Leica LTM Cap is Falling off Elmar III Re-Felt?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
C

CosmicCharlie

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Hey,
Sorry to be so needy but any ideas on how to get my lens cap to fit on the elmar 3.5,. Feft? I tried just putting scotch tape around the lip but thats falling off.
Thanks Again
Jon
 
Normally there is felt on the inside of the rim of the cap. I have noticed that my 1953 Elmar works well with the metal cap I got but the cap falls off from my 1937 one. I think someone has mentioned that wetting the felt will make it fit more snugly. A much better way is probably just to replace it with a new bit of felt.
 
The fit of old caps w/ new is dicey. It's a trial- and- error situation depending on the tolerances. Sometimes different thicknesses of foam works--sometimes different thicknesses of felt (I prefer the latter because it seems to me to give the longest life). One thing is sure, it should be snug but not forced or the life will be short.
 
I'd use new felt. I've had this happen to me, and I at first tried to take out the old felt and hand wash it - making it soft and fluffy again - and glue it back in. That worked fine. - for a few days. Then it started falling off again. I suppose the old felt is just to worn.

Use the old felt as a template.
 
I bought a new Elmar 50/2.8 and its cap kept falling off out of the box.

I removed the cap liner which for the new Elmar is rubber instead of felt and lined the inside of the edge with gaffer's tape. Then, I put the rubber liner back on with a thin layer of contact cement. So far the cap pushes on holds as expected.

Maybe new felt and over some tape might be an option.
 
As stated somewhere else felt strips can be gotten from used (spent) Kodak and Fuji 35mm cassettes. Simply remove the old cap felt. Then trim the cassette felt to fit and then glue with contact cement. Like or better than a new fit.

Also, if you're within distance of a hobby shop where self stick felt pads are available just trim and stick. Make sure the felt is the thin stuff. Not the thick pads the HD crowd use as vibration dampers for Fat Bob tanks.

Ride fast... die hard !

Best,
George
 
For what its worth, I tried using hockey tape. I trimmed it to size and stuck it in. It worked very well if the cap is tight to begin with but unfortunately it doesn't stick too well and eventually becomes loose. After the third application, I decided to use a bit of crazy glue to make it secure. The foam is probably nicer and maybe less expensive. I just had a lot of hockey tape lying around.
 
You can get an 8.5 x 11 sheet of felt with a peel off sticky back at a craft store or the craft section of Walmart for about 30c. I have black, since I use this to replace body light seals too.
 
Glue Gun

Glue Gun

I use a few drops of hot glue-gun glue on the felt, using the nozzle of the glue gun to flatten and smooth it. It forms a rubbery, soft layer on the felt that can be melted or cut, fits tight and won't scratch the metal.
 
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