Shutter Cleaning DIY /

[Drew Bedo]

I have gotten a lens in a Betax #4 shutter. The shutter snaps at all speeds but is slow and sticky. The diaphragm works smoothly but has oil on the blades.

Someone has told me to unscrew the optical elements and clean the shutter by squirting lighter fluid Into it while reputedly tripping the shutter and working the iris. Is there something better than lighter fluid? Can that stuff even be bought today?

Just how bad an idea is it to do this?

[Dugan]

Bad idea.
What happens is that the naphtha dissolves the offending stiff old grease, flushes it away from the problem area to somewhere else inside the shutter, and then the naphtha evaporates. This leaves the grease where it doesn't belong.
It might work for a while... " ooooh, magic!" ...but down the road can cause more problems...and make for a more expensive professional CLA.
Others will swear by the "miracle fix"...it's a controversial subject.

[LabRat]

The other (big) problem is many old iris and shutter blades are made of paper or celluloid, which can be damaged by solvent use, and old greases/oils can migrate to other parts of shutter gumming them up...

Steve K

[gypsydog]

Have it properly repaired or leave it alone. You started a thread previously asking who could service it and received multiple options. Why waste peoples time if you are going to ignore it and perform a hack and possible destroy a shutter. Shutters are not and endless commodity.

[Tin Can]

My rule is never clean a LENS if bought clean

No touching, ever

Bad shutters are never fixed, I just use a lens cap, strobes or Packard

When I buy a used lens in shutter

I buy the best and pay for it

[BrianShaw]

If you have to ask, then it’s a bad idea.

[Drew Bedo]

Thank You Everyone.

I'll have it serviced properly when I can.

[paulbarden]

The Betax is a very simple shutter and fairly easy to service (if you are mechanically competent). Here is some info on the process: https://www.photrio.com/forum/thread...9/post-1667527

Also, this service tutorial for the Alphax should be useful, as its not very different from the Betax: https://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=alphax

[Drew Bedo]

Thanks, I looked . . .GASP !

When I regained consciousness, I swore I'd never do more than remove a lens cap ever again.

[paulbarden]

Thanks, I looked . . .GASP !

When I regained consciousness, I swore I'd never do more than remove a lens cap ever again.

Those old Betax shutters are so simple. You should see some of the large format Compur shutters I've serviced! Some of them are crazy complex.