Servicing the Shutter

Now is a good time to remove the cover on the shutter. There are four screws. Remove those, but mark them, because they are different lengths. To remove the cover fully, you have to depress the post on the film sprocket -- the flat edge of a small screwdriver works -- while lifting the cover off. You have to work it a bit to fully remove it. The last corner to come off will be the one on the upper right.

Now replace the film advance knob. Don't overtighten the small screws, because they strip quite easily. Make them snug. Advance the film and stop when you are in the above position shown in the photo. Look closely at the silk ribbon that connects the two shutter curtains. The ribbon usually holds up well, but what doesn't is the stitching. Lately, I've been using Gorilla Glue, which I bought at Sears, to reinforce the bond. Just a half drop on both sides will do -- enough to soak all of the way through the ribbon. Don't use too much! Allow it to dry.

When dry, wind and release the shutter several times. You'll need to place your thumb lightly on the bottom curtain when you trigger the shutter. Without the shutter frame in place, the curtain tends to travel out, and the top curtain ends up behind it. The action should be light but positive.

If you see a lot of dirt or grime built up on the gears, use a little lighter fluid on a rag to clean them. Just be careful when you're working around the shutter curtains. They're brass but the ends can be bent all too easily. Once you remove the grime, you should lubricate lightly.

You'll see as you cock the shutter that the small arm that hangs down holds the bottom shutter curtain in place. When you press the shutter release, it swings the arm to the right and the shutter curtain opens. The arm should hold the little catch on the bottom curtain. If it's too tight, advancing the film will be very rough. If it's too loose, the shutter will release right away. It's OK to bend this back into shape. You'll need to replace the shutter cover to check this. So this should be your last step. Lift the cover partly, bend, put it back, advance the film. If it works fine to start, then don't mess with it.

Refit the back and replace the screws. Again, the screws should be snug, but don't overtighten.

> The Lens Mount