Wista 45DX stuck

**lbenac** · 28-May-2013, 22:27

Suddenly my Wista is stuck. The focusing rack will not move the frame.
Would it be possible that the wood of both internal and external frames have swell to the point of be stuck together?
It has been raining a lot but nothing out of the ordinary.

Cheers,

Luc

**Oren Grad** · 28-May-2013, 23:14

With apologies if this is obvious, but just in case: most lightweight 4x5 folding wooden field cameras have a focusing knob or knobs on one side of the bed and corresponding locking knob(s) on the opposite side. Sometimes the locking knob ends up tightening itself just from the action of the focusing knob on the other side. Does your Wista have a locking knob that has inadvertently been tightened all the way?

**lbenac** · 29-May-2013, 06:54

Originally Posted by Oren Grad

With apologies if this is obvious, but just in case: most lightweight 4x5 folding wooden field cameras have a focusing knob or knobs on one side of the bed and corresponding locking knob(s) on the opposite side. Sometimes the locking knob ends up tightening itself just from the action of the focusing knob on the other side. Does your Wista have a locking knob that has inadvertently been tightened all the way?

Hello Oren,

No the left knob is totally free. As a matter of fact I also removed both knob to make sure that the axe was totally free. The axe itself seems to rotate as it should. It is the frame that seem to be "glued" in place.

Cheers,

Luc

**hoffner** · 29-May-2013, 07:06

If you want to give it a try, heat the suspected parts with a hair dryer, let it cool and try to move it then.

**Doremus Scudder** · 29-May-2013, 08:45

Check carefully to see if there are any foreign objects in between the camera bed and the sliding parts that could be causing your problem. Then look for broken or damaged parts to see if they could be blocking things. You may want to remove the bottom plate to get a view of things from that side. Check to make sure the sliding rack is correctly positioned, i.e., that it hasn't been bumped and jumped the gears on one side thereby misaligning it.

If you can't find anything, then swelling is a definite possibility (although I have never had anything remotely like this happen to either of my two Wista DXs). You may be able to carefully disassemble some things to get a little play. If you really suspect swelling, try the hair dryer (on low and at a distance that will not heat things up too much!) and also putting the camera in a dry environment for a time.

Do let us know the result of your endeavor. I, for one, would like to be prepared in case something like this happens to my DXs.

Good luck,

Doremus

**Bob Salomon** · 29-May-2013, 09:18

Has your camera recently been dropped or bumped? We have seen this with some cameras that inadvertanetly were. Also have seen a screw fall out and the bed then went out of alignment and would not close.

**lbenac** · 29-May-2013, 12:55

Hello,
Thank you all for the various suggestions.
1) camera was not dropped and until a few days ago could extend fully
2) metal bottom was removed to give access and I cannot see any foreign object or obstruction
3) the focusing knobs and metal supports were removed so that the focusing axis can be pushed down against the spring on the base to effectively free the gears from the rack
I am at my wits'ends. It looks like overnight the inside frame (with the rack) has been solidly glued to the outside frame. There is not even a millimeter of play.

I will try the hairdryer when I am back at home tonight.
The camera was stored inside since I last used it and there is not a lot of temperature variation in our house (no blasting furnace or air conditioning).
Not sure what level of ambient humidity would cause enough swelling to "weld" the two frames together in their close position (i.e. zero extension)

Cheers,

Luc