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Sander1981
Tinkerer
Username: Sander1981
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 02:44 pm: | 
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Dear all,
I just bought an old Rolleicord ('50-'53 I guess). Camera has been collecting dust for decades.
The lens looks extremely 'foggy', even after cleaning. Can it be something IN the lens instead of on the outside? (Is the front lens made of two separate lenses?)
The shutter is lazy, like many I've read about. I can't find anywhere what kind of lube I should use. I have read some remarks about lighter fluid, but doesn't this evaporate in seconds? Can anyone tell me what I can best use? I have some WD40, but until I know for sure, I'm afraid to use it.
Best,
Sander
The Netherlands |
Denny
Tinkerer
Username: Denny
Post Number: 64
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 06:51 pm: |
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This site will help you date and select the model you actually have.
http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/rolleicord.shtml
Yes - the lens would be at least 3 elements and maybe four.
DO NOT GET WD40 ANYWHERE NEAR THE SHUTTER. Generally, the slow shutter is due to the original lubrication drying and slowing it down. The lighter fluid cleans all the old lube out and the shutter will usually free up. Once your model is known, which will also state the shutter type, there is a lot of info here and on other sites as to how to open it and clean it.
My Rolleicord is older than yours and the lenses were easy to remove and clean. The shutter was very easy to open and clean. Once you get back with more info, there are a lot of talented people here that will steer you in the right direction.
Oh yeah, no WD40.
Good luck and stay in touch here. |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 09:22 pm: |
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Yes, lighter fluid evaporates - that's the idea. You use it to REMOVE the dirt and dried oil from the shutter, not to add more stuff into it. Usually it only takes a drop or two of lighter fluid on the pallet and star wheel in the shutter escapement to perk up a sluggish shutter, but all cases are by no means alike. I have some general notes here which may be of some help: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-158.html |
Sander1981
Tinkerer
Username: Sander1981
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 18, 2011 - 03:07 am: |
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Thanks for your replies!
On the website, I found out it is a Rolleicord III, model K3B.
I assume by lighter fluid you mean the zippo-type. I'll get that and clean the shutter. Do I need to open the casing to clean the whole blades, or is a tip of fluid on the visible part of the shutter sufficient?
I may nead to open a new thread, but I do have another puzzling (for me) question. The 'see through' lens is not fixed, but very loose. I guess it needs adjustment, and I thought of an easy way, hope it is correct. If I calibrate it on the distance on the scale of the focussing wheel, will that be enough? And if so, should I take the distance from the front of the lens, or from the backplate?
Thanks in advance.
Sander |
Denny
Tinkerer
Username: Denny
Post Number: 65
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 18, 2011 - 10:49 pm: |
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I have found that if the shutter is slow, or doesn't work on the low speeds, generally the escapement needs a good cleaning with lighter fluid (naptha). Zippo is one type and a lot of posters here seem to use Rosinol, which is locally available, so that is what I tend to use.
This website will show how to get into the shutter and is a good tutorial. Rick's website is also a great source of information.
http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=compur
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-55.html
Just be careful and take photos as you undo something. It will help when it's time to re-assemble.
Good luck |
Hanskerensky
Tinkerer
Username: Hanskerensky
Post Number: 92
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 02:59 pm: |
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Hallo Sander,
Concerning the re-adjusting of the lensfocus on a twin lens reflex it is important to have the taking lens and the viewing lens in focus on exactly the same spot.
One of the easiest ways to check for that is putting a groundglass against the filmguide inside the camera and focus on an object some distance away (i.e. a lamppost (lantarenpaal) or chimney a couple of hundred meters away). You can have a better look on that groundglass with a 10x magnifying glass (loupe).
When the taking lens is correctly focussed have a look at the viewfinder groundglass and adjust the viewing lens till it is also focussed at that same distant object.
Maybe later on you have to finetune that with some testshots. |
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