I have a couple of Petri Flex V cameras which are both in need of a clean and a service. One unit which I bought about 6 months ago has a problem with the lens mount and also sometimes applies Bulb mode on the slow speeds. The other unit is much better cosmetically, but the second curtain only slowly travels across the film gate most times, and the focusing screen is filthy.
I decided it would be a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, seeing if I could strip one of the cameras down and get it cleaned and repaired. I thought if I tried to fix the worst one, even if I had problems, I would still learn enough from it to enable me to fix the second one. Also, having a working unit available as a reference would help, even if the working unit has a slow second curtain problem.
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 1 petri flex v strip down mechanism under the film advance side of the camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-mechanism-under-the-film-advance-side-of-the-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 2 petri flex v strip down shutter speed control removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-control-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 3 petri flex v strip down film advance removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-film-advance-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 4 petri flex v strip down film advance mechanism](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-film-advance-mechanism.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 5 petri flex v strip down film advance mechanism from the front of the camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-film-advance-mechanism-from-the-front-of-the-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 6 petri flex v strip down film advance mechanism removed from camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-film-advance-mechanism-removed-from-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 7 petri flex v strip down bottom of film advance mechanism](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-bottom-of-film-advance-mechanism.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 8 petri flex v strip down film wind shutter cocking gears](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-film-wind-shutter-cocking-gears.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 9 petri flex v strip down gear removed from camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-gear-removed-from-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 10 petri flex v strip down top component of the shutter speed mechanism](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-top-component-of-the-shutter-speed-mechanism.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 11 petri flex v strip down top component of the shutter speed mechanism removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-top-component-of-the-shutter-speed-mechanism-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 12 petri flex v strip down click stop dial on the shutter speed dial](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-click-stop-dial-on-the-shutter-speed-dial.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 13 petri flex v strip down click stop dial on the shutter speed dial removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-click-stop-dial-on-the-shutter-speed-dial-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 14 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 15 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam from back of camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-from-back-of-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 16 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam another view](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-another-view.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 17 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 18 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam removed from plate](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-removed-from-plate.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 19 petri flex v strip down the top screw here holds the speed cam follower](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-top-screw-here-holds-the-speed-cam-follower.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 20 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam follower removed from camera](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-follower-removed-from-camera.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 21 petri flex v strip down shutter speed cam follower removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-shutter-speed-cam-follower-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 22 petri flex v strip down part of the film advance mechanism](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-part-of-the-film-advance-mechanism.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 23 petri flex v strip down part of the film advance mechanism removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-part-of-the-film-advance-mechanism-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 24 petri flex v strip down the plate the film advance sits on](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-plate-the-film-advance-sits-on.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 25 petri flex v strip down another view of the plate the film advance sits on](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-another-view-of-the-plate-the-film-advance-sits-on.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 26 petri flex v strip down lots of old grease in the film advance](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-lots-of-old-grease-in-the-film-advance.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 27 petri flex v strip down old grease in the coupling to the shutter cocking](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-old-grease-in-the-coupling-to-the-shutter-cocking.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 28 petri flex v strip down removed the two screws in the back of the mirror](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-removed-the-two-screws-in-the-back-of-the-mirror-box.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 29 petri flex v strip down looking down on the prism housing](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-looking-down-on-the-prism-housing.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 30 petri flex v strip down prism removed showing the old light seal](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-prism-removed-showing-the-old-light-seal.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 31 petri flex v strip down removed the covering to take the lens mount off](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-removed-the-covering-to-take-the-lens-mount-off.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 32 petri flex v strip down lens mount removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-lens-mount-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 33 petri flex v strip down self timer removed](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-self-timer-removed.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 34 petri flex v strip down remove the two black screws to free the mirror](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-remove-the-two-black-screws-to-free-the-mirror-box.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 35 petri flex v strip down mirror box removed from camera body](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-mirror-box-removed-from-camera-body.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 36 Petri flex v strip down - mirror box removed showing slow speed escapement](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-mirror-box-removed-showing-slow-speed-escapement.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 37 petri flex v strip down slow speed escapement quite dirty](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-slow-speed-escapement-quite-dirty.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 38 petri flex v strip down slow speed escapement being cleaned](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-slow-speed-escapement-being-cleaned.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 39 petri flex v strip down the plate at the top of the mirror box has a small amount of damage](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-plate-at-the-top-of-the-mirror-box-has-a-small-amount-of-damage.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 40 petri flex v strip down releasing the plate which holds the condencer lens in the focus screen](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-releasing-the-plate-which-holds-the-condencer-lens-in-the-focus-screen.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 41 petri flex v strip down the grub screw which holds the focus screen lens assembly](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-grub-screw-which-holds-the-focus-screen-lens-assembly.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 42 petri flex v strip down the focus screen components out](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-focus-screen-components-out.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 43 petri flex v strip down the focus screen box cleaned of old lightseal](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-the-focus-screen-box-cleaned-of-old-lightseal.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 44 petri flex v strip down reassembling the focus screen components](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-reassembling-the-focus-screen-components.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 45 petri flex v strip down slow speed assembly cleaned and back in place](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-slow-speed-assembly-cleaned-and-back-in-place.jpg)
![Stripping down and cleaning a Petri Flex V 46 petri flex v strip down mirror box back in place](https://everythingvintage.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/petri-flex-v-strip-down-mirror-box-back-in-place.jpg)
So the pictures above show the procedure I used to strip the Petri Flex V down. There are lots of pictures, but I've found when I've followed this sort of procedure myself, that it's better to have too many pictures rather than too few. Since the pictures explain most of the procedure, I'll just add some notes here, which are useful things to know.
Later I'll do a follow-up post to cover any problems I have fitting the camera back together.
Petri Flex V Strip down notes.
I didn't include the process to take the camera top off, but it's reasonably straight forward. Each side is a separate piece, and I found I needed to take the top off the prism as well and loosen the prism tray in order to get the other pieces off. The prism top has screws under the covering, which needs peeling back.
I think the covering material on Petri seems to age pretty badly and become brittle. This has happened to both my models, and I can't just peel it off and stick it back later because it breaks up as it is peeled off. On the second camera, I may try to soften the glue with some sort of solvent.
I found several screws were sealed with varnish or something similar, which I had to dissolve with acetone to free them.
When removing the mirror box, there is a spring and arm to unhook from under the bottom of the camera. Also, one of the bolts which holds the mirror box is actually a spacer shaft which holds part of the shutter cocking mechanism.
When the focus screen is removed, there are individual shims under the tray, so be careful to note where they are fitted, so they can go back.
I found acetone was very good at getting rid of all the old light seal goo.
I cleaned the slow speed and self-timer mechanisms by immersing in IPA, which worked well.
Fantástico .has llegado al final vez a las cortinillas?