Contaflex Super B seems "dry" and squeeky

[Kino]

I have come into possession of a very clean Contaflex Super B camera with the 35, 85 and 115 Pro Tessar lenses that I would like to use, but it concerns me that the camera sounds and feels "dry" when cocked and fired. The winding lever doesn't spring back very well and it seems to lightly squeal when I wind the shutter, like all the gearing/shafting in the camera is bone dry.

I've been searching and compiling pearls of wisdom from various Bret Rogers postings here and on Rangefinder forum, but none of them address this specific issue. I will eventually attempt to access the shutter and see what's going on there, but this seems to be a different problem.

Would a typical CLA of days gone by involve lubricating the winding gears?

 

[AgX]

Be happy that it cocks and fires at all. That is a model I actually expect to be dead on arrival.

 

[bernard_L]

That is a model I actually expect to be dead on arrival.

I have two Contaflexes, IIRC one Super B and one SuperBC. Yes indeed the film advance lever does not return spontaneously on one of them, and the other has a subtle problem
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/ghost-image-with-contaflex.154829/
but they give an impression of serious construction. So your statement sounds intersting to me. Could you please be more specific? Late models less reliable? Which ones? How? What models would you recommend, Contaflex IV?
Thank you in advance for information.

 

[AgX]

I came across more dead than alive samples so far and the exchangable backs added to the problem. I myself got an all stuck Super B sample awaiting resuscitation one day. I expect resinated grease.
Sorry, but I can't help with hands-on experience concerning Contaflex model variations but I expect the B and BC to be the most tricky ones.

 

[Kino]

I have two Contaflexes, IIRC one Super B and one SuperBC. Yes indeed the film advance lever does not return spontaneously on one of them, and the other has a subtle problem
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/ghost-image-with-contaflex.154829/
but they give an impression of serious construction. So your statement sounds intersting to me. Could you please be more specific? Late models less reliable? Which ones? How? What models would you recommend, Contaflex IV?
Thank you in advance for information.

Oh yes! I remember that thread about the ghost images. You really ran a lot of tests on that camera, but I guess you never discovered the problem, right?

It is too bad; they are really quite beautiful cameras and, from what I see online, quite good performers when working properly...

 

[shutterfinger]

Download the Compur Repair Manual at https://www.scribd.com/doc/44503560/Compur-Shutter-Repair-Manual
The Contraflex Super B uses a CN-1110-000 shutter with a CN-1110-556 special shutter front. If you have never serviced a shutter this will be a 8 to 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most difficult.
The CN-1110-000 is a workhorse 00 shutter used in many cameras and as a stand alone for large format gear. Each version has slightly different internal parts that look similar and assemble in the same position and order.
I've yet to hear a Compur shutter squeak.

 

[Kino]

Thanks for the download link, Shutterfinger!

Like I posted, it's more like linkages to the shutter are squeaking. I tried to record it, but the pitch of the squeak doesn't capture well.

Couldn't find a way to upload an audio file or I would...