sticky prontor shutter

[carsten]

Good Morning,
I have a problem with a prontor shutter that does not work properly with the longer times (1/4, 1/2, 1 sec.). Any suggestions? I would like to fix it by myself since I have bought this camera (Pathfinder) just to learn something more about how cameras work and improve my knowledges.
Thank you,
C

 

[Canuck]

Could be dirty and sticky (best case but worst case, needs a tech). I've had a few sticky shutters and the best stuff I ever used was a product called Blue Shower to clean with. This is an industrial strength degreaser used in the electronics industry. It cleans everything I ever sprayed on it. What you need to do with your shutter, is to removed both front and back elements. You can then spray into the shutter and just work through the shutter settings by firing the shutter for each speed. Not a 100% cure but it solved all my problems. Only ones I had a slight problem was with the older Ilex shutters. I discovered the degreaser was too efficient so it needed a small drop of machine oil at strategetic points. Hope this helps.

 

[carsten]

Thank you, it is clear and easy. But since I am very unaware of what it will happen I keep on asking. How can I remove front and back elements from my Pathfinder without damaging it? Is enough to unscrew everything I will find? Will I have problems with the bellow? Will I have to remove it? How is it fixed to the front and back elements? Am I asking too many things?

 

[bobfowler]

Good Morning,
I have a problem with a prontor shutter that does not work properly with the longer times (1/4, 1/2, 1 sec.). Any suggestions? I would like to fix it by myself since I have bought this camera (Pathfinder) just to learn something more about how cameras work and improve my knowledges.
Thank you,
C

A lot depends on how much the camera is worth to you. If you want to give it a shot, just remember that you might make the situation worse and have a larger repair bill than if you just sent it to a tech to begin with.

FWIW - I did the National Camera course back in the 80's, but due to a lack of time, I send most of my repairs out. Carol Miller of Flutot's Camera Repair in Whittier, CA does all of my large format shutter work. Her prices are VERY reasonable and she does great work. You can reach her at flutotscamera@earthlink.net.

 

[carsten]

Thanks Bob,
I just blow my lungs in the shutter: now it works!
Thank you very much for your answers.
I do not care a lot about the camera since it is impossible to use it. Should be modified, but my knowledges are not enough.
I remove the shutter and the objective, it was quite simple. Now I have a working rodenstock 127 on a prontor and I do not know what to do with it, but I unserstood something more about cameras: they are like trumpets...