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Dial Set Compur CLA


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I promised Jon I would post soon and I found some time tonight to CLA

the dial set Compur on my Voigtlander AVUS.

 

Here is how to open the shutter:

 

1. Unscrew the front element cell - by friction CCW

 

2. Unscrew the rear element cell - may need spanner wrench or

homemade tool to engage slots CCW

 

3. Set dial to 1 second, unscrew #1, make a note of how all the

pieces underneith go back together - should be the same as pictured if

set to 1 second

 

4. Remove 3 screws on cocking lever #2 - leave middle screw alone

 

5. Remove screws 3,4,5 noting which goes where (4 is shorter than 5)

 

6. Lift off the nameplate<div>00BUwQ-22348484.jpg.750f1c8e25796497bdacfac29d511a0d.jpg</div>

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Here is what you see when the nameplate is off. Reinstall the cocking lever with the three screws.

 

The large, circled area (lower left) is the slow speed gear train. CAREFULLY apply a few drops of lighter fluid to the gears and see if the gear train will release if gummed up. If it was running, but slow, it should gradually come back to life as you wind and fire it. When it dries, if its still slow, then add a few drops more and keep repeating.

 

You don't want to add too much lighter fluid or it will carry the crud onto the aperture or shutter blades. If this happens, or they are dirty to begin with, you can gently swipe the blades with a tissue wetted with lighter fluid. Keep repeating with clean tissues until its clean.

 

You should add a small amount of grease to the shutter release rack where it rubs against the case. Optionally, you can place two TINY drops of shutter oil (gun oil) to the pivots on the star gear and the pallet. I wouldn't oil if it was running OK.

 

There is more you can do but this should work 90% of the time. Good luck!

 

Remove the cocking lever when done, and reassemble in reverse.<div>00BUwc-22348584.jpg.d2d5bb5c6be1a1f821d3c44406810997.jpg</div>

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Uncoated optics are fairly rugged and easy to clean. I simply use plenty of clean Q-tips and dip one side of them in a shallow plate of Windex. Wipe wet, wipe dry with the opposite side. Change to a fresh one often. Stubborn haze can be removed by rubbing the optics in a freshly laundered cotton T-shirt. Always blow off debris before touching the optics. You don't want to grind a piece of grit into them.

 

The front element on my Avus is a two element assembly. The name plate comes off with a pin face spanner and the elements come apart so they can be cleaned inbetween. Always note the orientation of the lens curvature as its often possible to reassemble them improperly.

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Mike,

 

Hey! Thanks a bunch! I was wondering how I should go about a CLA of my old dial-set Compur (mine came on a 1939 Graflex Speed Graphic I bought a couple years ago). I couldn't get it to work and figured it needed dismantling (which I have been scared to do). Also, the shutter has no flash sync and the 13.5 cm Zeiss lens mounted in it was VERY hazy, so I got a 127mm Ektar in Synchro-Compur to be able to use my Graflex in the meantime.

 

With your instructions, maybe I can give my old Compur a new lease on life and see the world thru an uncoated lens for a change!

 

--Micah in NC

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Micah: I think that you should have an easy enough time CLAing that lens and shutter. The only part that you'll want to keep careful notes on is the assembly of all the plates under the speed dial. There are a number of pieces that go together a specific way.

 

My bet is that a couple drops of lighter fluid, and a gummed slow speed escapement will run down. Remember, the shutter cocking only works with the second dial set to I (Interval). T and B work without cocking the shutter.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks Mike for posting this! I followed your instructions and now the dial set Compur on my Patent Etui 6,5x9 works ok (the second was four seconds before). It didn't look excactly like yours on the inside, but I guess my Compur is smaller.

 

Now I must take som test photos with this camera. The 120/4,5 Tessar looks very sharp on the ground glass. It's from 1926-27.

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  • 13 years later...

Resurrecting this thread; hope mskovacs is still around...

 

You state "The front element on my Avus is a two element assembly. The name plate comes off with a pin face spanner and the elements come apart so they can be cleaned inbetween."

 

I dont' see any holes in the face of my front element lens retainer. Was your lens a Skopar?

 

IMG_1870.thumb.jpg.6c507b0b6a81a5ca673fc4f165db7d4d.jpg IMG_1871.thumb.jpg.ce756ae0c7a3c87202d128e8ead77be6.jpg

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  • 1 year later...
  • 3 months later...
Resurrecting this thread; hope mskovacs is still around...

 

You state "The front element on my Avus is a two element assembly. The name plate comes off with a pin face spanner and the elements come apart so they can be cleaned inbetween."

 

I dont' see any holes in the face of my front element lens retainer. Was your lens a Skopar?

 

[ATTACH]1263657[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1263658[/ATTACH]

 

The nameplate retaining ring unscrews, and the lens elements come out. Later models, I believe have notches for a lens spanner. Earlier ones like yours come off with the appropriately sized rubber friction tool (I forget what they’re called - looks like a rubber socket)....or you can improvise with the right size socket from a mechanics tool set (or anything rigid the correct diameter), and a rubber band. They usually come right off, but some may need extra attention, like a very, very minuscule partial drop of light penetrating oil in the threads....hope this helps. It should easily come off. I once removed one with 2 soft pencil erasers.

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