Lens/shutter stuck in lens board

[DavyG]

I'm sorry if the description is wrong/vague. English is not my native tongue.

I have inherited a Rodenstock Grandagon 80 mm lens from my girlfriends grandfather. It's a fine lens - and I am looking forward to shooting some pictures with it. There is a problem, though. The shutter part of the lens is stuck in the lens board. A Sinar lens board, btw, which doesn't fit my Gandolfi Variant.

I have tried getting it loose with a calipers -that usually does the trick. But not in this case, unfortunately.

So... Do any of the learned members of this quite fantastic forum have any suggestions as to what I could do to loosen it?

Thank you
Davy

[Dan Fromm]

Y'r second image shows a retaining ring. Its the thing with four slots ninety degrees apart. Use a spanner to unscrew it from the shutter.

[DavyG]

Thank you for your reply :)
I am aware of the retaining ring - that's where I tried to loosen it with a caliper. So that's not the problem.

[BrianShaw]

It looked to me like you tried that.. but what tool were you using? Sometimes the retaining rings are really screwed down tight and only a "proper" spanner will do the job.

[DavyG]

As I mentioned I'm using a caliper (if that is the correct name for this thing?)
When you're mentioning spanners, do you mean one of these? LINK (http://www.google.dk/imgres?imgurl=http://i2-images1.tv2net.dk/s/70/9380870-04b47c62de5b28a8f1088b7b370a87cd.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-12164695.html?rss&h=300&w=465&sz=22&tbnid=N0_myy1moUBcoM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__egmIFRFOitmIJ0YWsxlDnPDDtfk=&docid=jrkcfTMdaanJcM&sa=X&ei=rpPLUKCLCYqQtAaNsoDoDg&ved=0CDwQ9QEwAg&dur=3378)

What I'm using is one of these LINK (http://www.google.dk/imgres?um=1&hl=da&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1920&bih=979&tbm=isch&tbnid=8fqUYvJEVRnDxM:&imgrefurl=http://www.biltema.dk/da/Vaerktoj/Malevarktoj/Skydelare-og-Mikrometerskrue/Skydelare-161142/&docid=14qgUUlrITgeiM&imgurl=http://www.biltema.dk/ProductImages/16/large/16-1142_l.jpg&w=600&h=179&ei=DZTLUOnCE8zRsgaVtoHQCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=306&vpy=148&dur=4203&hovh=122&hovw=411&tx=205&ty=58&sig=108924513903713078820&page=1&tbnh=65&tbnw=220&start=0&ndsp=60&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:92)

[BrianShaw]

Neither is the correct tool. #1 is for bolts (In American that is called a Crescent wrench); #2 is a Vernier Caliper and is for measuring; It won't give sufficient "grip" to remove a retaining ring.

Check out this thread:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?89445-lens-spanner-wrench-of-choice

[cowanw]

the spanner in Question is like this
http://www.skgrimes.com/products/spanner-wrench
However if you grasp the entire lens firmly and turn it counterclockwise, you may be able to loosen the retaining ring sufficiently to hand turn it off.
As with everything do not use excessive force

[Bob Salomon]

You are aware that this lens does not cover 4x5"?

[Ken Lee]

From the other thread: someone already posted this. A tool designed for this job, and this job alone: loosening and tightening Lens Retaining Rings.

Rodenstock Metal Lens Wrench for Lens Retaining Rings (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131992-USA/Rodenstock_260600_Metal_Lens_Wrench.html)

[lenser]

As Cowanw stated, you may be able to loosen it by turning the shutter rather than the retaining ring. It may also be helpful to place the board in a vise and lock it down firmly, then using both hands to try to turn the lens. You might even employ a helper to use two screwdrivers in opposite notches (since you don't have a proper lens wrench) to CAREFULLY hold the ring in place while you try to turn the front with both hands or with what is called a strap wrench.

If you are not familiar with this, a strap wrench works by wrapping a strip of leather or rubber around the object to be worked on. That strap is attached to a handle/lever and is adjustable. It delivers the pressure evenly around any circular object, but with the projections of the shutter trigger, reset lever and f stop lever, be gentle and don't keep on forcing it if it doesn't free up with just a reasonable amount of force. You don't want to damage those control levers. I have used this with very good success on a couple of reluctant lenses with no damage and much better grip than just hands, but as I said, don't over do it.

Good luck.

[Leigh]

Before you do anything else, open the aperture blades all the way and engage the preview lever
to open the shutter blades. This avoids damaging them if something slips.

Do NOT use screwdrivers or a caliper on the retaining ring. Only use a proper spanner.

Do NOT use a strap wrench. It can damage the shutter.

Grasp the shutter firmly with your right hand and turn it counter-clockwise.
It sounds as though someone has used some thread locking agent.

- Leigh

[Jim Jones]

Some shutters have a screw protruding from the back that engages a blind hole in the lens board. In this case, the shutter cannot be rotated to free it from the board without risking damage to the shutter. For a makeshift lens spanner I've clamped two nails in a vise with the proper spacing and filed them down to engage the slots in the retaining ring. The nails shouldn't protrude further than necessary. The whole lens board is then rotated in relation to the vise.

[Leigh]

Some shutters have a screw protruding from the back that engages a blind hole in the lens board. In this case, the shutter cannot be rotated to free it from the board without risking damage to the shutter.
True that.

The anti-rotation pin is used specifically to prevent rotation of the shutter. I should have mentioned it. :o

Ironic, since I insist on using it whenever I mount a shutter smaller than a #3, which doesn't use it.

- Leigh

[DavyG]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I too believe there is a little screw protruding from the shutter. So I guess I'll have to order myself a spanner. And just the other day I thought to myself "now I can't possible need anymore gear for my largeformat cameras". There's allways something missing, I guess :)

[gevalia]

Stick the board in a ziplock, put it in the freezer for 20 minutes and try it.