wrecked Pacemaker Speed Graphic's focal plane shutter

airchinapilot

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Last year I took apart my Pacemaker's focal plane shutter thinking I could improve it. I thought the shutter wasn't firing at the proper speeds. Predictably, given my lack of skill or misunderstanding instructions, I gave up halfway. All the parts are there -- I more or less put it back together -- but I'm not going to be able to fix it and the FPS does not work.

I don't really use it any more but I feel bad for wrecking its function. Everything else works, just not the rear shutter. Before I wrecked it I wanted to explore barrel lenses. I don't care so much now but whoever wants to use it after me might.

Is this an easy fix for a professional? Should I bother throwing money into a repair?

I was thinking of just selling it as is if it sounded like the repair was too much.
 

BrianShaw

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I'm probably misquoting, but I remember seeing a sign in a clock repair shop once that read someting like:

Repair rates, per hour:

Routine repairs - $10
Rush job - $20
If you want to watch - $40
If you took it apart - $100

It really is more difficult to repair something that has been previously tinkered with. If all of the parts are there and nothing got damaged during the previous repair attempts it should be a relatively straight-forward job. You need to discuss the options with a repair person... and I'll bet the responses will vary from "no problem" to "no way". One repair guy I've used would charge about $250 for an overhaul of a Graphic, including the rear shutter. It might not be economically worth repairing.
 

Barry S

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I've taken out and repaired my Pacemaker Speed shutter--it isn't too complicated. My advice is to sell the camera as-is with the parts and let the next owner worry about it. Having a repair done will cost a minimum of $100 and you're probably not going to net any more money on the sale than if you sold it as-is.
 

removed account4

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hi

it isn't hard to re-time
how much of it did you take apart ?
is it apart so much that you removed the shutter itself ( cloth )
or you removed the side panel rather than the little time-nut ..

when you put it back together, make sure it is on "0" when you
wind the time-screw ...

you could always send it off to bert saunders ( he's on graflex.org )
to have him re-assemble it and re-time it ...

the fp shutter is the best thing ... i wish i had one on every LF camera i own !

john
 

vpwphoto

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I took apart the following and re-assembled with no problems and the worked again:

1964 MG transmission
1983 Mazda Rotary Engine
Canon FD lenses
Other old view camera lenses.
A copal shutter
Many lawnmower engines...

I was not able to re-assemble a Big Ben alarm clock the flew apart on me.
Some people can some people can't.
 
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airchinapilot

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The instructions I had told me to remove the side panel which is a maze of clockwork. I tried to document my progress with pictures but it was one of those situations where once i put it back together, nothing worked and I realized I didn't understand what it was I did.
 
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airchinapilot

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I think this is what I'm going to do. I originally bought it for about $200. I just thought it would be a shame if I passed it on in worse condition, but I do think the repair would be feasible for someone who was better at it than me.
 

domaz

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You always break the first camera you work on. It's just the way it works.
 

removed account4

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to retime the shutter
you just unscrew one thing
and loosen + tighten another
leaving the shutter on "0"

email bert, he will be able to help you
 

Sirius Glass

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jnanian said:
to retime the shutter
you just unscrew one thing
and loosen + tighten another
leaving the shutter on "0"

email bert, he will be able to help you
Click to expand...

Last year, the shutter on my just acquired 4"x5" Graflex Model D tore. I emailed Bert on graflex.org, just as jnanian said. Bert walked me step by step repairing the shutter and adjusting the shutter speed via email. Bert is a retired Graflex and Graphic repairman with over 26 years experience in the job. For years he repaired the cameras after he retired. He is definitely the go to man for your problem.

Steve
 
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airchinapilot

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i can't pretend that she didn't understand my photography hobby .. nor the parts of it that included attractive females
 

jimgalli

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Next time take a Holley 4 barrel carburetor apart and put it back together as a warm up procedure, then dive into the shutter.

Us guys that brag about what we can take apart and put together are like slot machine gamblers who brag about all the money they won but never seem to mention how much they contributed to the palace they're standing in.
 
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