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Jack_croswell
Tinkerer
Username: Jack_croswell
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 10:44 am: | 
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Hello All,
I'm new to this site and camera tinkering in general.
After a little over a year, I feel pretty confident working my way around a Spotmatic--I can perform most repairs, necessary adjustments, etc.
The one thing however that remains elusive, is when/where to lubricate? The curtain shafts are perhaps the most frustrating part of this for me. I have tried small drops of Nyoil in the vaguely suggested areas, but with no real satisfaction.
Finally, how does one 'smooth out' the film advance? I have several cameras, that although they function well, the film advance feels rough and gritty, compared to the silky smooth feel of that on other cameras.
Thanks in advance |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 255
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 12:55 pm: |
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Quote: "I have tried small drops of Nyoil in the vaguely suggested areas, but with no real satisfaction."
When I read this back to my girlfriend she slapped my face. But it is the best thing I've read all day.  |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 173
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 01:33 pm: |
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Many of us 'tinkerers' feel the same uncertainty and frustration with cleaning and lubricating the cloth type shutter. It seems there are secrets that professionals are understandably reluctant to disclose, but even Tomosy and seasoned hands on this forum are less than forthcoming when giving advice on exactly WHERE to relube.
Here is my ten cents worth. For the Pentax K series and Spotmatics, just clean and don't lube. The shutter spindles sit in teflon bearings and don't appear to require oil.
Minolta SRT series; the 1st and 2nd curtain wind gears appear to be factory dusted with dry moly. Leave them alone. The bottom spindle bearings can be oiled but I found Nyoil much too thick, a tiny drop of RemOil is OK.
Canon FTb; the curtain wind gears are best left alone but the upper ball races can be wiped with a small piece of blotting paper soaked in lighter fluid followed by application of small drop of RemOil.
I shall now retire to my bunker and await the flak.
PS a creaky film advance is probably caused by the 1st curtain brake being a bit too tight, and is not related to lack of lubrication on the drive gears. |
Mndean
Tinkerer
Username: Mndean
Post Number: 189
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 03:39 pm: |
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When you say you have several cameras with different film advance characteristics, are they all Spotmatics? Different brands, even different models from the same company can have different advance feel. |
Harryrag
Tinkerer
Username: Harryrag
Post Number: 172
Registered: 05-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 08, 2010 - 07:15 am: |
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When the cook was asked about the recipe he named the ingredients but did not say a word about cooking time and the right order and when to add the garlic. And my grandma used to advise me not to sing all the songs I knew. So why does anybody expect service people and authors of repair books to reveal all their secrets offhand? Who would buy their books, let alone need a service person's paid services if all insiders' tips were commonly shared?
No sure formula exists, except this one.
Oil or no oil, that is no question. The most probable #1 response is not nyeoil, but no oil! Lube rule #2: very little, if any.
Alternative route: if by any chance you hit the mark and pour in some oil where it does not belong the camera is prone to quit on the spot.
Some people call this situation a new or second chance. |
Jack_croswell
Tinkerer
Username: Jack_croswell
Post Number: 2
Registered: 02-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 08, 2010 - 04:19 pm: |
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Thanks for the responses everybody. I adjusted the 1st curtain brake slightly, and wa-la...no more squeak. I am encouraged to hear little to no lubrication is the preferred route, as that was my original hope. I am very good at doing little to nothing. |
Tictac
Tinkerer
Username: Tictac
Post Number: 5
Registered: 07-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2010 - 04:37 pm: |
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Sorry to bump an old post, but can anyone point me to a schematic / tell me how to adjust the curtain brake for a SRT-102? My camera squeaks when I advance it, and I'd like to try and fix it myself instead of sending it out |
Denny
Tinkerer
Username: Denny
Post Number: 54
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2010 - 06:42 pm: |
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I have found a lot of good info on this website
http://www.willegal.net/photo/srt/shuttertuneup.htm
In case you don't have one, you can get a 101 service manual here
http://acuravigorclub.com/Minolta/ServiceManual.htm
Good luck |
Tictac
Tinkerer
Username: Tictac
Post Number: 6
Registered: 07-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 23, 2010 - 07:07 pm: |
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as have I, but nothing about squeaky shutters or curtain brakes.
Is Gez's post here [https://kyp.hauslendale.com/classics/forum/messages/2/16525.html?1254018237] about brakes correct, and if so can someone verify that the screw to adjust them is directly in between two spools? |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 227
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 24, 2010 - 04:03 am: |
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Tictac, I'm not 100% certain that a squeaky advance for an SRT is solely caused by badly adjusted curtain brakes, but I have encountered similar problems in a Canon FTb and solved it by renewing the felt brake pad(s), or more easily, by slackening off the screw that pushes the first curtain pad against its brass running track.
Getting back to the SRT, according to the Minolta factory repair manual the part sitting between the two spools, listed as part number 031-2113-01, is the "brake spring adjusting nut". As the manual does not refer to first or second curtain brakes I assume that a single brake serves both, as in the Pentax Spotmatic. The adjustments section of the manual doesn't explain how to adjust the brake, so it will be a case of making small changes and checking for curtain bounce. Hope this helps. |
