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Kodak Chevron

vidjuheffex

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 31, 2024
Messages
9
Location
Houston, Tx
Format
Multi Format
I purchased a Kodak Chevron (mainly because I love my medalist and wanted to compare the two, and when not in use, keep each other company on the shelf.)
It was a bit dusty... but very cheap so I didn't mind.
Now, most things seem in order, film wind advances, stops, counter set properly etc.
The issue I'm having is, I cocked the shutter... and nothing will release it. The camera doesn't have a self-timer, I have a dummy roll of film I tried putting through it, )which is how I know the frame counter, winding etc. seem fine) just in case it needs film passing through to unlock a shutter release of some sort, but no dice.
Before I send it off for repair, I want to double check it isnt user error because this camera, like the medalist, seems to have its quirks.
I've read the manual and followed it to a tea, so I think its just a jammed shutter, but if anyone has any ideas I'm all ears.
 
Thanks for joining the FORUM on Halloween.

Look through the back and tell us if the shutter is stuck open or closed.
 
The shutter is self-contained on the Chevron. What you see is what is going on. Shutter cocking and release happen in the open.

That shutter is a design fail. The lens is very nice.

Remove the lens groups, front and back. Do some lighter fluid drippings inside. Keep operating it best as it will do. Don't touch any self timer or flash sync settings except have the flash on X. It might come back to life. Stick to faster speeds at first- 1/25 and faster.
 
I've never had an issue with the Synchro 800 shutter in my Chevron once I serviced it. The biggest issue is that is has a set of blackout capping blades behind the normal shutter blades and since there are only two of them, they have a lot of overlapping surface area and any oil that gets on them will cause them to stick heavily. This is the same issue that often takes out the Synchro 300 shutter found on the Signet 35 since that also only has two blades.

I don't advocate putting lighter fluid into the assembled shutter, as that is likely to migrate oils onto the capping blades making the issues worse.

Other than that, the Synchro 800 is a derivative of the Supermatic and many of the internal mechanisms are the same, they're pretty easy to service. Also, of the leaf shutters I've tested, it's the one that got closest to it's theoretical maximum speed, with 1/800th measuring as 1/770th.
 
xkaes said:
Thanks for joining the FORUM on Halloween.

Look through the back and tell us if the shutter is stuck open or closed.
Click to expand...

It is stuck closed, I can see them try to move with the little give it has on the shutter "button"
 
vidjuheffex said:
It is stuck closed, I can see them try to move with the little give it has on the shutter "button"
Click to expand...


Thanks, I'm going to get it serviced.
 
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