Topic: Crown Graphic Bulb setting! Help!

[Diane Peterson]

Just went to use my crown graphic and suddenly the B and T settings are not working..the last time I used this camera they both worked ( about 2 months ago)..and I didn't do anything different..Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Francois]

Is the focus lever on "open"?
Do the leafs of the shutter stay open or closed?
do all the other speeds work?
Is it a press shutter or a cocked shutter?

[Mojave]

Good questions from Francois.

For myself, my own Wollensack (sp?) lens has this same problem. What I found I had to do is press the shutter very, very slowly with a cable release and I could get them to work that way. But, any kind of normal speed and pressure on the cable release results in the shutter opening and closing rapidly.

[Diane Peterson]

Francois...thank you so much for responding..I will do my best to answer the questions..it is a cocked shutter..the leafs just open and close really fast like I had it on 1 second or such exposure...the lower speed are a bit sticky but they work...I would say they are a bit slow but its hard for me to tell..I don't know what the focus lever is??

[Francois]

On my Graphex shutter, it's a small chrome piece you slide. It's just next to the flash prongs.
On my Schneider, it's a small metal tab you press in.
Most press shutters lack this feature (as far as I know).

Just two things:
-It only works when the shutter is cocked
-Make sure to close the shutter before tripping the shutter at full speed.

[Diane Peterson]

yes, the focus lever is on "open"..

[Francois]

Just try and close it and see what happens...

[Diane Peterson]

I keep playing with it and now I have got it working.."sort of"..thinking it will get better if I just work with it! (?)

[Francois]

It's possible the greases inside are getting a bit stiff. But that would require opening up the shutter... something which is not for the weak...

I would just try and work with it. The cold weather might affect it negatively and things might get better during the Summer.

[astrobeck]

yes, temperature could be a factor.

I keep my lens on the lens board in my pocket in a baggie when I shoot out doors in the cold.
The grease/lube inside is probably gunky, so like Francois said, taking one apart is not for the weak and you really need to right tools for the job-spanner wrench.

Just warm it up a bit and see if it gets happier.

Good luck!  Gotta keep the Crown family working here!
 

[Diane Peterson]

it is a wee bit cold here... now -13 degrees...I have it out sitting on the table thinking it might warm a bit! I will keep working with it! thank you Francois and Astrobeck!