I bought an old Linhof Technica 4X5 a couple of years back and aside from the almost non-revolving back, it works fine. But that back is so stiff and difficulty to turn that I get frustrated. I've tried WD-40 and other lubricants, but it doesn't seem to help, besides I don't want that grease to get on me when handling the camera. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this problem?

-- Bill Tate (atlatl@mho.net), November 21, 1998

Answers

Pull things apart a bit & clean well with alcohol or a good grease removing cleaner. Then spray with silicon lubricant & work the back around on its rotation for a bit. Then let it sit for a bit & wipe off anything you can see or feel. I do so & have never had any drips or dirt attracted that I can tell.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), November 25, 1998.

A very stiff back on an older Tech is usually the sign of a mismatch-- a back off of one put onto another. Have a machine shop check the inside of the releases to see if they are "biting" into the softer aluminum of the back frame. If they are, they come off easily, and need only to be polished out to match the frame, and then the frame smoothed so that it will rotate. I've been selling used photo equipment for over twenty years, and I've personally seen at least a dozen mismatched 1950-1970 vintage Techs. HWS

-- H. W. Stone (colcam@netscape.net), November 30, 1998.