I have 3 Rapax shutters with the same problem: the B & T settings don't work (they just snap shut). The lenses are a 108mm wide angle, a 135 normal and a 254mm tele.

Am I just unlucky, or what?

Aside from wondering if I should avoid playing any games of chance, I'm curious if many of the Graflex brotherhood have had similar problems, and, is it an easy (i.e., cheap) fix?

All these lenses are very good optics, in my opinion, and I hold Wollensak products in high esteem. They seem to be somewhat overlooked next to the Ektars, etc, and thus a good value, but these shutters are getting me down!

Should I just use my hat (as a shutter for long exposures)?

I cured this problem on one Rapax Shutter by removing the lens elements and soaking overnight in Ronsonol to clean out the gum. You can then re-lube the innards with a slurry of Ronsonol and extra fine graphite applied with an eye-dropper. On another one with no B or T...the shutter would open and close as if it were set on about 1/50th...I found the end of a safety-pin-like spring against the housing wall instead of on an obvious tang where it should have been seated. This was in close proximity to the cable-release socket. Hope this helps. Fred.

I didn't have any powdered graphite around, so I tried just the lighter fluid and that worked like a charm.

Thanks very much!