Weak springs on a Graflok back.

Wade D · Apr 23, 2012

I'm restoring an old Graflok back. Cleaning, painting, new GG, etc. The one thing I've noticed is that when the GG section is slid in it has a bit of movement. Probably 1 or 1.5mm, fore and aft, which would affect focus. Visually the springs look OK and the chrome arms aren't bent. Are the springs just weak from age? What would be a good fix for this other than buying another back or springs (if they can even be found)?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Wade

Old-N-Feeble · Apr 23, 2012

Did the original focusing screen have a Fresnel lens? If it did, and you didn't reinstall it, this is why the new GG is loose.

ETA: You are asking about the retaining fasteners for the GG, right?

rjbuzzclick · Apr 23, 2012

You could try cleaning the pivot point of the chrome arms with some naphtha, and then letting a drop or two of light oil work it's way in there. It helped mine a lot.

E. von Hoegh · Apr 23, 2012

Wade D said:
I'm restoring an old Graflok back. Cleaning, painting, new GG, etc. The one thing I've noticed is that when the GG section is slid in it has a bit of movement. Probably 1 or 1.5mm, fore and aft, which would affect focus. Visually the springs look OK and the chrome arms aren't bent. Are the springs just weak from age? What would be a good fix for this other than buying another back or springs (if they can even be found)?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Wade

The springs could be weakened from inserting something thicker than the normal filmholders, or there could be crud preventing the springs working as they should. Finding another frame might be the easiest fix, these things aren't scarce. Yet.

mopar_guy · Apr 23, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
You could try cleaning the pivot point of the chrome arms with some naphtha, and then letting a drop or two of light oil work it's way in there. It helped mine a lot.

Yup.

richard ide · Apr 23, 2012

Can you remove the springs and bend them gently a little so that they will apply more pressure? If you can they will be as good as new or better.

mopar_guy · Apr 23, 2012

Probably the GG is a different thickness or a fresnel lens is missing. The frame is made of aluminum pot metal and can corrode. The "chrome" arms can be lubed with a light grease or a drop or two of oil and worked back and forth a few times to loosen them up.

Wade D · Apr 23, 2012

Old-N-Feeble said:
Did the original focusing screen have a Fresnel lens? If it did, and you didn't reinstall it, this is why the new GG is loose.

ETA: You are asking about the retaining fasteners for the GG, right?

Not the retaining clips for the GG. The broken GG fit snug and the new one does too. I don't think this version had a Fresnel. It's the springs that tension the hold down arms for the whole back.

I will try a more thorough cleaning of the springs and pivots and add light oil sparingly to see if that does the job. If not maybe the springs can be bent slightly as suggested.

My first thought was to bend the arms but that notion passed quickly as they might break. They look strong being a 'chrome' color but not knowing the actual metal it was a chance I didn't want to take.

It's true there are more on the market. Prices, especially on ebay, can get way too high though. I paid less than $100 for an entire Crown Graphic with the back. The only things wrong were the back and folding hood so I don't have a lot invested in this project.
Thanks for the suggestions so far,
Wade

fotch · Apr 24, 2012

I would not bend the springs. The metal is formed then heat treated to the proper hardness to create the spring. Bending after heat treating could either break them and/or cause a fracture, which will eventually break.

Old-N-Feeble · Apr 24, 2012

If it's the big Graflok springs then I'd try cleaning and lubing... as others already suggested. I can't remember the way they're made but, if they're coil springs, then maybe they just need to be tightened another turn?

E. von Hoegh · Apr 24, 2012

Old-N-Feeble said:
If it's the big Graflok springs then I'd try cleaning and lubing... as others already suggested. I can't remember the way they're made but, if they're coil springs, then maybe they just need to be tightened another turn?

They resemble clothespin springs. Tightening another turn won't happen. What might work is shimming the ends of the springs.

Wade D · Apr 26, 2012

Thanks again for all of the replies. I'm not in a hurry to get this done so I will carefully weigh all of the options presented. Will post my final solution when done.

Weak springs on a Graflok back.

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