid was suggested for use with a Supermatic shutter when using the original 3 cell flash and an accessory called the Graflex Electroswitch. Using that set up allowed one to fire the shutter via a solenoid. The lens shutter in turn fired the bulb.
This may have not been the only use for the number 0 solenoid but I found this info in the instruction booklet titled" Graflex Flash Synchronizer Graflex Flashing Unit".