Widelux
Notes: Banding
World HQ
Contents
Do you have a Broken Widelux? Email me!
Repair Note: Vertical Striping
The Widelux F-8 was supposed to have fixed this problem, but all models from f-7 and earlier can potentially have it.
As far as I can tell, what happens is the main gear meshes unevenly with the primary speed regulator gear. These gears are straight-cut, meaning that their teeth mesh with flat faces. It's possible that the main gear is not accurately spaced against the input gear to the speed regulator, causing the mesh to be either too loose or too tight.
I don't think there's an easy fix to this, so we hope your Widelux doesn't have this problem. However, as certain cameras have it and others don't, we can assume that it's a manufacturing tolerance issue and can therefore be fixed somehow.
If your Widelux has the striping problem, here's how I would attack it:
Remove the top plates so you can get to the gears. Set the shutter speed to the highest point (1/200 on the FV). Release the trigger and turn the turret back and forth slowly. Carefully feel for any bumps as the main gear teeth come into contact with the input to the speed regulator. Try setting the speed to the lowest point (1/5 on the FV), and this time let the turret spin by itself. Listen carefully for any bumps as the main gear turns.
I'm sure this problem is from bad placement between the main gear and the input to the speed regulator. You can loosen the mounts for the speed regulator assembly and re-position it as a whole. (This is entirely safe, as it will not pop out or loose sync. You can completely remove this assembly if you want.) Try moving the assmbly around on its base, and check for possibilities in alignment with the main gear. There's quite a bit of movement that can be made, so you can probably find an optimum position and then re-tighten the assembly in place.
 |
Home |