Zorki 4 RIP?

mrred · Jul 2, 2015

I have been bad and have not used my Zorki 4 in a while. I took it out of the display cabinet and discovered it would not cock the shutter. Is it dead or can something be done?

summicron1 · Jul 2, 2015

hmmmm. You don't say what doesn't happen -- doesn't wind at all? Doesn't catch?

If the former, don't force it, but gently -- or maybe just try the shutter button first, maybe it's already cocked.

If the latter, gently cock it a few times and see if the pawl loosens up.

If all else fails, makes a so-so paperweight.

mrred · Jul 2, 2015

It doesn't catch, but the takup and the gears turn. If I gently hold the leaver on the film under side, it will catch but still not cock.

Xmas · Jul 2, 2015

Probably grease turned into wax.
Try
http://jay.fedka.com
Or similar site or put it back on shelf.

zanxion72 · Jul 3, 2015

Take lighter fluid and flush it down the cable release socket. Be careful not to dampen the curtains as they may come off from their drums.

summicron1 · Jul 3, 2015

zanxion72 said:
Take lighter fluid and flush it down the cable release socket. Be careful not to dampen the curtains as they may come off from their drums.

GAAAH!!!!! DON'T DO THIS!!!

summicron1 · Jul 3, 2015

mrred said:
It doesn't catch, but the takup and the gears turn. If I gently hold the leaver on the film under side, it will catch but still not cock.

just try working it a while. might loosen up.

Xmas · Jul 3, 2015

If that fails try warm airing cupboard over night but best to strip and clean old wax out.

darkosaric · Jul 3, 2015

Is it maybe still on Rewind mode?

Lamar · Jul 3, 2015

And sometimes when it is placed back into adavance you have to fiddle with the knob and shutter release a bit to get it to raise and reengage the mechanism.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 3, 2015

zanxion72 said:
Take lighter fluid and flush it down the cable release socket. Be careful not to dampen the curtains as they may come off from their drums.

Here is similar action in Russian folklore. Inflating old horse trough the straw which inserted to horse arse. Horse looks better, but it will not improve performance in long term.

rjbuzzclick · Jul 3, 2015

Lamar said:
And sometimes when it is placed back into adavance you have to fiddle with the knob and shutter release a bit to get it to raise and reengage the mechanism.

This is my advice too. The ring around the shutter release (rewind release) sometime takes a little fiddling with to get it to reengage.

gone · Jul 3, 2015

Having owned too many FSU cameras, lighter fluid sounds good....but I would use it in a somewhat different manner :]

OptiKen · Jul 3, 2015

momus said:
Having owned too many FSU cameras, lighter fluid sounds good....but I would use it in a somewhat different manner :]

I own a few myself and know exactly what you mean

albada · Jul 4, 2015

OptiKen said:
I own a few myself and know exactly what you mean

Yes indeed!
I found that an FSU camera usually needs to be disassembled, and then when reassembling, clean/lube/calibrate each part, and this may mean modifying poorly-made parts.
It's too much work.

Mark Overton

mrred · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks for the info. I will post on what actually worked.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Cycler · Jul 13, 2015

Are all three red dots in line on the shutter button, housing & body?

Zorki 4 RIP?

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