Canon Canonet QL25, Sticky Aperture Blades

[matty]

I could do with some help with my Canonet please. I've had this sat on the shelf for a while, it was in a job lot bag with a Minolta that I had from the local auction house. The shutter and aperture blade were stuck so its been sat until I've found time to have a look at it.
Last night I took the rear lens element out and soaked the aperture blades and shutter with Naptha. The shutter freed up quickly and fires properly now. The aperture blades started moving and I got a lot of old oil off the blades. I left it all to soak overnight but this morning the blades keep getting stuck when I stop down to f16, they reopen when given a gentle prod and spring back to f2.
Is there something else I need to check or is it a case of carrying on with soaking and working the aperture until it moves properly?
Thanks
Matty

[truls]

I think the front element has to be removed, and clean everything. May be re-lubing if oil makes lens slow. It looks like a lovely camera, hope you get it fixed.

[Stephen]

It may indeed take several cleaning rounds to clear all the oil out from the blades, flush and catch the naptha with tissue, so that the oil is carried away better. It will appear to work, but as you have found any left still remains sticky.
Stephen.

[truls]

Is it possible to leave some moistened tissue overnight, or could it harm the lens/shutter?

[mickeyobe]

matty,

With care you could cut some ordinary letter paper into small but manageable pieces.
Soak some in your solvent and slide gently between blades. Move it around a little.
Then take some dry pieces of paper and slip between the blades to try to remove the residue of the solvent and the original oil.
Repeat as necessary but BE CAREFUL.

Mickey