135mm Nikkor sticky cam

[chris00nj]

Hi, my recently acquired Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 is a pretty and small lens, but it's rangefinder coupling cam is sticky.

When you focus towards infiniti, the cam moves towards the rear as it should. As you focus towards , the cam stays in the infiniti position. I can push the cam back in, but it doesn't retract on it's own.

Is this any easy fix?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Is the return spring broken, or is the sticking due to gummed up oil? For the latter, probably flood cleaning with Ronsonol or 99% Isopropyl alchohol would work.

 

[ferider]

Most likely the cam needs to be re-lubed. Pretty easy to takeout. You can see here how this is done for an 85/2 and the 135 is very similar:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/gallery/2162857_UqpVw

Best,

Roland.

 

[chris00nj]

Most likely the cam needs to be re-lubed. Pretty easy to takeout. You can see here how this is done for an 85/2 and the 135 is very similar:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/gallery/2162857_UqpVw

Best,

Roland.

Wow, neat guide. I'll have to take a deeper look at it. I'm always apprehensive about taking apart lenses.

If it is a broken return spring, where does one find parts these days?

 

[chris00nj]

Most likely the cam needs to be re-lubed. Pretty easy to takeout. You can see here how this is done for an 85/2 and the 135 is very similar:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/gallery/2162857_UqpVw

Best,

Roland.

Yes, you were correct! I really appreciate your help. I couldn't get the lens completely apart because there was one screw that just wouldn't come out and I didn't want to strip it.

However, I had sufficient access in order to try to free up the cam. I used some Royal Purple gun oil and it worked well.