Wista SP Frustration

mitrajoon · Mar 15, 2017

For some reason when I unfold my Wista SP and move the camera body forward, instead of sliding on to the focusing rail, it drops into the gap between the rail in the body and the focusing rail. When returning the camera back to fold it up this happens very often. Getting the camera back on the rail can take 20 minutes of fiddling. Very frustrating. Obviously the gap is necessary to fold the camera. And obviously I am doing some thing wrong to make this happen. Any ideas?

John Wiegerink · Mar 15, 2017

mitrajoon said:
For some reason when I unfold my Wista SP and move the camera body forward, instead of sliding on to the focusing rail, it drops into the gap between the rail in the body and the focusing rail. When returning the camera back to fold it up this happens very often. Getting the camera back on the rail can take 20 minutes of fiddling. Very frustrating. Obviously the gap is necessary to fold the camera. And obviously I am doing some thing wrong to make this happen. Any ideas?

Do you run the focusing rail back and lock it before you slide the body/front standard forward? I had to do this with my Busch Pressman too. It had to have a similar gap to fold. If I didn't run the focusing rail to the back after I dropped the bed the front stand would come off the body guides and drop in the crack. Solution was to run the rail back and lock it then slide the front standard out and then lock that. After that I could unlock the focus rail and focus as normal. Your Wista might be different?

shutterfinger · Mar 16, 2017

Instruction manual is here: http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/wista_45_sp_vx.pdf
Page 3 of the manual covers opening the camera.
Something may be damaged on your camera.

mitrajoon · Mar 16, 2017

John & Shutterfinger: Thanks.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something on the locking part. I have the manual but simply can't decipher the broken English. There are 3 levers (not knobs) on the left side of the camera. 2 are on the rail and one is on the front standard near the bottom. I didn't see any reference in the manual to the lever on the front standard and pushing on it didn't seem to affect any thing.
It looks like the 2 on the rail are for locking but they don't seem to do anything when I tweak them.

I would appreciate a bit more instruction on what the 3 levers control. Consider the source (me) and if you describe what they do please let me know what position (forward/back or up/down) does what. Again, I've tried these various positions and there doesn't appear to be any effect. Maybe they are broken, but I suspect user error/ignorance.

Thanks again.

John Wiegerink · Mar 16, 2017

mitrajoon said:
John & Shutterfinger: Thanks.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something on the locking part. I have the manual but simply can't decipher the broken English. There are 3 levers (not knobs) on the left side of the camera. 2 are on the rail and one is on the front standard near the bottom. I didn't see any reference in the manual to the lever on the front standard and pushing on it didn't seem to affect any thing.
It looks like the 2 on the rail are for locking but they don't seem to do anything when I tweak them.

I would appreciate a bit more instruction on what the 3 levers control. Consider the source (me) and if you describe what they do please let me know what position (forward/back or up/down) does what. Again, I've tried these various positions and there doesn't appear to be any effect. Maybe they are broken, but I suspect user error/ignorance.

Thanks again.

I can confirm what they actually control because I own a Toyo and not a Wista, but I will say the lock on my Toyo didn't work when I got it and I had to fix that. So, maybe you have the same problem? We won't know until some Wista owner chimes in.
John

shutterfinger · Mar 16, 2017

The manual I linked to in post 3 and every picture I can find online of a Wista 45SP has 2 knobs on each side with the bottom one larger diameter than the other one which is about center of the body.
Are you sure its a Wista? Can you post pictures of the camera you have?

mitrajoon · Mar 16, 2017

This is not about the knobs, it is about the levers on the left side of the camera on the rail and at the bottom of the front standard. And yes, I'm sure it's a Wista.

Wayne · Mar 16, 2017

Yes you need to have the focus rail all the way back otherwise the front standard will drop off into nowhere. But it shouldn't take more than a minute to get it back on track either. I don't think I even need to lock the focus rail on mine, maybe yours is loose or mine is more snug.

The right side lever locks the lower rail. The 2 left side levers lock the upper rail, the one the front standard slides into (or should). Both or just the rear left one can be used when the upper rail is retracted, and when the upper rail is fully extended only the forward one is used.

When you pull out the front standard make sure all parts of the rails are flush with each other in front. They should be about 1/4 inch back of the front edge of the bed. This is also where you want them for closing the camera. There should now only be 1/2 inch between the rear of the upper focusing rail and the stationary rail the front standard sits in when retracted. If your front end still slides off instead of sliding into the upper rail, something is wrong.

mitrajoon · Mar 16, 2017

Wayne,

Thank you. I guess there must be something wrong because I can only get the focusing rail to move, the one that is locked by the right hand side lever. The two levers on the left don't seem to have any effect. The front lever "snaps" forward and back, the rear one just wiggles a bit. What about the lever on the front standard which is directly above the left rear lever? What is it for? I didn't see that referenced in the manual.

If I need to get the camera repaired any suggestions? I'm in South FLA.

shutterfinger · Mar 16, 2017

Thanks for the pictures. Upon seeing them I remembered repairing some broken off screws in the left side (of the picture) rail guide. The info is on the other computer so I'll check it tomorrow for details of the rail locks.
Rail locks work in one of two ways, the shaft the lock lever is on is pushed down against a brass or bronze pad which applies pressure to the focus shaft making it difficult to turn. This type usually has to have the rails removed from the body and the lever starts in one of three positions.
The other type presses a pad in a similar manner but puts pressure on the edge of the rail.
Either type should be loose enough for the rails to move with the lever forward toward the front of the camera and tight to prevent movement when pulled toward the rear or pressed toward the rails.

Wayne · Mar 16, 2017

mitrajoon said:
Wayne,

Thank you. I guess there must be something wrong because I can only get the focusing rail to move, the one that is locked by the right hand side lever. The two levers on the left don't seem to have any effect. The front lever "snaps" forward and back, the rear one just wiggles a bit. What about the lever on the front standard which is directly above the left rear lever? What is it for? I didn't see that referenced in the manual.

If I need to get the camera repaired any suggestions? I'm in South FLA.

You should be able to take a screwdriver to the left side levers and loosen/tighten/inspect them. I've never needed to so I can't give you any further guidance on what to look for. The rearwars position is "lock" and when they are in the forward position the rail should be free.

If you're talking about the lever on the lower left side of the front standard, its for swing. You press it down and the standard can be swung left or right.

mweintraub · Mar 17, 2017

John Wiegerink said:
Do you run the focusing rail back and lock it before you slide the body/front standard forward? I had to do this with my Busch Pressman too. It had to have a similar gap to fold. If I didn't run the focusing rail to the back after I dropped the bed the front stand would come off the body guides and drop in the crack. Solution was to run the rail back and lock it then slide the front standard out and then lock that. After that I could unlock the focus rail and focus as normal. Your Wista might be different?

I don't have to on my Pressman, but I do find if I have the camera level, I have no problem. If I have it leaning down or up, it's a pain to jump the gap.

shutterfinger · Mar 17, 2017

The camera I worked on was a 45D.

It was a simple straight forward repair. Nothing complicated in the rail lock mechanism.

mitrajoon · Mar 17, 2017

Thanks for the suggestions.

At this point I'm at an impasse. I can't unscrew the levers because the screws are covered by the upper rail. This is a pristine camera that was bought and essentially unused. I suspect that sitting in a closet for years caused the two rails to seize up. They probably need to be taken off the camera and separated.

As far as I can tell, other than being able to extend the bellows further forward or back and the risk of derailment, the camera functions perfectly. I think it best that I not try to mess with it. (If it involves more than spraying WD-40 I'm pretty helpless). I'll just have to be more careful/patient when setting up and putting the camera away.

Edit: Shutterfinger, saw your post after I sent mine. The levers I am referring to are on the left side, but regardless it looks like you had to take the rails off the camera and I lack the confidence to do that (actually it's getting them back on that worries me). But thanks for the photos, if I decided to give it a try, they will help.

Of course I'm still open to other suggestions so anyone feel free to chime in.

shutterfinger · Mar 17, 2017

mitrajoon said:
As far as I can tell, other than being able to extend the bellows further forward or back and the risk of derailment, the camera functions perfectly. I think it best that I not try to mess with it. (If it involves more than spraying WD-40 I'm pretty helpless). I'll just have to be more careful/patient when setting up and putting the camera away.

I don't condone using WD40 on a camera But others have used it for cleaning and freeing stuck parts so using it sparingly and wiping it off once the stuck parts run freely won't hurt. The worst it will do gum things up more if it is allowed to dry out.

The rail guides have to be parallel and aligned with the body fixed rail. Loosening the guide screws is necessary to remove the rail assembly. The base of the rail has an angled gear on it that stops or has a pin that prevents further turning of the focus shaft. With the rail fully extended, guide screws loosened 1 1/2 to 2 turns the rail should pull out the front of the bed. Installation is the reverse ensuring that the rail starts on the same gear on each side then the guides are aligned with no side play in the rail and the screws tightened. Aligning the guides is the hardest part.

Wayne · Mar 17, 2017

mitrajoon said:
Thanks for the suggestions.

At this point I'm at an impasse. I can't unscrew the levers because the screws are covered by the upper rail.

That doesn't sound right. Enough of the screws should still be visible that you can get a screwdriver in them.

Don't be afraid to apply a little force to the upper rail to loosen it up if its gummy. Leave the front standard all the way back in the body. Flip the right lever back so the lower rail is locked. Flip the left ones forward as well as you can. Then put your thumb just behind where it says Wista 45 and pull out. Don't overdo it but with some Wd40 it should start moving.

Where are you? Maybe a local Apugger can come over and help.

mitrajoon · Mar 18, 2017

Wayne & others,

Success! I was only kidding when I mentioned WD-40 above but that (actually silicone lubricant) and Wayne's description of how to apply force (or more to the point, don't be afraid to apply force) broke the rail free. It took a bit more Silicone to get it to move freely, but it is smooth now and actually goes all the way back so that there is no more gap when I bring the camera in and out. I also unscrewed the rear left lever and put it back, it seems a bit loose but it works. Anyway, I'm a happy camper and plan on heading out to a nearby park tomorrow or Monday.

My thanks to all of you and once again, I'm in South Florida and would love to meet with anyone in the area.

Wayne · Mar 18, 2017

Glad to hear you got it! Its a great camera, you are going to love it.

shutterfinger · Mar 18, 2017

Congratulations on scaling that hill.

Wista SP Frustration

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