Sinar Norma Problem

**philipmorg** · 15-Mar-2011, 08:48

This is an interesting discussion, and coincides strangely with a dream I had early this morning, in which I used the correct grease on a Norma I have been working on, but the grease performed strangely by having far too much viscosity the first couple of times I moved the shift bar and then far too little viscosity after it had "warmed up." It was an odd dream on a number of levels, and a strange co-incidence with this thread.

I'm the author of the Sinar Norma text and video CLA Guides, and I recommend using molybdenum disulfide grease as the primary lubricant for the moving parts on a Norma. Most of the lubricated surfaces in this camera require only a tiny amount of this grease, and in practice excessive lubricant only serves to collect dust or grit in places you don't want it accumulating. That said, I'd be very wary of using anything other than moly grease as a long-term solution for a Norma, or any other camera with finely machined mating surfaces (especially aluminum ones).

According to the best sources I have, the tub of grease that was included with new Sinar Normas was a molybdenum disulfide formulation.

I'm not kidding about the dream, BTW. Maybe it is possible to love Normas too much.

**William Whitaker** · 15-Mar-2011, 13:33

Turns out the problem was some very old hardened grease and some very tight Swiss tolerances. Thanks to Philip's excellent help I was able to disassemble, clean and lube the rear fine-focus mechanism. And now it runs like the fine Swiss mechanism it is.

Thank you for everybody's suggestions. I recommend Philip's CLA video if you have a Norma. It's nice to be at least a little self-reliant.

**E. von Hoegh** · 16-Mar-2011, 08:11

Originally Posted by rdenney

Oh, it will work...for a while.

But what oil that is in it is so light that it will not provide much film strength, and the parts will wear at a high rate.

I once collected old clocks, and have seen the effects of WD40, which has a highly distinctive smell. That smell routinely doubles the quoted price for clock repairs, and there is a reason for that. That in addition to what I know about lubricants as a result of my engineering experience.

Argue if you want.

Rick "thinking a Norma deserves a proper long-term repair" Denney

WD-40 is great stuff. The "WD" means "Water Displacing", and it does that very well. It even "lubricates", for a bit, until the carrier dries up. Then it turns to an almost waxy substance which will not lubricate, but will attract and trap dust from two miles downwind, forming an abrasive paste that will sooner or later destoy wearing surfaces ( such as the wheels and pinions of a nice old clock) contaminated with it.
It's great stuff to dry out an ignition system, loosen old crud, quiet the squeaky hinges on the outhouse door, and prevent rust (short term) on all sorts of carbon steel goodies. I love it, and wouldn't be without it.

But to use it as a lubricant for anything more precise than a well rusted hinge is heresy. It isn't much of a penetrant, either, though it will work if you are patient. Furnace oil works better, Kroil and PB Blaster are the two best (penetrants) I've ever used.

**Stephane** · 16-Mar-2011, 11:29

I guess you guys will never take you norma to the ocean for two weeks... Or if you do, you would CLA it every evening. I'd rather go to the beach, spray WD40 if the gearing ceases and keep on shooting. It is only a camera, the photos are more precious than the norma.

My sinar norma 5x7 is my field camera (i.e. travelling camera), so if there is a problem in the field, I'll fix it in the field. I dont want to come home winging "camera ceased = zero picture".

And 3 months from that heretic (heroic?) spraying session, the prophecy of the dust-bearing waxy residue destroying the norma has not been fulfilled yet. It is still as smooth as the first spray-day! If you want, I can tell you when that norma will die, but I think it will still outlive me.

**philipmorg** · 16-Mar-2011, 12:27

Stephane, what do you think was causing the stiffness in the first place? Was it exposure to salt water, sand, or something else?

**Stephane** · 16-Mar-2011, 13:57

"l'air marin" - wind, humidity and salt.
Within 3 day on the beach it ceased. Morocco, away from everything. Had to make it work, traveled all the way to take pictures...

**philipmorg** · 16-Mar-2011, 14:26

Ah... I'm guessing here, but I imagine that means the existing grease in the camera probably dried up, especially if it's been a while since the camera was lubed, or if it was lubed with the wrong lubricant.

Anyway, glad you were able to get some pictures anyway!

**Daniel Unkefer** · 16-Mar-2011, 15:31

Since I have been collecting Sinar Norma stuff for thirty years, I have several of the original instruction books, which contain the packet of original Norma grease. It came taped to the inside of the instruction book. It is a blackish-brown moly type grease, packed in a metal tin about the size of a fifty-cent piece. The tin has the Norma logo on the top.