Bolex Camera Repair

[gkaplan57]

Hello: Could somebody tell me of someone in the USA that can repair Bolex cameras. I have a solw running Bolex D8SL regular 8 camera and it may only need to be lubed , but I am not sure.

Thanks

Larry Roussarie

[Split8mm]

Hello: Could somebody tell me of someone in the USA that can repair Bolex cameras. I have a solw running Bolex D8SL regular 8 camera and it may only need to be lubed , but I am not sure.

I've never looked into repair, but I have done a clean and lube on this camera myself. Not hard if you have some mechanical appitude to begin with. I have a digital camera and I take photos as I'm disassembling the camera in case I need some help getting it back together. Aside from getting the camera to run quieter, you can also get the viewfinder clear. Good luck!

[gkaplan57]

Hello: Thanks for the info. Do you know what type of lube you used on your Bolex? I might try this myself on a camera that is not working.

Is there a Bolex service manual that you know of that would help me in cleaning and lubing a Bolex camera.

Thanks
Larry Roussarie

[Split8mm]

Do you know what type of lube you used on your Bolex? I might try this myself on a camera that is not working.

Is there a Bolex service manual that you know of that would help me in cleaning and lubing a Bolex camera.

Thanks
Larry Roussarie

First I use rubber cement thinner to clean the camera. I use a nasal asparator (baby snot sucker) to dispense this cleaner. It washes away the gunk and evaporates quickly. Then, I lubricate with either a very light oil I bought at a clock repair shop or WD40 that I squirt into a dish and use a hyperdermic needle to dispense. I'm not a professional camera repair person! Your mileage may vary!! But this stuff has worked pretty well for me. These reguar 8 Bolex cameras use a "flyball" mechanical speed governor. Once you take it apart, you will see how centrifugal force forces the two little balls out to regulate camera speed.

I'm sure there is a repair manual for these cameras, but I've never tried to get one. Buy any old Bolex on eBay for $10 and use it as a learning tool if you don't want to tear apart the camera you have now. I've taken apart half a dozen clock wind Bolex cameras and they all have similar workings.

[CHAS]

These guys have fixed two S-8 Bolex cameras (155, 160) of mine and did an excellent job:

SML CAMERA
Venice, CA
310-306-8511

Ask for Nick and tell him Chas sent ya!

[gkaplan57]

Thanks To All For The Info!

I think I will try my hand at cleaning and lubing a Bolex camera. I have a B8L that needs it badly. Prices to clean a Bolex camera is about $200.00. One dealer charges $350.00 to clean, lube and put the camera "back to spec".

I bought 4 Bolex cameras that would not run smoothly off of ebay - even though they were said to work fine. Luckly I work with a guy that thinks the Bolex cameras are "works of art" and he bought them from me. It would be nice to be able to do the cleaning and lubing myself.

Larry Roussarie

[mike]

$350?! IS the camera repair person insane?
The bolex isnt even worth that much. And I highly doubt the repair person has the original factory specs on the bolex.