Yashica Electro 35 G Focus Problem

[streettrailpark]

I just bought one today and the focus worked perfectly at first, then got progressively stiffer and eventually seized completely. I took the lens apart but I cant get under the focus ring to see the problem. It has three screws that i loosened off and re-tightened several times to no avail. Does anyone know how to

A) fix this problem
B) get under the focus ring
C) have any insight into how this works (do the screws grab a ring under, is there recesses for the screws that they need to go in, stuff like that)

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, this camera otherwise works amazingly and I'm excited to get to use it.

 

[btgc]

"Something" isn't under focus ring, but in helicoid. You will have to remove lens assembly from camera to get there, I think, will be messy because of wires between body and lens. If disassembling helicoid for cleaning and relubing, before mark both to be able to reassemble into same thread opening and number of turns.

Don't know why but large body Electro rangefinders are heard to develop focus drag. My GSN acted up immediately after I gave it to my niece. Is this "harakiri after loss of master" syndrome?

 

[streettrailpark]

Ok thank you! How would I go about getting to that? Once i get to the shutter with all it's mechanics, do i have to take that apart piece by piece to get to the helicoid?

 

[streettrailpark]

Ok so heres where im at now. This is the backside of the lens, i've taken out the rear element group which you can see to the side of the lens on the plate. What do i need to do to loosen up the helicoid? Any help would be really appreciated, i think i'm almost there but I don't want to mess it up now! PLEASE HELP!

 

[btgc]

My memeries have faded, but I think you will need to disassemble lens barrel from front, or at least to loosen focus ring (just mark relative positions before doing this) and find screws under it. Or there is retaining screw if look from back of lens?

Probably not bad idea to wait for someone who knows for sure. Konica Auto S2 I've opened for sure is similar but may differ in details from this camera.

 

[StefHH]

Focus Problem

Focus Problem

Hy Streettrailpark,

i hope this doesn't come too late. I literally have been in there yesterday, so here is what to do: i recommend that you unsolder the four(?) wires to the camera for easier handling. then unscrew the ring with the four notches, as indicated in the picture. this holds the lens to the rectangular metal plate. You also need to remove the rangefinder coupling arm (two screws). (Also, be aware that after unscrewing the helical thread you most likely will not make it to screw it into the same thread again, causing massive misfocus. That is where the three tiny setscrews on the focus ring come into play. These set the focus ring free from the helical thread, thus making focus adjustment possible. Anyway, you will need some ground glass and magnifier for that, to be put on the film plane.)
After you have unscrewed the ring with the four notches, the front 3/4 of the lens will come loose, only connected to the rear by the wires. The rear 1/4 is the helical thread assembly. Now before you take the thread apart, let me tell you that i had this apart two times and it took me about half an hour of sweating and wiggling to get the threads back together. unscrew the tiny stopscrew that keeps the focus ring from turning too far over the nearst mark. Then turn that ring and the helical is apart.
More in the next post.

 

[StefHH]

Btw, I used needlenose pliers to unscrew the notched ring. be careful with tiny matel parts and the shutter/aperture blades.

 

[StefHH]

more notes

more notes

Some more notes: if you didn't already, fix the pad of death, while you are in there. And replace that light seal inside the lens (visible in your picture.) it will one day desintegrate into gooey stuff and possibly mess up your lens...
Upon reassembly, pay attention to the position of the shutter release lever. This must be in a position as indicated in the second picture. It latches with a small pinion inside the lens that is connected to the shutter. If you you don't, you will realize that the shutter of your comletely reassembled electro will not work. And you will have to take it all apart. Again. Happened to me twice. Actually, i think i have been everywhere inside my camera at least twice. And then another time becouse i have forgotten to put some stupid lever in the right position.

 

[b1bmsgt]

Wow, you guys are braver than I am. I wouldn't even attempt to separate the helicals on an Electro. In order to remove the lens assembly you are going to have to desolder pretty much every wire in there to get enough room. :bang:

Personally, I would just buy another one. Having the focus freeze up is pretty rare. I have worked on at least 250 Electro's, and it's only happened once to me.

Good luck!!

Russ

 

[StefHH]

Well, it is more desperation than bravery. If it is the only electro that you have at hand and you like it and it does not work, it is a question of all or nothing. And then, if you have nothing to loose, these helicals unscrew just easily 😉 . And after all it's pretty satisfactory to have been able to make it work again.

 

[b1bmsgt]

And after all it's pretty satisfactory to have been able to make it work again.

I would definitely agree with that! I was just speaking from a practical standpoint... 🙂

these helicals unscrew just easily

Also quite true, once you get everything out of the way. The trick is to get them back together properly. There are multiple ways to get them together, as there are multiple thread paths in a helical, not just one as in, say, a machine screw. If you start in the wrong place, your focus will be totally unusable. 😱
Be VERY careful to mark things before disassembly so that it is obvious if it is back together improperly.


Russ

 

[StefHH]

If you start in the wrong place, your focus will be totally unusable.

If you put it in one of the wrong threads, you can adjust the focus again by changing the position of the focussing ring, from the outside, with said 3 tiny setscrews. You nedd some ground glass and magnifiing glass, though, to check for focus on the film plane (and a spare battery to keep the shutter open...)
Guess how i know...

Stefan

 

[Frontman]

Rather than disassembling the helicoid, you can add 4 drops or so of fine machine oil at the 9, 12, 3, and 6 o'clock positions, and place the entire assembly in the sun for a couple of hours. Usually the machine oil will soften the grease, and make the lens usable for a few more years. These cameras aren't valuable enough to spend too much time or money getting straightened out (unless you have nothing better to do).