Graflex.org

[peakbagger]

I came into possession of a what I believe is a Pacemaker. Ser. 846926 makes me think 1950's Pacemaker Speed graphic. When pulling the camera out or pushing it back into the body, the whole assembly gets stuck at the rear rail (for lack of a better word). There's two sections, a short one and the long one - it gets stuck at the joint. I have to do some major finessing to get the assembly back in. Anyone run into this before, and have any suggestions as to a fix? Thanks! (sorry can't figure out how to post a photo...link is below.)

http://imgur.com/r3RU962

[Henry]

Sounds to me like s previous owner buggered the rails when he tried to close the front door without fully retracting the standard into the camera box. The carriage got caught at the joint and the force of lifting (and forcing) the door to close bent the rails. I did the same thing, in my ignorance, to my Century when I first got it. Managed to straighten the bent rails, and then I put blackened brass washers under the screw heads holding the rails at the rear. Haven't had a problem since.

[45PSS]

Your 1950 Pacemaker Speed Graphic is covered by this service manual
http://www.graflex.org/manuals/45-Pacemaker-Speed-and-Crown-Graphic.pdf
If you do not feel comfortable working on it I'm down the coast from you.

NOW, run the rails out fully so that both sections are on the bed. Does the front standard slide over the junction of the sections easily?

When running the rails back to inside the body do they go in smoothly or do they bind at the body or move slightly to engage the body guides?

Are the body guides bent or broken?

This site does not host pictures. Pictures can be embedded if hosted on a photo hosting site.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[peakbagger]

Yes that sounds like that could be the case. Which part of the rails had bent? The case section (short) or the bed section (long)? I can't tell at all if they are bent. Was it really noticeable on yours?

[peakbagger]

[Henry]

[45PSS]

Look at pdf page 20 of the linked manual. (download it for convenience)
With yoke item 7 consisting of 7C through 7F fully retracted the front standard hangs at the hinge. Now with item 7 on the bed item 15 the front standard hangs at the link between 7C and 7D?
Yes- 7C, 7D, or 7F bent.
No- the yoke is good.

Check the body guides (case guide). The right side only is shown as item 17A. The guide is attached with two screws and has two alignment pins that mate into 17. There are shims that go between 17 and 17A to get the guide grove(s) that the yoke slides in in perfect alignment between the case and bed guide(s) items 1 and 17A. The shims are listed as being .016, .040, and .060 thick. Any combination of the 3 can be used.

I have seen bent/broken case guides, the rail link pin hole worn, the guide edge of the rails (yoke) bent and the ends at the link mashed making them thicker. The yoke is aluminum and does not bend easily.

The rails should be firm in the guides and should not move up or down with the rails anywhere on the bed or case.

How well does the front standard lock work? If too tight it will prevent the front standard from sliding smoothly on the yoke, if it is too loose it will allow side play causing difficultly in moving the front standard across the hinge/yoke link. A correctly tightened lock adjustment will secure the front standard with the lock lever item 30 pdf page 16 45° either side of center.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[peakbagger]

[45PSS]