Grafmatics - Troubleshooting

[Ari]

Hi,
I've been using Grafmatics for a number of years, and I just found that one of mine leaks light quite severely.
Rather than do what everybody else does at this point, which is to sell it on eBay for $150 , I'd like to try and fix it.
Worst case, I buy another Graf and keep this one for parts.

I'd like to know if there are any major culprits to look out for, and any minor ones as well, that would cause a well-functioning back to suddenly begin leaking light.

As far as I can tell, all the components are there, the felt light trap is there, and the screws are all in place.
But, if I squeeze the top and bottom halves of the Grafmatic together, there is a slight amount of play.


Thanks in advance.

[Old-N-Feeble]

If you need one for parts I have one. AFAIK, it's fine but the pull handle is broken off. LMK if you're interested and I'll find it. Maybe $45 shipped with septums or $35 without septums?

[Ari]

Thank you, ONF, I may already have a parts Grafmatic
I will let you know.

Here is the leak in question.
Shots were taken consecutively, within a few seconds of each other, using two different backs, and using paper negatives.
Thanks

[Ari]

And another example:

[Old-N-Feeble]

Odd... I've never seen anything like that form a Grafmatic.

[BrianShaw]

I don't want to seem condescending, Ari... but are you sure you have the graphmatic properly affixed to your camera? It almost looks like the back is getting pulled away when cycling the film.

[Frank Petronio]

Sometimes mine don't seat well enough in the heat of the moment.... once I started double checking the fit I eliminated the leaks. It would have to be pretty wacky to leak that bad in use, I think it is more often pulling it out slightly when cycling.

[Ari]

Brian, no question is off-limits.
I shot four different backs at the same time, and used the same procedure with every back.
The three good backs all had six perfect negs, and the bad back had six ruined negs.

You may be right about pulling the back when it is seated, and Frank's additional comment makes me think twice now.
I may have to repeat this test, but I still think something is wrong when one back runs all the negs, and three backs show no sign of trouble.
Thanks again.

[BrianShaw]

Oh... my mistake. I thought you were getting both good an dbad results from the same back.

[E. von Hoegh]

Brian, no question is off-limits.
I shot four different backs at the same time, and used the same procedure with every back.
The three good backs all had six perfect negs, and the bad back had six ruined negs.

You may be right about pulling the back when it is seated, and Frank's additional comment makes me think twice now.
I may have to repeat this test, but I still think something is wrong when one back runs all the negs, and three backs show no sign of trouble.
Thanks again.

"ONE back ruins all the negs". This makes me think it's even more likely it wasn't seated.