Leica IIIf RD, Slow Speed Dial Problem

[jeff voorhees]

With all the talk of ZI's and digital M's this may seem arcane.

 

The 1/5 second setting on my IIIf is intermittent. If the speed

works on the first firing, it will fire at 1/25 on subsequent

firings. Most of the time the shutter sounds like it is firing at

1/25 and will not engage at 1/5. I can set an intermediate speed

between 1/2 and 1/5, but as I say, the slow speed dial will not

generally engage the 1/5 setting and the shutter just fires at

1/25.

 

Is this a simple fix?

 

Many thanks all.

[jeff voorhees]

I should have mentioned that the camera was CLA'd last June and until recently the 1/5 setting worked. All other speeds are accurate. Even 1/5 sounds perfect when it actually fires on that speed.

[awahlster]

I would think that the best way to get a proper answer would be to ask the person who did your CLA

[huw_finney]

The slow speed escapement has two speeds one with the pallet engaged and one without, the engaged position is done by a spring, it is pushed to disengage. Sounds like the bit that slides in and out (of engagement) is sticking, easy fix, all parts accessible through the lens hole and should be done for nothing by the CLAer. The sideways L shaped bit is the sliding part.<div></div>

[huw_finney]

I have just noticed there are three types of lubricant recomended for this part alone, boy those guys at Leitz knew their stuff. These days all you need is one synthetic oil and a synthetic grease, and they work down to low temperatures without a re-lube.

[jeff voorhees]

Huw--many thanks indeed. I always look forward to your posts.

[huw_finney]

You will need to pull the crate from the body for this, my mistake. Although seeming to be a daunting task it is very easy, there is a IIIg thread of mine shewing how.

[jtk]

Huw, in the Sixties I got a pair of IIF/IIIF "winterized" by Adolph Gasser in San Francisco. They gave me my choice of "dry" (no lube), whale oil, or a sample of something tricky they'd just gotten from Dow :-)

 

I chose "dry," but paid for it when they rusted up. Happily, though, I could open both with my pocket knife and get them working again (great exposures) by wiping rust and exercising mechanisms.