Graflex Speed Graphic rail extension............

[avid1]

I just noticed the rails of my 4x5 Speed Graphic doesn't extend very far out from the bed. It extends, at the most, about 2mm past the end of the bed. Is that normal? Or is it supposed to extend out a generous amount? As soon as the picture of the arrow (that is on the left rail) leaves the bed, it gets tighter, as if it is binding, and it stops. If it needs a CLA, is there a place in Southern California (L.A. area) anyone recommends?
Thanks

 

[shutterfinger]

I service Graflex cameras.
1. Does the inner yoke move fully onto the bed as you turn the focus knob?
2. Looking at the side of the yoke is the link straight?
3. Is the Speed a side rangefinder or a top rangefinder?

 

[avid1]

I service Graflex cameras.
1. Does the inner yoke move fully onto the bed as you turn the focus knob?
2. Looking at the side of the yoke is the link straight?
3. Is the Speed a side rangefinder or a top rangefinder?

Hi Shutterfinger
1. By the inner yoke, you mean the track on which the front standard seats? The standard moves out on it fine when I drag it by the lock. And as I turn the focus knob, yes, it does extend out to the end of the bed.
2. From the side, it looks straight to me. I attached images that I took just now, maybe you can tell if it is or not. The TOP view in the second pic shows how far it extends and stops on the bed.
3. It is a side mounted rangefinder.
Thanks
Here are three images if it helps any:

 

[Ian Grant]

No David he means the rear rail that's attached by two links that allow the camera to fold up, The issue maybe the two guides are damaged so the rail itself doesn't move into the corresponding guides of the front.

The rear guides are shimmed to allow smooth transition from the rear guides to those on the drop bed. On this Speed Graphic the damaged rear guides meant the rear section of rail lifted up, replacing the two guides resolved the issue. These guides get damaged if a camera is closed without the rails being fully retracted.

Ian

 

[shutterfinger]

Yoke is Graflex speak for the colloquial rails.
Your body guides are not aligned with the bed. The bed appears to drop to 90°. The body guides were made in two types depending on age. Early Pacemakers guides attach with two screws, have alignment pins that they press onto, and shims under them to get the guides to align with the bed, later Pacemakers use set screws to align with the bed.
Use this factory service manual and see if you can figure it out. https://graflex.org/manuals/45-Pacemaker-Speed-and-Crown-Graphic.pdf
Fold the infinity stops down and slide the front standard off the yoke to get a little better access to the body guides.
The 1948 instructions for the Pacemaker Graphics if you need it. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghelE4M3ZhUmlOM1U/view?usp=sharing

 

[avid1]

Thank you, Ian and Shutterfinger. Let me slide the front standard out of the yoke to see it better where the body guides are. I will post a picture of it. It might have been caused by a silly mistake of mine. Sometime ago, I had the front standard all the way inside the body when I dropped the bed. And without thinking I had pulled the front standard forward and thereby, off of the track where the yoke breaks for the decline. And just now I realized that the track is not extending all the way out, it must have some connection with that incident.

 

[shutterfinger]

Check the guide screws, tighten as needed.
Dropping the bed with the front standard in the body then pulling it off the yoke should not have caused a problem.

 

[avid1]

Ok, so I see where the problem is. The yokes seem to be lining up fine as far as I can tell, but there is a metal piece (hinge or brace?) that is hanging and getting in the way of a wheel coming forward on the left side of the body, looking at the camera. Not sure what that metal piece is supposed to attach to and how it came off!!! I don't dare force anything on a vintage camera and make a problem worse. Here are two pics

 

[shutterfinger]

The rangefinder arm is in front of the rangefinder actuator, it should be behind the actuator. The arm should swing to one side or the other of the actuator eccentric and go behind it then sit into the grove in the eccentric.

 

[avid1]

YUP! That fixed the issue. A BIG BIG THANK YOU, Shutterfinger!!!! I gently pushed the actuator arm behind the actuator eccentric and it fell into the groove. Of course, as I rack the bed forward with the focusing knob, it disengages, so the arm hangs freely in its place, but the actuator eccentric backs into the arm in alignment when I reverse the track. I will have to keep an eye that it doesn't go Maverick again.

 

[rknewcomb]

Don't you just love all the smart folks on this forum and their willingness to help!
Robert

 

[avid1]

Don't you just love all the smart folks on this forum and their willingness to help!
Robert

Yes, the knowledgeable people and their generosity in sharing of the knowledge is incredible here. All the way from the APUG days.