Burke and James 8x10 Focusing Track (Help!)

[c.kline]

Recently I purchased a Burke and James 8x10" camera from a "reputable" online seller and when it arrived I immediately noticed a problem with the camera. It would appear that the teeth on the rear standard focusing knob do not properly contact the track on the bed, and instead are off by maybe 1/4" on either side.

The gears on the focusing knob are driven on to a spline and it would be too narrow I think if a spacer were missing, but it would seem that something would have to be missing. The bed of the camera seems to have seen this problem for quite some time as a great deal of the paint is chipped and the wood exhibits signs of the gear having run all over it.

Does anyone have any experience with these cameras or could you possibly show me the rear standard focusing mechanism on yours? Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is quite discouraging.

[TheDeardorffGuy]

See the marks in the wood? Look over how the pinion rods should be and repair it. If the knurled rods will not hold the gear any more get some Loktite 271. Wash the rod and gear with acetone to remove any grease. apply the 271 and let it sit overnight. 271 expands when exposed to the air. That is how it bonds. It is just simple mechanics.

[c.kline]

It seems like something is missing though. The rod is splined and the gears slip over the spline, but it seems like they're a little too narrow to touch the tracks on both sides.

[E. von Hoegh]

It seems like something is missing though. The rod is splined and the gears slip over the spline, but it seems like they're a little too narrow to touch the tracks on both sides.

The rod is not splined, but knurled. The pinion(s) have slipped on the knurled portion, possibly due to a knock in shipping. Put the pinions back where they belong and follow the loctite advice above. Put too much on and you'll have fixed focus.