Agfa Karat Rangefinder Problems

[ricpr]

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum so bear with me. I recently acquired an Agfa Karat with a rangefinder problem. The focus ring was first stuck. I was able to move the ring, but according to the manual the rangefinder is coupled. Moving the focus ring does not have any affect on the images in the viewfinder. The focus ring is still very stiff. I am no advanced repairman. I thought about taking the camera apart, but this doesn't seem like the camera to start experimenting with. Any ideas would be appreciated. By the way great site......the people here seem really helpful and encouraging.

 

[Solinar]

Just a guess, the 50 year old Agfa grease has dried out to become a sticky, solidified, goop. You'll have to removed the shutter and lens assembly, to get in there and clean out the helicoid threads. Light to mid weight silicone grease works best when reassembling.

Try searching the archives over at the Classic Camera Repair Forum

You can always start a new thread, if the info in the archives is not relevant to your Karat.

 

[ricpr]

Thanks for the response Solinar. The fix looks fairly complex. I wonder if there is someone out there that services these cameras. By the way, I am in your area.....Smithville.

 

[Solinar]

Yep, it takes a better than basic skill set, but it's not as bad as watch repair. There are a couple of folks on this site with Karats. They probably have done the cleaning and relubing of the helicoid.

I haven't done a Karat. My Super Solinette, which is really the Ansco Super Regent, needed the same repair and I was able to do it myself.

With regards to folder repairs, Ken Ruth at Bald Mountain Photography get consistently good reviews