Nikkormat FTN shutter timing question

[Eagle Blue]

this post is a follow up to another question I asked several days ago about one of the same camera bodies. It's a Nikkormat ftn made in about 1971 by my best guess. The camera has a 1-2 second faint afterbuzz sound in the 1-second position after winding the thumb lever, as if the timing escapements are still cocking themselves for s short time. If I wind and trip it before this faint buzzing sound is finished, the shutter will trip at a faster speed, like maybe 1/3 to 1/2 second. If I trip the shutter real quick after winding, it trips fast, like 1/60 second. But if I allow the buzzing to finish, it behaves correctly, at a full second, and very consistently at that. Based on my rudimentary knowledge of mechanical timing mechanisms, I am guessing that the whole shutter timing mechanism is probably dried out with gunk, and the whole thing needs to be removed from the camera, cleaned and properly lubed, or it can never be considered to be a dependable working camera for the long term. Do I have a fair diagnosis in the opinion of others who do know shutters well, that is a dried up gunky assembly? Thanks.

 

[shutterfinger]

Your assumption the shutter timer is not setting as quickly as it should is likely accurate.
A service manual is available at http://arcticwolfs.net/ if you need it.
A drop of clock oil on the mechanism might get it running smoother and be an alternative to a full disassembly.
Drop- equal to a straight pin point.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The shutter geartrain is sluggish likely due to old stiff lubricant.
If you don't want to disassemble it, you could put the entire shutter in an ultrasonic, use naphtha and 99% isopropyl. Don't mix the two but alternate, what one doesn't dissolve the other might.
Oil the pivots where they come through the plates, use a light watch oil (Nye products are very good and reasonably priced) and apply SPARINGLY - I cannot stress this enough. You should just be able to see oil in the gap between the pivot and the plate, use a 6 or 8 power loupe. A crowqill drawing pen works well as an applicator, practice until you can apply very tiny amounts. Don't overload the pen with oil.

 

[Eagle Blue]

Thank you for these excellent replies. It seems I've been anointed to operating a ministry for wayward Nikkormats. I wonder if I could apply for a grant to help offset operating expenses.