Kiev 4a shutter button problem

[SergioGuerra]

Hi there!

I just got a very ugly, but very cheap Kiev 4a.. However, uglyness is not it's only fault (ugly because the leather is ripped off), shutter button doesnt seem to work fine.
If I push it slow and easy it works almost like in B position, at first it opens the shutter, after half a milimeter it closes the second curtain. If I press the shutter really fast, I get what seems to be good shutter times.

Since pressing the button that fast is asking for shaking the camera, I was wondering if any of the RFF Kiev gurus can help me out on this one :)

Ohh, the rangefinder patch image also seems a bit obliguous, but meters just fine....

Regards,

Sergio

[giovatony]

It sounds like a quick press ( jarring effect) is helping to move the shutter mechanism through the old stiffened grease.
You probably need to clean and relube the shutter mechanics and clean the RF.
John

[SergioGuerra]

Now the 2nd curtain goes down at very slow speed... I guess I need to CLA... There are good places with information on the web, but I must get te time to start pulling the camera apart ehehe

Regrds,

Sergio

[SergioGuerra]

Hi there!

Started digging the poor kiev, and found that one of the shutter ribbons is loose.. It looks however in good shape, So I just might try to re-attach it to the shutter curtain and see how shutter behaves...
If this works I will have to dissasemble the top to clean rangefinder,adjust it and one more Kiev will hit the streets :)

(meanwhile the seller of this one (that had reported it in fully working condition) sent me a working unit, so I will have two working bodies if all goes well)

Regards,

Sergio

[SergioGuerra]

The working unit that had been sent after half a roll lost a ribbon... lol

I ordered shutter ribbons from asahi and I have just finished the works of replacing them.

I got 7 turns on the shutter tension, all speeds work, and I have much less stress on the winding mechanism. I wonder If this is a normal value, and if with first use I wont regret having 8 or 9 turns.

Hope tomorow to start test driving it with the J-8.

Regards

[wolves3012]

The working unit that had been sent after half a roll lost a ribbon... lol

I ordered shutter ribbons from asahi and I have just finished the works of replacing them.

I got 7 turns on the shutter tension, all speeds work, and I have much less stress on the winding mechanism. I wonder If this is a normal value, and if with first use I wont regret having 8 or 9 turns.

Hope tomorow to start test driving it with the J-8.

Regards
A good, smooth Kiev should have around 7 turns, I believe. Apparently they are set higher so it'll stay working after a few years of neglect...

[wolves3012]

Ohh, the rangefinder patch image also seems a bit obliguous, but meters just fine....

Regards,

Sergio
Er, what meter? The Kiev 4a is meterless...did you mean a 4?

[SergioGuerra]

Hi there! That was a mistake because english is not my native language... I meant that the rangefinder is accurate, it can "meter" the distances ;)
Sunny 16 rocks with these cameras :)

Regards and thanks for the answers/tips. I have done a small test film, and will develop later tonight!

Sergio

[SergioGuerra]

Looks like I finally have a good working Kiev.

Now I should get a new lense, since this J-8 has really a lot of cleaning marks/scratches and some dust inside...

Here go the first results :)

[SergioGuerra]

Yes, Pitxu, my plans are to get a Helios and one Jupiter-12.. I have one J-12 in LTM and it is really very good (apart from having to look at it to change the apperture).
I thought Kievs/Contaxs where a bit on the ugly side, but now that I look at mine, I am starting to like the beast :)

REgards