Finally fixed a stuck shutter on an old Nikon F at my kitchen table

I picked up a Nikon F from a flea market in Portland last month for $40. The shutter was totally locked up at 1/1000th. Took me 3 tries over 2 weeks to get the mirror box out without breaking anything. Turned out a piece of old lubricant had gummed up the gear train. A little lighter fluid and some patience and it fires clean now on every speed. Has anyone else dealt with old F series shutters seizing up like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

wade_anderson14d ago

Took a Q-Tip and lighter fluid to the gears on my old F and it worked like a charm.

andrew_baker914d ago

Zippo fluid works way better than lighter fluid for this. Lighter fluid leaves a weird residue that can actually gum things up worse over time. Learned that the hard way after cleaning a crusty old Rockwell lock with Ronsonol and it jammed up again a month later.

rowan_ross14d ago

Wade, that lighter fluid trick saved me on a sticky F lock a few years back.