Fed2 issuies

Hello

I received a Fed2 from Eastern Europe that stated it was CLA'd and of course the frame counter is loose and there are pin holes in the curtain, the rest of the camera is pretty good.

I have found a person in Russia, Oleg, who does work on them but was wondering if there was a US based person anyone knows that can do this work that won't cost an arm or leg or both, Oleg does it for 88.00 plus shipping etc.

 

Thanks

Don

Here is one of the photos I took with a short test roll of Kentmere 100 from bulk

you can see the three pin holes upper right

Don,

 

If you are into DIY work, I have successfully patched pinholes in shutter curtains with Kiwi Heel & Edge dressing (for shoes), a black liquid that dries to a rubbery film. It can be applied with an artist's brush. I have also used black acrylic craft paint for larger spots, which has some flexibility and doesn't flake off. As for the frame counter mechanism it is pretty simple really, and might just be missing a spring or washer.

 

Bill Bowes might have some recommendations if you need more work done. Unfortunately, the term "CLA" is used pretty loosely, and doesn't always mean too much...it's hard to know exactly what is done to some cameras.

 

Dave

Edited July 24, 2017 by m42dave

Don,

 

If you are into DIY work, I have successfully patched pinholes in shutter curtains with Kiwi Heel & Edge dressing (for shoes), a black liquid that dries to a rubbery film. It can be applied with an artist's brush. I have also used black acrylic craft paint for larger spots, which has some flexibility and doesn't flake off. As for the frame counter mechanism it is pretty simple really, and might just be missing a spring or washer.

 

Bill Bowes might have some recommendations if you need more work done. Unfortunately, the term "CLA" is used pretty loosely, and doesn't always mean too much...it's hard to know exactly what is done to some cameras.

 

Dave

+1 on Dave's thoughts - I had a similar issue with a FED2 and actually picked up a "spare" and just switched out the shutter (and in my case, the box as well). It was well cheaper than $88 for both. There are a number of sites which are dedicated to these cameras, including those which include DIY repairs (e.g. home). Some stuff is simple; other stuff a bit harder (like replacing the curtain totally, along with the roller - at least for someone as ham-fisted as yours truly). So repair or replace are options if you are so inclined. Good luck.

This topic was also the subject of a thread last Fall:

 

Former Soviet Union camera repairs & CLA

Morning everyone. I do not believe there is anyone in the States that does repairs on the Fed series of cameras. The one fellow that did some repairs for me is now retired & totally out of the business. His main complaint on the FSU cameras was parts availability. . none was his comment.

Per the CLA purchasing from Ebay vendors. I only deal with one from Ukraine. The four cameras ( two Fed-2, Fed-3 & Zorki 4) all arrived in full functioning state and still perform without fault. The two times "bugs" arose, he put everything straight. I do not wish to put Oleg's services on the spot, since I have seen many raves here on the threads, but at $75-85 per camera delivered to the States, my move if the camera "wears" out is to buy another. Send me a private mail & I will give the vendor's name.

Aloha, Bill

Thanks everyone

Bill I sent you a PM

Hello

I have received some Kiwi and will give that a try.

The pin holes are upper right corner so would that put them on the lower left of the curtain looking from the front through the lens opening?

Thanks

Don, try shining a penlight close to the front side of the shutter curtains in a darkened room (not totally dark, so you can see what you are doing) and view from the back. That will illuminate any pinholes. Once the Kiwi dressing is dry, you can check again to see if a second application is necessary.

Also, here are some FED 2 service instructions, which may help with the frame counter.

 

www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs/fed2service.pdf

Thanks Dave

I tried shining a light but could not see anything

So am I right to look and lower left?

Ok I found the holes, had to wind it!

should I put the Kiwi on the back side or the front of the curtain?

When I have used this method, I have applied it to the back but I don't think it really makes any difference, since the liquid will absorb into the fabric and seal from either side. Blotting it on with a cotton swab also works well.

I'd personally recommend matte fabric paint (LINK where I fix a Nikon S2 shutter with same, scroll down)

 

Get a kind that doesn't need heat to set.

I used Dylon brand black fabric paint to fix pinholes in the shutter of my Zenit 1. In normal use, Dylon advises to iron the workpiece to cure the paint, but my repair has lasted several years so far. I painted the front of each shutter blind, because that's the only side you can reach without disassembly, on a bottom-loading Zenit. As it hapens that's the side with the rubbery coating, and I hoped the paint would help to stabilise the rest of the rubber too, and prevent more holes turning up. So I painted the whole of the area I could reach, not just where I thought the holes were; and gave each blind two coats, giving it overnight to dry each time. So I did the job in four stints of about ten minutes, over four days.