Sinar Norma cleaning and re-lubing

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi !
I've got a new Norma in 4x5. It has suffered from ages in use and storage so some movements are a bit stiff and some parts have grease lying around (the angle indicator is covered with grease and dirt).
So my question are :
a) Does anybody have a dismantling/mounting instruction ?
b) what kind of lubricant to apply ? (especially on the plastic bushing of the rail clamp)
c) is it an easy task or should I let a professional do it ?
Last but not least, I've one spirit level which has lot it's tube. I'm only left with the spirit level base. Any clue of a replacement ?
Thank a lot for your help and response !

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Hi !
I've got a new Norma in 4x5. It has suffered from ages in use and storage so some movements are a bit stiff and some parts have grease lying around (the angle indicator is covered with grease and dirt).
So my question are :
a) Does anybody have a dismantling/mounting instruction ?
b) what kind of lubricant to apply ? (especially on the plastic bushing of the rail clamp)
c) is it an easy task or should I let a professional do it ?
Last but not least, I've one spirit level which has lot it's tube. I'm only left with the spirit level base. Any clue of a replacement ?
Thank a lot for your help and response !

As a long-time Sinar owner, I would not think a stripdown is necessary. Any grease which is visible is doing no good and should be removed, together with dirt. I would use industrial alcohol (methylated spirit), a soft toothbrush and a soft cloth for this.

You can easily apply grease with a toothpick to the undersides of the fine-focusing gear racks, which are just about the only points which need grease. The plastic bushing and any other plastic parts can be lubed with silicon spray (the kind of stuff you use on plastic upholstery). Any movement components (metal against metal) I would simply lubricate with 3-in-1 oil, in a precision lubricator (looks like a syringe) if you have one.

Finally, the spirit levels. Broken ones can be replaced easily by undoing two screws - people often don't do this because in the UK at least they cost £25 or so each which is a lot for a piece of Swiss precision-engineered plastic!

Regards,

David

 

[Rolleiflexible]

David speaks truth. I shoot a Norma and a good simple cleaning should get you there. Contact Sinar Bron for replacement levels -- they have parts available, as I learned when I needed a new set of 5x7 frames for my bellows. Sanders

 

[Nokton48]

The original manual recommended "petrol" (gasoline) for flushing out crusty Norma mechanisms. Detailed instructions are in the original manual:get one on e*bay. Try to find one with an original tin of Sinar Norma Grease. It's deep black, so it's got some graphite (or something) in it.

I agree it's best -not- to mess with anything, but a flush and regrease is something they intended to be performed by the owners periodically. If I remember right, there are six points on the camera that need a spot of Norma grease.

 

[Struan Gray]

You can get scans of the owners' manual on camerquest:

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/norma/norma.html

Both of the two rail clamps I have came smeared with grease. One looked like standard axle grease from a third world tractor. Both worked a lot better once I had cleaned them up. There should be no lubricant at all on the plastic collar or it's surrounding metal, and only the lightest of smears on the securing screw.

If you can get a source of pure petrol rather than fuel for cars/autos it will work better as a cleaner, leaving less of a residue. In the US Coleman fuel ("white gas") for camping stoves is good. In Europe clean or 'medical' petrol ("Benzin" or similar in most germanic tounges) can be bought from chemists or - in very small amounts - from supermarkets.

 

[Nokton48]

If you can get a source of pure petrol rather than fuel for cars/autos it will work better as a cleaner, leaving less of a residue. In the US Coleman fuel ("white gas") for camping stoves is good.

Struan,

This is new information for me. I'll buy some Coleman fuel soon.

Thanks.

Dan

 

[Rolleiflexible]

There is also some useful material online at

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