Stuck Copal 1 Shutter

[davidave]

I was using an Autoknips timer with my fuji 210mm copal 1 lens. long story short, i was trying to stick the preview lever while unknowingly, the autoknips had engaged the shutter release lever. now the shutter is stuck open, while the shutter release lever is stuck in a very tight down position with no movement, and the preview lever is also stuck. there is no apparent give to any of these levers with gentle force. the iris still adjusts smoothly and the shutter speed can be moved from fastest all the way down to B and T without and change in tension in any lever. i'm kicking myself for getting myself in bind. please let me know if you have any insight into the issue.

 

[shutterfinger]

I have very limited experience servicing Copal shutters. The face plate will have to be removed and the cocking and release mechanisms may have to be partially disassembled to unjam it. The position of the face plate is critical. It has cutouts on the bottom side that match lever operation paths. The center retaining ring tightness is critical also. The retaining ring is held in position by a very small set screw.

If I had the shutter in my possession I could fix it. If you are not very familiar with shutter servicing, remove the lens cells, wrap and store them in a safe place, and take or send the shutter to a service center that services Copal shutters.

A Google search for Copal 1 shutter will result in a link to pictures, some which show the shutter with the face plate off.

Trying to force one of the levers in its current state will likely do more damage. You can try cocking and pushing the press to focus to the closed position at the same time applying no more than 1 pound of force to each of the levers. If it unjams test it, if not off to a service center.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I recommend Carol at http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com/ She does great work and has reasonable prices. She is highly spoken of on APUG and Large Format Photography Forum.

 

[davidave]

thanks guys. i figured this is outside my realm of expertise. i'll take it into fred at international camera technicians in mountain view, california, which the closest and most experienced shop around here.

 

[shutterfinger]

They're just down the freeway from me. I've seen their web site and suspected them to be a reputable repair facility.

 

[davidave]

fred has probably 50 years experience with cameras and used to be a optics engineer. I've gone to fred for a number a years and there hasn't been a problem he couldn't fix or explain. he's truly a rare breed.