Camera Talk

Hi all -

Long shot, but maybe someone here has seen this:

I've got a Clarus. Have had several, have worked on the shutters before. But I'm subject to poo-brain these days, and while I documented everything while I was working on it, well, that was on nelsonfoto. I'm enjoying putzing with 35mm rangefinders again, and the Clarus, which has been wonky for years (though I've gotten photos from it, see below), has me interested again.

Anyway, I can post images of the gear train, but if you haven't worked on one, it won't help. There're two gears that load the barrels for the front and rear curtains, but they're meshed with the entire train for the wind and release mechanisms. I can't figure out how to decouple them. What needs to happen is they get separated, turned independently to add some pre-load to the barrels, and everything put back together.

So, if you want photos, let me know. The shutter (amazingly) is firing well. Just too slowly. I'd like to be able to use this in the midland of its range. Need to wind up the curtains a bit.

Oh, yeah - old pics:
Photo11_11 by Scott, on Flickr

Photo14_14 by Scott, on Flickr

Photo16_16 by Scott, on Flickr

Thanks for any thoughts.
Scott

Don't have a Clarus, Scott, so I've not had the pleasure of rebuilding one. It is one of the cameras I'd like to add to my "Made In America" collection someday. You've got some nice shots there of the young'uns.

PF

Thanks, PF. This is the only focal plane shutter I've ever worked on, or likely ever will. Fairly simple, but like I said, my memory is mush nowadays. Kind of worrying. I'l cypher it out eventually. Just looking for a head start.

The Clarus is a bit ungainly, but in a cute way. When it works, it's a good camera. The Wolly Velostigmat is a killer.

Scott

FWIW, I found a picture from the last time I was under the hood:

IMG_2392 by Scott, on Flickr

Okay, some judiciously applied Rem oil and xylene have the shutter running like a champ. Not to speed, but the curtains follow nicely, and there's no lag like there was before, and the stuttering/stopping has gone. And it seems consistent, something for which these cameras were not known. Was able to fix the door latch, clean the rangefinder (still need to check it with a ground glass), and polish it up nicely. I'd like to add a little more umph to the shutter by adding some more pre-load to the barrels, but I'm also not really wanting to undo what's working, either. Will get some Kentmere and hope for the best. The lens is in really nice shape. And I have a case for it. Smokin'!

So I'm ordering film this afternoon...

Ok, for the sake of having this documented somewhere for when my memory craps out even more: The spring to the left of the top is what holds the tension on the shutter curtains. Pop the leg of the spring up and the top of the barrel (the post under that leg) spins freely and unwinds. Fit a small screwdriver into the slot on top (obscured by paint in the picture) and you can wind the tension back up. Replace the leg of the spring and it's set. I started by tensioning it all the way, then back off a bit. Try to cock the shutter, and the curtains will only travel so far until the barrel is completely wound. Back it off a little more, continue cocking the shutter. Repeat until it just cocks fully, the do the other barrel similarly. Had it set to the max shutter speed while doing this (1/1000). Doesn't go nearly that fast, but probably between 1/250 and 1/500. Ready for film.

Could you back all the tension off, wind the shutter, then put the tension back in? Or would that result in curtain crumples?

PF