Had a stuck shutter curtain on an old Pentax K1000 that wouldn't budge

I was about to order a whole new assembly when I tried a tiny drop of lighter fluid on the pivot pin. It freed up after a few gentle wiggles and has been working fine for a week now. Has anyone else had luck with that on old cloth shutters, or is it a bad idea long term?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_allen651mo ago

Lighter fluid on a cloth shutter curtain makes me nervous. That stuff can leave a residue or dry out the silk threads over time. I would have tried a tiny bit of pure isopropyl alcohol first.

haydengreen3d ago

My buddy in Portland fixed his dad's old Canonet the same way last year. He used a single drop of Ronsonol on the metal hinge, not the cloth. That camera is still clicking along just fine on its original shutter.

drew_west1mo ago

Yeah lighter fluid can leave a film, but a tiny drop on the metal pivot like you did is usually fine.