Graflex.org

[Jim23]

I just bought a lever-wind RH8 (for the Century Graphic 23) at a photo swap--
It has the lever-wind insert for 6x9 that has "Singer Graflex" and a build-date of 1970 with a red advance lever. The outside back/base/shell has the pin rollers, however it appears to be of an earlier vintage (Labeled Graphic 23 rather than RH/8 or Rapidvance, just like the knob-wind units). Is the combination of the lever-wind RH8 and the earlier back correct? I have never seen the newer "pin-roller" back with the older-style labeling. It all seems to work OK together. Also, the return spring on an RH10 I have is weak, are these available? How hard are they to change?

[jdman]

Ihave never seen a graflex 23 that did not have a knob wind insert. However I do have a 23 with the pin rollers also one without. That being said the RH-8 should work fine with the 23 shell. Russ

[45PSS]

All I have is the manual for a RH20, but should be simular to the RH10, as several of the service bulitens cover ALL RH series film holders.
Starting at the wind lever, locate 2 screws on the top 180^o apart; remove them. Remove the film advance lever cap. Remove the film advance lever, note it has 4 holes, 2 for screws, 2 for gear pins. Now inside is, as Graflex called them, a Pinion Sun gear (center) and 2 pinion planet gears inside the gear ring. Carefully remove the Sun and planet and ring gears. Clean them and relube with Lubriplate or white Lithium Grease and re assemble. Gear alignment is crutical to it working, and any binding is misaligned gears. This should correct the Weak Spring syndrome.
Charles

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[Jim23]

Your advice worked! Thanks! It wasn't the spring, just gunk in the gears. Before your note, I was afraid to remove the two screws and "explore" thinking that the spring would fly out.