Shutter Cleaning DIY /

[Drew Bedo]

Folks: This discussion has convinced me to have the work done by a competant technician.

[nolindan]

...many of the shutters and cameras [can be] fixed by simple exercise. This removes no gunk but often gets things working again...

Obviously this will not get the shutter working in the OP's case where the shutter blades are covered with oil - exercising the shutter will probably make things worse.

[nolindan]

Folks: This discussion has convinced me to have the work done by a competent technician.

I agree. Erring on the side of the angels (in the "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" sense) is always a safe bet. Less interesting maybe, but safer.

[bashful]

Although the major point is resolved, a note for hooligans, dilettantes and novices. I had a Yashica TLR with a sticky shutter, which was otherwise beyond economical repair, where I had exactly the described problem of flushing the shutter with lighter fluid, it would work for a couple of days, then get sticky again. I managed to fix it - so far, permanently - by flushing the shutter again, but leaving the shutter *open* by putting it on bulb and holding the release down with a rubber band. This seems to have allowed the dissolved grime to solidify at the 'outer' end of the shutter's travel, leaving the time-sensitive part adequately clean.

[Tin Can]

I think some shutters are simple and better

I have 2 Yashica A that always work

The other fancy Yashica fail often