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Got a stuck shutter on a Nikon F3 to fire again with a drop of lighter fluid
The curtain was totally frozen, wouldn't budge with normal cleaning. I put one tiny drop of Zippo fluid on the pivot points, let it sit for an hour, and it started working smoothly. Anyone have a better fix for old, gunked-up shutter mechanisms?
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the_vera2mo agoMost Upvoted
That lighter fluid trick is a classic last resort move. Letting it sit for an hour was smart, gives it time to really creep into the old grease. For something less flammable next time, a tiny bit of naptha or even rubbing alcohol on a toothpick can sometimes do the same job without the fire risk. Just gotta be really careful not to get it on any plastic parts.
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andrew9162mo ago
Oh man, lighter fluid is the secret weapon. I had a sticky volume knob on an old stereo that nothing else would touch. A tiny drop of that stuff, let it soak overnight, and it turned like new. I was so sure the thing was just broken. That creeping action is unreal.
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dylanwilliams2mo ago
Yeah, the creeping action is the whole trick... it finds its way into spots you can't even see. I've used a drop of mineral spirits on a stuck tuner before, same idea but way less smell. That old grease turns into glue over the years, you just need something thin to break it up.
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