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Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus

Post Number: 51
Registered: 08-2007

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 04:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I am currently restoring a Ricoh Diacord and in the process one of the springs in the Citizen shutter broke (the one that makes the cocking lever return to its original position). It is made from fairly thin wire and so far my attempts to make one from springs in my junk box failed. I think, I need to make one from scratch, so my question is, where would I source this kind of thin wire?
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Rlc
Tinkerer
Username: Rlc

Post Number: 53
Registered: 07-2006

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 04:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Markus you might try your local hobby shop. They carry various thickness of piano wire and model airplane control line wire. I save springs from ball point pens, cigarette lighters etc.
hope this may help. Richard.
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Doug
Tinkerer
Username: Doug

Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2008

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 08:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Markus, I had my Ricoh Diacord apart a few months ago and lost the spring that holds the shutter leaves closed when setting the shutter. I mean to say I launched the spring. It's somewhere in my basement. Anyways, I used a scrap guitar string, I think it was an E string from my son's guitar. The string is very long so you can practice a lot to get just the right shape. So far it has worked perfectly and cost almost nothing.
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Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson

Post Number: 576
Registered: 07-2006

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 08:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I was just going to suggest guitar strings; spring wire is also known as "Piano wire" in honor of its other major application.
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Billmartins
Tinkerer
Username: Billmartins

Post Number: 15
Registered: 08-2006

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 09:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

This supplier is pretty well stocked for a camera
technician's needs. Take a swing through here and
see if you can find what you are looking for.

http://www.smallparts.com/

Good luck.
Bill Martins
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Markus
Tinkerer
Username: Markus

Post Number: 52
Registered: 08-2007

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Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 10:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Thanks everybody... Doug, great idea! Since my guitar has nylon strings, I had not thought of guitar strings. I will have to check out the music store in town, tomorrow. In case the high E string is too thick, I will try smallparts.com (thanks Bill).

What would I do without you guys?

- Markus

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