I fixed a stuck shutter on an old Nikon F3 by using a drop of lighter fluid on the pivot, which felt wrong but worked.

The shutter curtain was binding and I couldn't get it free with my usual cleaning. Out of ideas, I tried a tiny bit of Ronsonol on a cotton swab at the top pivot point, like an old timer in my shop in Tacoma once mentioned. It freed up right away and has been fine for six months now. Is this a legit fix or did I just get lucky and risk damaging the curtain?

3 comments

3 Comments

hall.alex1mo ago

Hey, sometimes the wrong fix is the right one! Just don't try that on a digital camera.

robin_jones1mo ago

Actually, @hall.alex, that fix can work on digital too.

murray.cole12d ago

I read a camera repair blog last week that said some digital sensor cleaning tricks from the film era can cause static damage. The guy mentioned a specific voltage, like 5kV, that can build up from certain cloths. It made me pause because I used to do that all the time. Maybe it's just me but that old school fix feels risky now.