Fuji GSW690 II sticky shutter

Anyone have any ideas or insight into this?

I've got a new-to-me Fuji GSW690 II. The shutter release is sticky ... shutter speeds are fine once it fires, but actually getting the shutter to open is not reliable.

Here's what happens:

• open the back on the camera (it won't dry fire without that step)
• advance the film lever twice until it comes to a stop
• press the shutter release
• hear a click, that sounds like the shutter, but is not.... the shutter blades don't open.
• this happens on all speeds
• after running the shutter speed dial (on the lens) back and forth, the shutter linkage will free up, and the shutter will actually open when the shutter release is fired
• at least once, there was a 1-2 second delay between the press/click of the shutter release, and the opening of the shutter
• the shutter will open reliably after it fires once
• the shutter will stop opening after leaving the camera for a few hours

Obviously this is a CLA item... but before I make the trip to Camtech Photo in Hamilton, I wanted to know if this is a common problem, or has a simple solution.

For background, I am not a professional but have successfully CLA'd an AGFA Isolette and a Zeiss Super Ikonta -- so I am not completely hopeless

It probably has a Seiko shutter. The Seiko is similar to a Synchro Compur in complexity and sophistication. I would not attempt servicing without a manual unless very experienced with similar shutters.

This sounds to me like it's old lube, dried up.

I hate to say it but it's CLA time. (

Thanks folks. I will have it CLA'd.

A quick update - this camera has been through the paces. I sent it to my local, very trusted, repair shop. He is comfortable working on the big Fuji's, normally an easy job he tells me. But front lens element on this camera simply refused to be budged. I gave permission to use extreme force, and still it was a no go. It was returned to me with a long face -- only the second time in his long career to be utterly unsuccessful in servicing a camera.

I was still interested in having a good user camera, so I contacted Frank Marshman, the acknowledged expert on Fuji. He confirmed that Fuji used an infernal thread lock on some of these, which time has hardened unbelievably. Clearly this was a camera that had never been serviced before. Well, last night I got the good news. Frank had success, and the machine has received the full service, top to bottom. He reports it is now a lovely camera. I am very much looking forward to it! Thanks to Frank for salvaging this beast!

Awesome!