Has anybody ever replaced the body shell of their Leica M?

[dyao]

I'm considering replacing the body shell of my M4 - it has a small chip near the hinge that doesn't affect the functionality, but might in the future.

Has anybody ever done this? Could you use a M2 body shell (from an M2 with lever rewind and self timer, of course) for an M4? Anybody have a "parts" M4 they want to sell me? 🙂

I'm also considering ordering an M4 body shell from Leica USA but that'd probably be really expensive...

 

[normclarke]

Not possible to use an M2 body the rewind is different. I have successfully repaired broken bodies that have needed major surgery around the hinge to the back door using epoxy resins and reformed metal parts. I guess it would be expensive to aquire another shell, the assembly time would cost major bucks!

Best,

normclarke.

 

[Livesteamer]

If you can get it apart, it is possible that a good welder could put some metal back in that spot that you could then file/shape back into the proper form. The heat of welding does risk distorting the body extrusion. Good Luck. Joe

 

[t6un]

I don't know whether the rewind will be an issue, but m2 won't have a place to fix the arm that zeroes the frame counter. Other than that, removing the body shell is easy, the hardest part is to recalibrate the register of your new lens mount.

 

[ferider]

Call Leica NJ and see if they have a replacement shell. Replacement should be straight forward, except having to check and maybe reshim the lens mount,

Roland.

 

[matt352]

DAG has an M5 body shell for $95. http://www.dagcamera.com/leica_m.htm
I'd try emailing him, or Sherry K, or Youxin, etc. to see if they have the part you're looking for.

 

[nobbylon]

I dont see why the shells of m2 m3 and m4 are not inter changeable as long as all the lever holes are there. The rewind mech is part of the core and not the shell. The top plate rewind also. Biggest thing is collimating the core and shell for focus but not too difficult.

 

[Livesteamer]

CRR Luton states that early M3's went thru several rangefinder changes so there were changes in the body to accept the differing rf units. Joe

 

[ferider]

Just to add to my previous post: Leica NJ spare parts is surprisingly helpful, well-stocked and inexpensive. Just call them and you'll see. Or take Robert up on his offer, of course.

 

[nobbylon]

CRR Luton states that early M3's went thru several rangefinder changes so there were changes in the body to accept the differing rf units. Joe

The rangefinders were changed internally but the mounting points remain the same.

 

[dyao]

Just to add to my previous post: Leica NJ spare parts is surprisingly helpful, well-stocked and inexpensive. Just call them and you'll see. Or take Robert up on his offer, of course.

Robert?

THanks for all the help, guys. I'll give Leica NJ a call. Thanks norm, for confirming that repairing the body shell is possible as well.

 

[johannielscom]

I've taken apart several M's but have never seen one with a shimmed lens mount. They were all fitted to the shell straight away. Pretty sure Leitz specs were so narrow that shimming was not necessary. Same with Barnacks.

OTOH, I've yet to come across a post-war FED or Zorki that needed no shimming.

I think taking the shell of a camera is pretty straight forward and would not spend money on letting someone else do it. Just my two cents. The only tricky bit is when you have to transplant the self timer lever. Remember that it comes off clockwise and screws on counter-clockwise. Everything else really is peanuts.

 

[t6un]

Buzzardkid, I believe that instead of shimming Leica machined the backside of the lens mount to match the body shell. That should mean that if their sum happens to be too thick, one has no shims that can be removed.

 

[nobbylon]

Buzzardkid, I believe that instead of shimming Leica machined the backside of the lens mount to match the body shell. That should mean that if their sum happens to be too thick, one has no shims that can be removed.

Indeed and I've never seen one shimmed either. However if its off then shimming could sort it.