Sticky Argus C4

[steve_dittmar]

Bought a brand new. never out of the box Argus C4 yesyerday at a flea market for

25 bucks. Whenever you shoot it, it takes about 4 seconds for shutter to open

and close. Can this be easily cleaned?What do you use to clean with?

Remember, I can only go in from the back, as this is a fixed lens camera. Thanks

[paul_noble]

While the C4 does not have interchangeable lenses, the lens CAN be removed. It just takes a few tools.

 

First, I would just try excercising the shutter a few hundred times. Often the lubricants in these old cameras gets hard. Sometimes, just excercising it will loosen things up. To really fix this, you're probably going to have to open it up and clean the old, dried grease out and relubricate the shutter.

 

There is a very active group called the Argus Collector's Group. Their website is http://arguscg.tripod.com/, You may find the answer there. There is also a link where you can ask a question. It will be sent to all members of the group. There are some very knowledgeable members who can probably help you out.

 

Paul Noble

[richard_oleson]

STOP using the camera immediately! DO NOT exercise it! The shutter blade operating link is the camera's Achilles heel, and operating the camera with sticky shutter blades heavily overstresses this part.

 

I have notes on servicing the C4 shutter at http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-127.html and I'll be happy to email more detailed notes to you if you would like to send me an email asking for them.