"Wollensak Regular" shutter problem

Hello, dear friends!

This is my first post in the LF forum. So, please consider me as a begginer in the LF world.
Two weeks ago, I've purchased my first LF, 5x7 (13 x 18 cm) camera with "Wollensak Regular" shutter attached. It has two pistons, left one for cable pump release and right one for slower shutter speeds. It seems like everything works well, except the left piston. I tried to trigger it by improvised air pump, but the piston didn't move. It IS possible to move the piston up and down, but with a little help of force. Is it a good idea to put a drop of fine mechanic oil into the piston? I will come back later with more questions on LF, but first, I have to solve the shutter problem.
Thanks in advance!
snjesko

Suggest you go to the below web site and read about the wollensack shutters and ETC: [http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info.html] you should find all your answers there, good luck and enjoy leanring about them things:

Thanks seawolf66!
It is really good resource.
cheers!
snjesko

Before you try something, look in the library for "Restoring Classic & Collecteble Cameras" by Thomas Tomosy. I found my copy on amazon.com cheap, but your mileage may very. The coverage is not deep but it will keep you from damaging the shutter.

Those pistons, either the shutter release piston, or the shutter speed regulating piston really need to run dry. Generally after years of neglect, they need to be taken apart and cleaned thoroughly with a residue-free cleaner. They should slide in and out with no resistance. In other words, without the levers attached to the piston, you should be able to turn the piston upside down and have it fall out of the piston sleeve. This is your goal for cleaning. The shutter timing piston might come out slowly, due to restricted air opening, but never-the-less, should drop out.