Adjusting close focus on M3

[daveywaugh]

My M3 has come back from a 'CLA' but the tech was unable to adjust the close focus to be 0.7. I have read that is a simple procedure... Slightly bending some lever near the focus cam? I am hoping to have a go myself if someone could point me to some simple instructions. Thank you. Yeah I know I should have sent it overseas to a real Leica tech but it's done now ;-)

 

[Keith]

There was description of how to do this in thread recently but damned if I can remember which thread. It could be worth giving Roland (ferider) a PM as I think it may have been him who desribed the process ... whatever happens I'm sure someone will know.

I was going to do it to my M3 but chickened out ... bending old metal worries me!

 

[jmcd]

I asked Focal Point about this adjustment of close focus on the M3 to .7 meters, and they told me that whether or not this can be done depends on the particular M3—some can be adjusted, and some cannot.

 

[ferider]

Check your M3 visually. If it can be done, it's done by bending the "Rangefinder Stop Arm":

I've done it once - it's not hard but do at your own risk.

 

[pb908]

I just read somewhere (forgot the link), that it not just bending the stop arm, but (originally, in my M2, not M3) the arm is twisted (bend like in rotation motion), so by twisting it in other direction, you can get the stop arm straight and will add some more space before it hit the stopper

one more,
open the bottom plate of the camera, try to open the bottom internal cover. over there you will see a hole which access to small cover in your Film opening area (or mirror box in SLR), you can try to rotate the small cover (with small plier) from bottom and the cover in the mirror box area will fall out.

then you can use screw driver to turn the ecentric stopper screw (overtravel adjustment in the picture by ferider post) to have the minimum area on the stop arm side.
that will as well help you add/reduce the stoper distance of the arm without bending/twisting the arm (in not "destructive" way)

 

[daveywaugh]

Thanks very much for all the info - much appreciated. Will let you know how it goes ;-)

 

[daveywaugh]

Check your M3 visually. If it can be done, it's done by bending the "Rangefinder Stop Arm":

I've done it once - it's not hard but do at your own risk.

I assume that's a bend to the right? Thank you.

 

[daveywaugh]

Got it - worked well. Thanks again for all your help. Only needed a very slight bend for those wanting to give it a go. Now focusses the Hex 50 to 0.7 and seems accurate (although waiting to dev some film tomorrow).