4 X 5 Graflex Series D shutter wind key very hard to turn

[Simon Benton]

The shutter wind key on my 4 X 5 Graflex Series D SLR is very hard to turn beyond the 1 1/2 mark. Shutter fires fine on 1 1/2 and T settings but all other settings can only be turned with pliers which I do not want to do.
Is there something obvious that is causing this? The camera is old and has not been used in a number of years according to the person I bought it from.. I greased the curtain roller bearings, Could the the shutter roller spring be too tightly wound? Could it be a problem in the shutter wind mechanism? The research I have done indicates this unit is very hard to remove due to problems in removing the mirror rod pin.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[shutterfinger]

Set the tension to its lowest setting before turning the shutter wind key. Once the shutter is would to a desired aperture then set the tension to high and release the shutter, you should be able to wind back to that aperture without lowering the tension.

 

[Simon Benton]

Thank you for reply. I tried your suggestion but was still impossible to turn. I removed the bottom plate and let the spring release and it appeared to be very tightly wound. With the spring untensioned it was very easy to wind the shutter key. I then retensioned the shutter spring with the lower tension knob at 1 and the upper shutter wind key at T. At tension 1 it was easy to wind shutter to 1/8 and the first 3 speeds completely opened and shut but the fourth speed (1 1/2) opened and closed very slowly. T only opened halfway. I moved tension to 3 and shutter wind was a bit stiffer but all speeds opened and closed properly. I moved to tension to 6 and and 1 1/2 and 3/4 were stiff but I could turn with my fingers
- however 3/8 and 1/8 would have required pliers to turn. Is there any chance that grease in the upper wind mechanism would help but I am dubious about removing the mirror rod pin?
Maybe I should keep it on tension 3 and work out what the actual speeds are. I will be using the camera with an 8 3/4 Verito and a 180mm Heliar.

 

[shutterfinger]

Well, being you're mechanically inclined download this Graflex Shutter Servicing guide I wrote https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghRkRId1EwT0dpNkk/view?usp=sharing
Letting the tension spring unwind without controlling is rate can cause the spring to reverse wind and tangle.
The Super D shutter is the same as other Graflex SLR's .
The Graflex SLR instruction manual https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghS2llS1VaRkRIWUk/view?usp=sharing
Check out the Reflex Help section of https://www.graflex.org/helpboard/

 

[Simon Benton]

Thanks for all your help. Shutter now working very well. Amazing that a camera of this age can still function so well. Using it with a Verito where the soft focus effect can be seen right at the time of exposure is a joy and the 4 X 5 slides or negatives can be stunning.

 

[shutterfinger]

Happy shooting!