Kiev 4 shutter getting stuck

[garry71]

Just had a Kiev 4 arrive from ebay, sold as spares or repairs with a stuck shutter.
Managed to get the shutter freed after a bit of acrobatics with the top dial and shutter button.

At the moment it works down to 1/25, but anything slower and it gets stuck again.
1/10 will work once, then gets stuck on the next try.
Also 1/10 is noticably different from 1/25, more so than between 1/25 to 1/50.

Anyone come across this low speed problem before?
I can easily live without going below 1/25, but it'd be nice if I could get it working all the way down.

Cheers.

 

[Sangoma]

You may get away with re-tensioning the shutter curtains, but it may be due to incorrect lubrication or dried up lubrication, dirt or corrosion.
This is a "feature" of other Russian cameras as well, the Zorkis, FEDs and Zenits suffer the same.
I have never stripped a Kiev shutter down, but if it is like the others, it isn't hard (Kiev has vertical not horizontal curtains)

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

You can find a Kiev 4 repair manual here: https://learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=356 but the text iis in Russian and you're expected to donate $1 for the download

 

[Sangoma]

Some here on the waybackmachine too https://web.archive.org/web/2013012.../public/rpnchbck/replace shutter ribbons.html

 

[garry71]

Thanks for the answers and the links, loads of useful stuff there. Had a look at getting the repair manual for a dollar, but they want my name and address and everything just for a 1 dollar sale. Might get it in the future if I really need to.

Took some test shots at various speeds , and they came out ok. The lens seems quite good as well.
Loading film is a bit of a mission. I think the take up spool isn't original, so I'll try a Leica spool which clamps the leader in.

Test shot below.