Linhof Color 4x5 front rise

[Mark_Turner]

I've borrowed a Linhof Color 4x5 from a friend who hasn't used it in 40 or so years. It's in good shape (after I patched a few pinholes in the bellows) and I look forward to exposing some film with it in the coming weeks although I probably won't purchase it from him.

It's a pretty simple camera, but I can't figure out any way to lock the front rise adjustment. The only reference to the rising front in the manual (found online at www.orphancameras.com) is to use the milled head on the right side of the front standard. It's geared and works smoothly, but gravity brings the lens board right back down. There's no lock that I can find, and no reference to a lock in the manual. There are locks for front lateral shift, swing, and tilt so I expected to find one for rise.

Any ideas (other than duct tape)?

[Bob Salomon]

It’s self locking but it sounds like over the decades it has worn down and needs a proper CLA.

[Mark_Turner]

It’s self locking but it sounds like over the decades it has worn down and needs a proper CLA.

Self-locking, as in just friction to hold it in place? It moves very easily. Any ideas on the proper way to clean that area?