[LargeFormat] Acme/Ilex #4 shutter fix

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Atherton" <tim@KairosPhoto.com>
To: <largeformat@f32.net>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 2:27 PM
Subject: [LargeFormat] Acme/Ilex #4 shutter fix


> My Acme Synchro #4/Ilex shutter won't fire on 1/5th and
1/10th sec.
>
> Anyone know which parts of the shutter to fiddle with?
>
> (one day it will go for a proper CLA, but not right
now...)
>
> thanks
>
> tim
>
  This is a slightly odd problem. Its more usual for the
shutter to fire at full speed or to be in T or B all the
time.
  Its possible the shutter isn't getting fully cocked at
these speed for some reason. Try cocking it at higher or
lower speed and moving the speed ring to 1/5th to see if it
fires.
  My suggestion is to make sure the little levers operated
by the speed ring are not getting shoved benith it somehow.
This requires only removing the face plate.
  Take the front lens cell out. Actually, its easier to work
on if you take out both lens cells.
  I suggest working in a tray or box to prevent loss of
small parts.
There are two small screws holding the face plate in place,
Remove them. The face plate will lift off. Under it you will
see the speed ring wich has some cam surfaces. There are
three levers operated by it. At about 10 o'clock is the
lever which switches from I to T and B. At about 2 O'clock
you will see the lever which operates the high speed
regulator, at about 4 O'clock is the lever which operates
the low speed regulator. All should move freely when the
speed ring is turned and not leave the cam surface. The
speed ring will have to be pushed down a little while
turning it since it is the face plate which holds it tight.
  If you want to go further lift off the speed ring. You can
see some of the mechanism through the holes in the front
plate. The levers for the speed regulators should move
freely when pushed with a screwdriver.
  Look at the levers around the trip lever to make sure none
is pushed up over another.
  The front plate comes off by removing three screws around
its periphery. It fits on over the shutter case so must be
gently coaxed off. This will expose the entire mechanism. At
this point be careful of the hair springs in various parts
of the shutter. The shutter can be cocked and fired in this
condition but it will be in T unless the TBI lever is held
over. The shutter will open when the trip lever is operated
and close when its operated again. It will operate at one
second.
   Ilex shutter were designed to run dry but I've found that
just a touch of very light oil on the escapements will
smooth out the shutter.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix.netcom.com