Collieslave Posted February 17, 2020 Share #1 Posted February 17, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have acquired a iiif which hasn't been used for some time but appears to be in excellent condition. But some slow speeds were occasionally but not invariably not running correctly - shutter would open but not close until the winder was advanced. The escapement was not running at every attempt, notably on 1 sec.. I repeatedly operated the shutter on the slow speeds and now the slow speeds invariably work correctly with the escapement sounding fine. As far as I can judge all the speeds seem accurate (comparing with another Leica and/or a watch). But I have found a curiosity. Now I do not make a habit of operating the camera upside down but I have found that 1 sec will not operate with the camera inverted - I have to wind on to close the shutter. 1/2 sec upwards is fine upside down. All speeds are OK with the camera in portrait position. I know that this is a frivolous query (for who uses their cameras upside down?) but any ideas why this should be so? OK I could get the camera serviced but being a not wealthy pensioner I would prefer to avoid this. Obviously I avoid the problem by not attempting to use the camera upside down .... I hope my post does not seem too frivolous, but I am curious as to what is going on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 17, 2020 Posted February 17, 2020 Hi Collieslave, Take a look here Slow Speed Eccentricity!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jankap Posted February 17, 2020 Share #2 Posted February 17, 2020 I think, that the lubrication has thickened or dried. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted February 17, 2020 Share #3 Posted February 17, 2020 29 minutes ago, Collieslave said: I have acquired a iiif which hasn't been used for some time but appears to be in excellent condition. But some slow speeds were occasionally but not invariably not running correctly - shutter would open but not close until the winder was advanced. The escapement was not running at every attempt, notably on 1 sec.. I repeatedly operated the shutter on the slow speeds and now the slow speeds invariably work correctly with the escapement sounding fine. As far as I can judge all the speeds seem accurate (comparing with another Leica and/or a watch). But I have found a curiosity. Now I do not make a habit of operating the camera upside down but I have found that 1 sec will not operate with the camera inverted - I have to wind on to close the shutter. 1/2 sec upwards is fine upside down. All speeds are OK with the camera in portrait position. I know that this is a frivolous query (for who uses their cameras upside down?) but any ideas why this should be so? OK I could get the camera serviced but being a not wealthy pensioner I would prefer to avoid this. Obviously I avoid the problem by not attempting to use the camera upside down .... I hope my post does not seem too frivolous, but I am curious as to what is going on! Slow speeds (which I never use myself) are usually the first things to go in a camera that needs servicing. If you need the slow speeds you will have to have the camera serviced. If you only use 'normal speeds' then you can continue to use them until the probable cause (thickening lubricant as mentioned by jankap) catches up with them as well. William 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted February 17, 2020 Share #4 Posted February 17, 2020 I should have a look, if the slow speeds of my IIIf still work. The "T" speed is the one I have used often. The 1/25 I could use very good handheld, but slower was difficult. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted February 18, 2020 Share #5 Posted February 18, 2020 Perhaps it's to prevent the camera from being used in Australia? Pete. 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted February 18, 2020 Share #6 Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) As mentioned above a good CLA shall cure it. There is a tiny spring, it shall push a rod down to couple the second curtain with escape. If camera is upside down than there is additionally the weight of the rod which the spring needs to overcome, it needs to push the rod up. So either cleaning in this area or to increase the force of the spring. I would think rather the first, as you had problems with operations in normal position. Edited February 18, 2020 by jerzy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Attrik Posted February 23, 2020 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Another cause of slow-speed eccentricity happens within the slow-speed escapement assembly. Alan Starkie, at Camera works, Bury, has serviced one of my 3f's. He replaced the whole escapement. There is inside it a small double gear, a large gear with a smaller co-axial one attached by virtue of a spigot extended from the small gear and pressed into the larger wheel, it relies entirely on the friction of the press fitting. If the small wheel loses some friction it can slip irregularly and cause precisely that problem. D.Lox. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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