Speed Graphic Focusing

[shapirophoto]

So I have another problem... It seems that the rack focus, (knobs at the front of the rail) on my speed graphic are stuck... They won't let me rack OUT, they'll retract in just a touch, but are completely stuck (jammed) as far as racking out goes... Any ideas? Any DIY ways to fix it? The camera is definitely still usable, but fine tune focusing is really tough when you're just sliding the front standard by hand along the rail.

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks!

-as

[al olson]

My baby Speed has a little set screw near the knurled knob. Make certain that that is not too tight. Also I believe that most of the larger cameras have a locking lever. Are you sure that is in the unlocked position?

[Bill_1856]

The focus locking lever, just inside the right focusing knob, is easy to accidentally engage.

[shapirophoto]

The focus locking lever, just inside the right focusing knob, is easy to accidentally engage.

I've tried the lever in both positions and it still won't rack out... any other ideas?

[Andrew]

was it working before or is it a problem since you got the camera?
if it's an old camera, is the mechanism just too dirty to move?
my crown was pretty well jammed when I got it and it responded to thorough cleaning and a little lubrication...

[jnantz]

can you unscrew the rails with the front standard still in the box
and clean off the teeth under of the rails and ...
and the threaded thingy that the focus knobs are attached to
that moves the rails forward and back?
sometimes as andrew said, they get gummed up enough
and they don't allow thingy to turn or the teeth on the underside of the rails
are gummed up so they can't move forward or back.
i can't remember what i cleaned mine with ( wd? )
and then a dab of white lith-grease or clock oil it was cleaned?

good luck!

[shapirophoto]

was it working before or is it a problem since you got the camera?
if it's an old camera, is the mechanism just too dirty to move?
my crown was pretty well jammed when I got it and it responded to thorough cleaning and a little lubrication...

Yeah it worked before, but it was squeaky. Maybe I'll try taking it a part a bit and cleaning it out...

[shapirophoto]

Okay I got the rail off and as soon as it was off the focusing levers turned easily... but once I seated the rail on the track again they bound up again.. *sigh* Any ideas?

[Jim Graves]

So I have another problem... It seems that the rack focus, (knobs at the front of the rail) on my speed graphic are stuck... They won't let me rack OUT, they'll retract in just a touch, but are completely stuck (jammed) as far as racking out goes... Any ideas? Any DIY ways to fix it? The camera is definitely still usable, but fine tune focusing is really tough when you're just sliding the front standard by hand along the rail.

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks!

-as

The total movement possible with the fine focusing wheels is just 3/4 of an inch ... are you getting that much movement?

[shapirophoto]

The total movement possible with the fine focusing wheels is just 3/4 of an inch ... are you getting that much movement?

Not not even, but however before the bound up I could rack out a long ways, the rails extended past the front of the bed... It could focus out quite a bit....