stiff aperture

PGG wrote:
 > My Calumet 90mm f8 lens (I think it is a Super Anguleron), mounted in a
 > Copal 0 shutter, is quite stiff to move the aperture. It is plenty
 > usable, but I wonder if it can be easily loosened. Any ideas? The
 > aperture level has a little screw-down thing, but this is not screwed down.
 >
 >
I had a lens once that was like that. If you are lucky, you have the same
problem I had. The aperture lever "knob" is attached to a round disk that
surrounds the shutter assembly and reaches inside to do the work. Mine
touched the lensboard slightly and increasing the spacing ever so slightly
fixed it. If you unmount the lens from the lensboard and that solves your
problem, try remounting with a very thin shim (perhaps just a piece of
paper, suitably cut) to give a "smigeon" more relief.

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://counter.li.org" target="_blank">http://counter.li.org</a>
^^-^^ 10:15:00 up 1 day, 18:28, 3 users, load average: 3.35, 3.28, 3.26<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: stiff aperture 

this post is not archived.
 >> Stay informed about: stiff aperture 

 >My Calumet 90mm f8 lens (I think it is a Super Anguleron), mounted in a
 >Copal 0 shutter, is quite stiff to move the aperture. It is plenty
 >usable, but I wonder if it can be easily loosened. Any ideas? The
 >aperture level has a little screw-down thing, but this is not screwed down.
 >

Typically it's the rear of the shutter that gets gummed up.

Remove the lens from its lensboard.

Remove both front and rear cells, if possible, just for safety's sake.

Looking at the rear of the shutter you'll see the mechanism as you move the
aperture lever.

Typically it's a ring moving around an inner ring.

Take some regular household alcohol (ethylene products are more efficient but
very dangerous to your health) and pour very very small amounts where you see
the friction between the two rings, then move the lever back and forth to work
it in. You might see gunk pour out of the gap between the rings, wipe if off
carefully with a cotton swab. Keep working the lever and use an air blower
gently all around to remove the alcohol residue that might gum up the works
again.

Good luck.

Bob G<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: stiff aperture 

Spend the bucks and get it cleaned, if the aperture is gunked most likely
the speeds are off, too.

"PGG" <pa_paSPAAMgordygrapes.RemoveThis@NO_SP_A_Myahoo.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.01.21.22.51.15.71000@NO_SP_A_Myahoo.com...
   > >> My Calumet 90mm f8 lens (I think it is a Super Anguleron), mounted in a
   > >> Copal 0 shutter, is quite stiff to move the aperture. It is plenty
   > >> usable, but I wonder if it can be easily loosened. Any ideas? The
   > >> aperture level has a little screw-down thing, but this is not screwed
down.
   > >>
   > >>
  > > I had a lens once that was like that. If you are lucky, you have the
same
  > > problem I had. The aperture lever "knob" is attached to a round disk
that
  > > surrounds the shutter assembly and reaches inside to do the work. Mine
  > > touched the lensboard slightly and increasing the spacing ever so
slightly
  > > fixed it. If you unmount the lens from the lensboard and that solves
your
  > > problem, try remounting with a very thin shim (perhaps just a piece of
  > > paper, suitably cut) to give a "smigeon" more relief.
 >
 > I took it off the lens board. Still stiff. In fact it looks like there
 > might be gunk in the aperture plate. I wonder if cleaning is a DIYer??
 > Not that I'm gonna try anytime soon because it is my most valuable lens!
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: stiff aperture