Mamiya TLR lens shutter problem

[rowghani]

Hi all so i need your TLR expertise.

Ok so I purchased a Mamiya TLR 180mm lens from ebay and it arrived today but I don't have a body yet. I tried testing it out since I know the shutter is in the lens and theoretically I should be able to fire the shutter without the body correct?

Ok so heres what happens: I pick my Fstop and shutter (pic 1) then cock it (pic 2) then fire it (pic 3) but notice how theres still a little gab after i've fire the shutter?? so then I have to push it a bit further with my finger (pic 4) to get it to open fire properly and open the lens. Is this a faulty lens or am I not doing something properly? thank you in advance.

 

[Alan Gales]

Yes, you can fire the shutter with the lens off camera. After you cock the shutter and then press the shutter release it should trip the shutter with no problem.

I looked at my 180mm Super. On yours you have a wire sticking out above your flash setting ( X M ). I don't have that.

 

[grahamp]

It is hard to be sure from the picture, but the lens cocking knob should be parallel to the lens axis. It looks a little bent to me. When you trip the shutter, the cocking arm should return to the start position, and the shutter open and close. That wire on the MX control looks like a crude way to keep the flash setting on X.

 

[pbromaghin]

It looks like your shutter needs work. When you trip the shutter, it should snap right back to the fully closed position. And I agree with Alan, that wire doesn't look right.

 

[Alan Gales]

Graham may be right about the wire being a crude way to keep the flash setting on X. I read that some wedding photographers would epoxy the switch in the X position because it was easy to accidentally move when shooting the camera.

 

[pbromaghin]

I have learned the hard way how easy that is.

 

[Alan Gales]

I have learned the hard way how easy that is.

Like ruining a whole roll of film? I did that.

 

[Luckless]

Possible "Quick and dirty fix" - Press on the adjustment rings in various spots and try firing again.

I have an earlier chrome version of the lens, and when I first got my hands on it I had the problem of the cocking lever sticking and not fully returning when fired. (Also had a fully jammed aperture blade assembly.) I ended up gutting the lens and cleaning a shocking volume of gunk out of it before it was usable. However I have noted that pressing on the lower part of the shutter speed ring can cause it to still jam up.

If everything is moving and tripping as you would expect, then it most likely is a decent lens that is just in need of cleaning and lube. There is a very slim risk that you could have a weakened spring, which would make things a little harder to service at this point.


How fond of fiddly parts are you? They aren't terribly difficult to work on at home with some basic tools. Small set of jewelers screwdrivers goes a long way with these lenses. Take lots of reference photos, work on a white cloth, and be VERY careful about springs if you do take the plunge. Otherwise sending off to a professional is probably a wise investment.

 

[MattKing]

Make sure that the synch selector is actually fully on the X position.

Most likely though, it needs a CLA.

 

[Kirks518]

I agree with Luckless (and Matt), it could use a CLA. But, it also just may need to be worked. I've had a few of these that after numerous firings would free up and fire without much issue.

If you do need to clean the shutter, like Luckless says, these are really easy to work on. I personally wouldn't pay for a CLA, as the price would exceed the value of the lens.

 

[pbromaghin]

Like ruining a whole roll of film? I did that.

Yup. And they were rare-chance grandchild pics, too.

 

[Alan Gales]

Yup. And they were rare-chance grandchild pics, too.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I shot a roll of family but I knew it was a test roll. It still aggravated me.

 

[rowghani]

thanks for all the responses. lens is being shipped back to seller.