Rollei 35 shutter problem

[jonathan_reynolds]

The Compur shutter on my Rollei 35 (the original f/3.5 Tessar version) works

fine on speeds of 1/30 and above, but all slower speeds perform as 'B' (shutter

remains open until button is released).

 

I would guess that some little escapement is failing to engage. The camera is

essentially valueless, and I'm pretty handy, so I'm not averse a home repair.

Can anyone advise me what the fault is likely to be, and how to access the shutter?

[winfried_buechsenschuetz1]

The usual problem with a gummed slow-speed escapement. I have heard (I never tried it - I just have a B35 w/o slow speeds) that after removel of the bottom plate you can see the gears under the speed dial. Sometimes it seems to help to drip in some droplets of lighter fluid.

[Matthew Currie]

In case you have not found a copy on the web anywhere, here is a PDF of the Rollei service manual, which might be helpful in getting it apart:

 

http://www.box.net/shared/rt1alecn4t

[bernard_lazareff]

Jonathan,

 

Bought a Rollei 35 for 7Euro (~9$) at a yard sale; low price because "shutter is nort working" (slow speeds stuck, just like yours). Opened, stuffed Kleenex into lens tube, and sprayed WD-40 into the sides of the main body (yes I know, this is BAD). Has been working fine for the past 2 years. Some day I'll try to do a better clean and lubrification.

 

Bernard

[jonathan_reynolds]

Juts an update to my situation.

 

Before starting this thread, I tried the slow shutter speeds over and over again while I watched the visible mechanics, trying to figure out what might be sticking. Thanks to Matthew, I downloaded the official Rollei repair manual, and I studied a few threads on the RF forum showing pictures of dismantled 35s.

 

When I laid out my tools on a quiet evening, ready to dismantle the beast, I once again ran through the slow speeds. To my surprise, the escapement now kicked in, albeit hesitantly. After a little more 'exercise' of each shutter speed, the different speeds gradually sorted themselves out and all now work perfectly, with no need to dimantle anything. So, clearly a dried up grease issue, happily resolved. I guess the moral is to exercise all shutter speeds periodically to ensure even distribution of the lubricant, just as they advise with Leicas.

 

Thanks to all for your help.