Rolleicord III shutter firing at same speed at all speeds

[Terence]

Pulled a Rolleicord III out of storage, fired it once at 1 sec, and it sounded good. Tried it again, and it fired much faster, Tried all speeds, and they sound the exact same, probably 1/60th sec or faster. B works fine.

Is this a relatively simple fix, or is it work for a real technician? I originally bought the camera for only $75, so fixing it for 2x-3x that probably isn't worth it.

 

[JPD]

It's usually a gummed up escapement. Dried lubricants and dirt stops it from being engaged at the slower speeds. It's common for these shutters, and a typical job for a repairman. I'd say it's worth it if you like the results the camera produces.

 

[FotoD]

The fact that it doesn't lock up at slower speeds makes me think the problem could be with the connection between escapement and the cocking ring. The ring could have jumped out of position. Possibly an easy fix.

Some cleaning and a little lubrication of the moving parts may also help.

Good luck!

 

[Terence]

Thanks, folks. I'll try to pull it open a bit, and use some solvent to break up whatever is in there, as a first attempt.

 

[JPD]

Thanks, folks. I'll try to pull it open a bit, and use some solvent to break up whatever is in there, as a first attempt.

The shutter might have a tiny plastic part for the flash sync that can be damaged by solvents. It should be on the opposite side of the escapement, but be careful.

 

[Terence]

The shutter might have a tiny plastic part for the flash sync that can be damaged by solvents. It should be on the opposite side of the escapement, but be careful.

Good to know. Thank you.