RB shutter release button seems jammed

[S_Patton]

While out taking some shots yesterday, I pressed the shutter button and it wouldn't trip the shutter. . . I was hand holding with the left hand grip. . . When I attached the cable release, it triggered the shutter but it took some pressure to make it happen. . . Any suggestions?

 

[Darkroom317]

Which RB is this? You may want to check the double exposure prevention lock on the back.

 

[S_Patton]

It's an RB67. . . I've fidgeted with it off and on and just can't get the shutter to release without some heavy duty pressure. . . I'm gonna have to find someone to take it to, I guess. . . I dunno. . .

 

[xtolsniffer]

Is the shutter lock half-on? I know this may be silly to suggest but just in case....the knurled ring around the shutter button locks it from accidental pressing.

 

[m_allard]

Is the shutter lock half-on? I know this may be silly to suggest but just in case....the knurled ring around the shutter button locks it from accidental pressing.

That's what i was thinking...maybe try twisting the ring to lock, then unlock to see if it frees up? You can also try gently nudging the shutter cocking level forward; there is an interlock there as well that froze up once on mine. I had to remove the lens, release the shutter, put it back on the body, and re-cock it.

 

[Pumal]

Make sure the slide is out

 

[Mike1234]

The rotating lock around the shutter button is in the unlocked position, right?

 

[paul ron]

Rotating back. Sometimes you accidentily move it ever so slightly and will cause it to lock up. If that happens, just give the back a slight twist to lock it into position again n see if that cures your problem?

Another problem with firing, a newbie error. When holding the camera in the ready position you tend to put your hand on the top and or bottom right edge of the rotating back pushing on the 2 small silver thingies that read if the film back n dark slide are mounted. If you push these tabs, you can unlock the film back graphlocs to remove the back without a dark slide in. Well... when you push these thingies, you also tell the camera not to fire because the dark slide is in.

I had a kid that kept bringing his camera back to me saying it was broken no matter how many times I fixed it. I'd go over it and for the life of me couldn't find anything wrong, it worked great and was one of my better loaners. Just for the heck of it I asked the kid to show me waht was wrong. He grabed the camera, set up his shot and bingo... he was pushiung on the thingies and it wouldn't fire. He'd give it to me and it would work perctly. He'd try again n it wouldn't fire. Once I showed him what was wrong, it never happend again.

The very last n final reason may be the pin in the rotating back is dirty or not firing properly. Un mount the roatating back n push the pin in the silver tit to see if it is free? If not clean it and put a dab of WD40 on it. Check to see if it is bent as well?

 

[Ross Chambers]

Rotating back. Sometimes you accidentily move it ever so slightly and will cause it to lock up. If that happens, just give the back a slight twist to lock it into position again n see if that cures your problem?

Yes I thought that many rolls would have made me an expert in getting all the safeguard settings correct on a RB, but was caught on this one (and it was a long trip to the location).

Fortunately I figured it out fairly quickly.

Just what phobias did Mr Mamiya San have against double exposure that he built in so many mechanisms to prevent it?
Was his mother frightened by a view camera?

Regards - Ross

 

[John Koehrer]

The first iteration didn't have the interlocks & even many pros shot 10 exposures or more on the first (and only) frame.

 

[S_Patton]

Thanks for the tips, guys. Picked up a cleaning kit and went through it with a fine tooth comb. . . It's amazing what a little house cleaning can do, as embarrassing as that is to admit. . . Was a little worried about how the WD 40 would affect it, though, (I hate using any kind of oil in my cameras. . .) but it seemed to do a good job. . .