Copal 3 shutter stuck open, cocked and speed changed.

[akfreak]

I have Copal 3 shutter stuck open, it was cocked and shutter speed speed changed. Now it wont release. How can I decock /reset the shutter?

This the first time this has ever happened to me. I have CLA'D a couple of old shutters. Do I have to tear into this one to reset it? I dont see how to decock it? Thanks, AKf

[Jon Shiu]

Just to note you can change the shutter speed on a Copal with it cocked or not, doesn't matter. Maybe check the preview lever.

Jon

[akfreak]

I feel so stupid, I have never had any problems using any shutter, if it was broken I fixed it. If it was malfunctioning I fixed it.

This shutter, the Copal 3 was working like a charm, Cocked it and shot it, to test it, I always cock and shoot 2 times to test before making an exposure (like I always do). I cocked it to test the second time, then I was distracted.

My kid came in the room and started asking me a bunch of questions that lead to 30 mins of activities not related to photography. When I came back to the scene, for some reason I looking at my notes and remeasuring the light, I decided the exposure needed to change. I turned it and set a new speed but I had already cocked for the second testing. This is first time this had ever happened to me, I never made this mistake, I have always tried to be careful to not move the shutter speed on a cocked shutter.


The shutter would not release, the cocking arm is loose like it is cocked, when I turn the sped dial I can hear the timing mechanism trying to bleed off the cocked shutter. Not the normal timing sounds you hear when you make changes in a shutter. So I have to assume I have to tear it down and see how a Copal 3 works.

I will search Google for diagrams, does anyone here have any knowledge of a detailed exploded view of a Copal 3? Anyone have a PDF of a repair/ tech manual. Any special tool I may need. I have been able to work on all the rest with a Pick set and a nice mini screw driver set.

I will update this thread after I found whats inside and the problem. Or it may be a thread on the death of a Copal 3 by an Idtiot.

[Fotoguy20d]

I got a copal 0 where the cocking lever was loose, as was the release lever. When I opened the shutter (which doesn't look much different inside from any other shutter), the release lever turned out to be sheared off. I released the shutter using a screwdriver to push on the right bit. Except for the missing lever the shutter now works fine. So, maybe just try poking around and maybe it'll unjam.

Dan

[E. von Hoegh]

I got a copal 0 where the cocking lever was loose, as was the release lever. When I opened the shutter (which doesn't look much different inside from any other shutter), the release lever turned out to be sheared off. I released the shutter using a screwdriver to push on the right bit. Except for the missing lever the shutter now works fine. So, maybe just try poking around and maybe it'll unjam.

Dan

Good thought. ^

Try releasing it with a cable??

[Jon Shiu]

What happens when you flip the preview lever?

Jon

[akfreak]

I fixed it, it was the preview lever linkage. The shutter leaves appeared to be closed but the linkage was loose and did not allow it to fully engage/close to allow the shutter to be released.

I just moved it back into place, (the linkage) and tightened it down. It only had to move a few MM and it was back in place. It is right at the point where the preview unlocks and locks down. Now I have seen the inside of a Copal 3.

Thanks for those that responded. I was either going to fix it or mess it up trying to do so. In this case I was successful. I checked all the timings with a sound recording program called Sound Booth. It is real close to being dead on. It is a little fast at 1 second just a little. The rest of the speeds are too close to tell.

[AuditorOne]

What happens when you flip the preview lever?

Jon

I just want to thank the OP for posting his problem, and Jon for making his suggestion. My Copal shutter was exhibiting the same symptoms as described by the OP after I inadvertently moved the shutter speed dial from T to 1 second after I had pressed the shutter release once to put it into Time. Like the OP, I was sure I had messed something up good but when I moved the preview lever, as suggested here by Jon, the shutter blades closed and the shutter operates perfectly again.

This forum is an absolute god send and a wonderful resource for those of us who are newbies to large format.