Aperture blades

[Ash]

Well I got the lovely summicron from Keith Novak, and in the process of working out and trying to fix the misplaced aperture ring (didn't match up) I have managed to explode that bloody metal orifice all over the shop.


I've been suffering for an hour trying to reassemble the aperture blades but they simply won't sit in the lens again.


Any help on solving this catastrophe would be much appreciated!

 

[BrianShaw]

Oh dear... I remember doing something like that once. I had a curiousity about an old enlarger lens I was given. Blades all over the place. I hope none got bent in the explosion. If I recall, the best way to reassemble was to do so with the aperture in the "open" position. Lay them arround the edge and slip the last one under. Best of luck to you!

 

[Ash]

I eventually got it back together. I'm NEVER doing that again!!!

As for the lens, the only damage is I've now lost the ball bearing for the aperture clicks, that means the aperture selector dial is loose too. *sigh*

 

[Ash]

Done! Right for anyone in my position, ever, DONT touch those blades!!!

Unscrew the front element, remove the indicator ring (with the dot on it), place it on the obvious notch underneath, then screw the front element back on..

SOOOOOoooo easy! Why did it take 4 hours??? :bang: 😀

 

[BrianShaw]

Dear Ash... we must be living nearly-parallel lives separated only by time and distance. What you said is EXACTLY what I said. I, too, lost the little ball. The good news is that I eventually found the ball. The bad news is that I took it apart again to install the ball and GUESS WHAT HAPPENED! 😱

 

[Ash]

LOL! that's some harsh luck we have eh?

No joy to find the ball-bearing, next job is a quick spot of 3-in-1 to lube I think, the focus is quite stiff I found

 

[Ash]

what should I be using? I have some industrial greas, for domestic applications

 

[stesm]

I once spent several hours on my hands and knees with a maglite, searching the carpet for a tiny ball bearing that fell from a zoom lens.
All surgery is now performed on a towel- ball bearings don't bounce well on that surface.

Ash- I'm glad you were able to recover...

 

[Ash]

ok I'll try the grease I have, not sure I want to completely disassemble and have to collimate the lens ><

 

[Ash]

well I think I saw my sense of adventure numb after the first 10 minutes of aperture reassembly.

Imagine "you are so far from the line, the line is a dot to you".... the sense of adventure was that line.

 

[Ash]

So this is the moment when suddenly I realise I'm a member of RFF - I now have to fully disassemble...and successfully reassemble my gear!!

 

[BrianShaw]

No, this is when you need to start hanging out at the Classic Camera Repair Forum!