Need some help with a Graflex RB Auto

Sirius Glass · Jun 5, 2010

I am have some questions/problems with a RB Auto Graflex 3.25"x4.25" that I just purchased. Who at APUG [or elsewhere] do you know that can give me some advice?

I have been looking in graflex.org. I did not find an answer there.

This is the situation:

I had the front open with the lens focused.
The hood was open.
I pressed the H lever so that the mirror is down.
I set the slit on 1/8
I set the tension on 2 or 3
I released the shutter on the left
There was a quiet thump as the mirror went up but the shutter curtain did not move.

I can only turn the slit from 1/8 to 2/8, but I turned the tension to 1 while I am waiting to figure out/find out what to do.

What do I do now?

Steve

removed account4 · Jun 6, 2010

hi steve

i don't have the auto but a series d

there is a little slider near where the "recock the shutter" lever is
it slides back and forth and has a little T on it for time/ timed exposure.
and it allows the mirror to go up and you pull on the shutter lever.

if the shutter is not moving at all when you manually release it,
maybe you need to tighten the spring ...
put the shutter ( both ) on 0 and lie it on its side
look for a nut that is kind of rounded and unscrew it ...
there should be a slotted threaded screw
put a screwdriver in the slot and turn clockwise.
it it doesn't turn
you have to unscrew the plate and unscrew the lock bolt
and then turn it a few turns.

good luck !
john

mwdake · Jun 6, 2010

As John pointed out you may have the T/X slider on T.
I have an RB Series B and if I mimic the settings you chose I get the same thing, mirror goes up but the shutter does not move.
Slide the slider so the T is hidden and the X is revealed on the opposite end of the slider.

good luck

Fotoguy20d · Jun 6, 2010

I have an RB Series D and can confirm that it behaves the same way with the slider set to T (but mine has an I on the other side). If that isn't the problem, I have an RB Auto Tele arriving any day now and maybe I can figure something from it.

Dan

jon koss · Jun 6, 2010

Hi Sirius - A Graflex curtain will not wind on properly unless you lower the mirror again. Also, if you are already at 1/8, then you are at the end of the curtain. If you are winding anywhere from 1/8, then you are winding backwards, which is not good. And of course you may have the slider switch in the disengage position to boot. Feel free to PM me and we can walk you through things.

Best,
Jon

Sirius Glass said:
I am have some questions/problems with a RB Auto Graflex 3.25"x4.25" that I just purchased. Who at APUG [or elsewhere] do you know that can give me some advice? There was a quiet thump as the mirror went up but the shutter curtain did not move.I can only turn the slit from 1/8 to 2/8, but I turned the tension to 1 while I am waiting to figure out/find out what to do. [/INDENT]What do I do now?Steve

mwdake · Jun 6, 2010

but mine has an I on the other side

Mine too says 'I' not 'X', I wasn't looking right.
I think old cameras were made for younger people than me with better eyesight.

removed account4 · Jun 6, 2010

mine is the same way I ...
and it doesn't stick anymore (at I)
so i have a twig stuck in there to keep it
from always sliding over to B

Sirius Glass · Jun 6, 2010

Fotoguy20d said:
I have an RB Series D and can confirm that it behaves the same way with the slider set to T (but mine has an I on the other side). If that isn't the problem, I have an RB Auto Tele arriving any day now and maybe I can figure something from it.

Dan

The T is hidden. I can only see the I.

Steve

erikg · Jun 6, 2010

Steve, can you slide that lever? There is also a release just behind that lever that allows the shutter to drop, it should work with the slider in either position. You may need to wind the tension knob, there may not be enough tension from the spring to move the shutter. That's easy to adjust if that is the case. I have the same camera, lots of fun.

Sirius Glass · Jun 6, 2010

erikg said:
Steve, can you slide that lever? There is also a release just behind that lever that allows the shutter to drop, it should work with the slider in either position. You may need to wind the tension knob, there may not be enough tension from the spring to move the shutter. That's easy to adjust if that is the case. I have the same camera, lots of fun.

I think that there is not enough tension in the spring.

Steve

erikg · Jun 7, 2010

Then it's a matter of doing what John suggests in his first post. It's not hard. The idea is to adjust the tension until the shutter drops slowly from "O" with the tension on "1". If you get it doing that the other shutter speeds fall into place. You'd be surprised how accurate these can be. Good luck!

Fotoguy20d · Jun 8, 2010

My RB Auto Tele arrived yesterday and the mirror won't lock into position (so the shutter can't even be wound).

Dan

Sirius Glass · Jun 8, 2010

Fotoguy20d said:
My RB Auto Tele arrived yesterday and the mirror won't lock into position (so the shutter can't even be wound).

Dan

Try http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=625ea16ba1efef0e76da5550f40af8ba Very knowledgeable and helpful. Maybe we can meet in Maryland and have few beers as we compare notes and cameras.

Steve

removed account4 · Jun 8, 2010

Fotoguy20d said:
My RB Auto Tele arrived yesterday and the mirror won't lock into position (so the shutter can't even be wound).

Dan

hi dan

take your lens out,
and remove the hood and your ground glass
you will see a latch inside the camera that holds
the mirror up.
there is a spring that sometimes gets gunked up.
use your fingers and fiddle with the latch.
the thumb shutter thing on the side of the camera releases the latch
and sometimes they need to be fiddled with too.
i bought a parts camera years ago, and replaced my shutter release
because it wasn't working right. parts cameras cost very little
and they have lots of helpful ... parts

hope you get your mirror to latch !

john

Need some help with a Graflex RB Auto

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