Graflex.org

[Springback]

My 5x7 Speed Graphic is a bit persnickety when it comes time to put the front standard back prior to closing her up.

The difficulty comes when the front standard tried to "jump track" to fit back in the box. Nedles to say, I don't want to force anything on the ol' gal, so it usually takes ten or fifteen minutes of fiddleing aroung before I can close the box---not very "speed"

I lubed the rails with a bit of lubriplate, but this hasen't had any effect.

Any ideas I can try before shipping it off to a repairman?

Thanks!

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"A new philosophy generally means in practice the praise of some old vice"

[glennfromwy]

Check the short guides in the box carefully. They may be broken. The upper lip, where the rail slides in is very thin. These get worn and tend to break off, causing all kinds of problems. On the Annivrsary and Pacemaker 4X5s, it's usually caused by trying to close the camera without making sure the linked rails are racked all the way back. My 5X7 doesn't have linked rails. Too old.
Does yours have them? Those little short guides are next to impossible to find. Probably have to make your own out of a section of front guide.

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Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[Springback]

Thanks I'll check it out. The guides aren't linked, but if I run the lensboard up to its maximum rise its easier to see whats going on back there---the guides apparently just don't line up.

_________________
"A new philosophy generally means in practice the praise of some old vice"