Graflex 3 Cell Flash Gun Middle Band

[BillyTheKid]

Hello Everyone,

If this has been discussed before then i do apologize. I just recently bought a vintage 3 cell Graflex flash gun and plan on turning it into a Empire Strikes Back Luke Lightsaber replica.
My problem is i cannot get the middle band that has the clamp on it to come off so that I can rotate it to the other side to put it in the right position for a Luke ESB version. The band will turn a little so that I can get it into the ANH position, but beyond that it will not budge.

Is there a special trick or could it just be that it is old and perhaps there is rust underneath that prevents it from coming off? There isn't really alot of rust on the rest of the handle though.

Any tips or hints would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou very much!

 

[pfillery]

Silly question but have you undone the screw? The one next to the G on the clamp that is in the slot. Right next to the clamp lever.

With the screw off it should slide right off.

If it doesn't have the screw or slot then you may have a replica clamp.

 

[BillyTheKid]

Silly question but have you undone the screw? The one next to the G on the clamp that is in the slot. Right next to the clamp lever.

With the screw off it should slide right off.

If it doesn't have the screw or slot then you may have a replica clamp.

Yes, it did come with the screw and washer underneath (inside the middle band) and I took them both out...but the middle band will still not turn further or come off. Not sure if it just has some rust underneath that is causing it to stick.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Hi there,

First open your clamp lever then you need to give the upper part or bottom part for that matter a little push inwards and then it can make a full turn to open up.

If that didn't do it ... perhaps add some pictures here of your situation and let the graflex experts have a more closer look.

-Chaim

 

[Fyberdyne Labs]

Also the clamp locks in to a small slot. Somtimes one must wiggle it to get it into the slot correctly. As Chaim said lossening the clamp might help. You do that by turn the lever conterclockwise. As it is old please becarful. Picture might help.
Mark

 

[Fyberdyne Labs]

I found a picture in a google serch I don't know whos it is. So if this photo belongs to you I am sorry.Maybe it will help. It is a graflex that is apart.

http://www.slothfurnace.com/images/ESBLukeFX/001.jpg

 

[BillyTheKid]

Everyone, I was finally able to get the middle band off. I worked at it for a while and twisted and turned it and finally it came off. I was then able to rotate it to the position for a Luke ESB saber. Thankyou all for your helpful comments and info

 

[BillyTheKid]

Btw, I did have the clamp lever open every time I tried to get the band off, LOL!

 

[Organic Mechanic]

OK. I may know the issue...maybe.

Graflex flash's were made in a factory. ie. Some schmoe was slapping the buttons on the punch press that cut the clamp grooves just as fast as he could, because you get paid by the piece, y'know?

Anyway, mistakes can, and DO happen in the factory. If you look at the pic Fyberdyne linked, you'll see the clamp slots. On my Graflex, one of the slots got "double tapped" which essentially reversed the shape of the slot. Putting an unintended notch on the wrong side of it. meaning that you have only slide it half way in/out before turning it into the slide out channel.


Oh lord...that didn't make a lick of sense. I'll snap a pic to illustrate it tomorrow.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Oh lord...that didn't make a lick of sense. I'll snap a pic to illustrate it tomorrow.

[Voices of Beavis and Buthead] : you said LICK ... ahuh ahuh! :behave



-Chaim