Pentax H1 Shutter Issue

[cobbu2]

Hello All,

I apologize if this question has been asked before, but I can't seem to find my particular shutter issue in past forum posts. So, I have a vintage Pentax H1 body where the mirror is stuck up and the second curtain is nowhere to be found. After some fiddling, I can cock the shutter, but when I release the shutter, the first curtain is the only one to release (sloooooowly). I can't seem to see or retrieve that 2nd curtain, thereby allowing the mirror to return down. The rewind button is also stuck down, but I pulled it back up with needle nose pliers. I removed the base plate but have no idea where to begin. Any possible easy fixes or ideas? Thank you in advance!

Cheers, Allan

 

[Dan Daniel]

Contact Eric Hendrickson. That's where to start! Send him a description of the problem and see what he says and what he estimates it would take him to fix it.
http://pentaxs.com/

Maybe you've worked on these cameras before, and if so my advice isn't very helpful. I view my first time going into any camera model as most likely a dissection and autopsy, not surgery where the patient lives.

 

[Jerevan]

I second what Dan suggested. Eric does good work.

 

[cobbu2]

Maybe you've worked on these cameras before, and if so my advice isn't very helpful. I view my first time going into any camera model as most likely a dissection and autopsy, not surgery where the patient lives.

Very true! I've gone so far as removing the base plate and trying to discern what parts have which function which is nearly impossible just by looking at it. Without looking too deeply, service manuals are extremely detailed requiring lots of decoding. It would be nice if there was a tutorial out there that illustrates basic procedures (with pictures!) to repairing these what seem to be common problems. However, there may be no easy solution to those problems, therefore we have to go to Eric!

Thanks, Allan

 

[John Koehrer]

Ok so you want to experience the thrill of repairing cameras.
On the bottom, there are two gears.one toward the front and one to the back. These are adjustments for travel times.
When you look at them there is a small rectangular block nestled against the side of each one.
There is a small ~1mm screw that has been sealed with paint. this is what turns the gears.
Acteone takes the seal off. You need to add tension to the curtain. CW adds CCW reduces.
Since the screw is a worm drive, it takes several turns to move one tooth of the larger gear.
AS I RECALL the front gear is the closing curtain. If you add tension to it the curtain will begin to creep out and with more will complete it's travel.
BAD STUFF---> first and second curtains are balanced(tension) and need to be for even exposure across the film plane.
BAD< MORE--->travel times for pentax are in the area of 12.5ms.
The tester used can measure the TT of each curtain and the tech will adjust them to balance. That's why he gets the big bucks.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Old H1/H1a's are well known for gumming up with old dried up lube. The camera needs to be taken apart and cleaned.

 

[cobbu2]

Awesome replies, thanks! I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. I have several of these Pentax bodies (the Heiland H1, a Honeywell H1a and an MX) laying around gathering dust along with plenty more that are perfectly working users (another MX, a Spotmatic and a Heiland H2) so what have I got to lose? Thanks again and cheers, Allan

 

[brucemuir]

I have an SP with a similar problem but not as advanced as yours sounds.
I say go for it.

I'll get to mine sometime this winter. It has to be gummed lube.
PS: welcome to the site from another Rockville resident

 

[cobbu2]

Thanks Bruce!

Thanks for the welcome! Nice to know there are a few mechanical camera users in the area!

As it turns out, a little lighter fluid loosened the shutter of my H1a and amazingly it now works perfectly... I ran some fluid (sparingly) along the shutter curtain tracks and repeatedly worked the shutter; that did the trick! The Heiland H1 needs more help however. I was able to get the 2nd curtain to slide some to the left, but it's still verrrry slow and never completes the journey without help. I may be paying a visit to Pro Photo on 'I' Street NW some time soon to get their opinion/estimate. You have an excellent website also! Another one of the projects on my list.