Zorki 4 RIP?

[mrred]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[zanxion72]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[darkosaric]

Is it maybe still on Rewind mode?

 

[Lamar]

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.]

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]

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]

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

 

[OptiKen]

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]

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]

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

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Cycler]

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