kmac

<p >Hi,</p> <p > </p> <p >I'd like to thank Photo.net for providing the opportunity for me to join this magnificent site, and participate. I'm learning already many inspirational tips and techniques, I can only dream of better days ahead for myself after viewing all the splendid photographs everywhere to be seen on Photo.net. I'm glad I registered.</p> <p > </p> <p >I started out with film and processing years ago but only touched the surface and basics of it, still I enjoyed it thoroughly and should never have left it for digital, but digital is something to master as well, don't you think ? However, I've returned to film with a new sense of purpose and novelty that I never experienced the first time around. I hope to post some film shots in coming months, keeping well away from the "Bay" chemicals, and what a disaster they were. I buy my developer from Vanbar in Melbourne now, fresh, reasonably priced and delivered to my door </p> <p > </p> <p >My first SLR, but not my first camera, was a Petri FT which I sold before any embarrassing malfunctions like advance lockup raised their ugly heads, but I really had no inkling they would be problematic further down the track during their life span. They're only a consumer camera of poor design and build in the geared mechanism under the top plate but this didn't prevent me from setting out to buy one for nostalgia reasons, in fact I bought four cheapies and one in good working order. The cheapies I stripped down to various stages of disassembly to investigate the dreaded advance lockup and also the free swinging handle do nothing problem they sometimes suffer from</p> <p > </p> <p >Here is a photo of what to do if you own a Petri FT, or you know someone who owns one, to pass on the information. The fixes are quite easy and simple once the top plate is removed</p> <p > </p> <p >No 1 Arrow points to a brass gear that if you move clockwise for only a distance of one tooth of the gear, it will unlock a ratchet "brake" and free the mechanism, then try to get one or two drops of sewing machine oil in that area after that</p> <p > </p> <p >No 2 Arrow points to a black gear which if rotated clockwise three or four teeth, it will fix the "free moving handle do nothing" problem, apply some specs of lithium grease to the gear teeth and one drop of sewing machine oil under the gear after that</p> <p > </p> <p >No 3 Arrow points to the housing for the vertical handle shaft inside. On rare occasions, after long periods of idleness, the original grease hardens and will literally lock the shaft like it's been welded. To free it, tip the camera upside down give a short spray of WD 40 around the handle base, wait 30 seconds and tip the camera right way up and leave for 12 to 24 hours then apply strong force to wind the handle, which you've fitted back on securely. The shaft will free up gradually. When it does, lubricate with one drop of sewing machine oil, place it under the handle so it will work it's way down the shaft .. (one of my FT's had this problem, it was worth saving because it's probably one of the mintiest old cameras I've ever laid eyes on, very lucky to acquire it and now, it's fully working ready for picture taking or just simply showing off)</p> <p > </p> <p >Unfortunately the photo won't load in here so I placed in my portfolio</p> <p > </p> <p >http://www.photo.net/photo/17733385</p> <p > </p> <p > </p> <p >See you around the site - Ken</p> <p > </p>