Clean/Lube Jupiter 8

steverett

steverett

Anthopomorphized Camera
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Feb 28, 2006
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Hello all,

This is my first post on RFF. I just bought a Zorki 3-S with a Jupiter 8 lens, and when I started using it I found that the focus ring was extremely stiff, to the point where the lens could unscrew if you tried to focus with any reasonable speed.

I looked around and I found this page , and followed the directions, and now I have a buttery smooth action, so I thought I'd post it here in case others were thinking of doing the same.

It was surprisingly easy to do, just make sure you have a high percentage alcohol to use as a solvent (90% or higher).

Good luck!

-Steverett

the link again:

http://pentax-manuals.com/repairs/j8service.pdf
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,
As a matter of interest, I have just added a guide for the J9 as well. I am so glad someone is finding my site useful. :D :D I actualy find a proper degreasing agent or a petrol based solvent is easier than an alcohol based one.

Kim

steverett said:
Hello all,

This is my first post on RFF. I just bought a Zorki 3-S with a Jupiter 8 lens, and when I started using it I found that the focus ring was extremely stiff, to the point where the lens could unscrew if you tried to focus with any reasonable speed.

I looked around and I found this page , and followed the directions, and now I have a buttery smooth action, so I thought I'd post it here in case others were thinking of doing the same.

It was surprisingly easy to do, just make sure you have a high percentage alcohol to use as a solvent (90% or higher).

Good luck!

-Steverett

the link again:

http://pentax-manuals.com/repairs/j8service.pdf
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind next time. I realized after that I probably should have posted this in the optics or repairs boards.

I'd found a guide for cleaning lenses online that mentioned using high percentage alcohol, and my friend managed to get some 99.9% from his lab which seemed to work well, but that might be hard to find commercially.

Thanks for the great guide!

-steverett
 
I'm actually in the middle of CLA'ing an Industar 26M that came with my Zorki-4. It's actually Fed lens. I just marvel at the engineering that has gone into photography over the years. Even these old, old lenses are marvels to me. Anyway, I tore it apart with the help of Matt's instructions here and I'm in the process of cleaning it. I actually cleaned the grungy rings and helical with some detergent and a toothbrush. It worked very well, and my hands are softened. For the bits I don't want to submerge in water, I used ronsonol and q-tips.

Now I just have to stop at autozone and get some synthetic grease to relube the helical and aperture rings. Good work to all for making these great documents.
 
Kim or Brian - question. I went to look for grease today at the auto store. The only full synthetic grease they had was mobil 1. What worried me was the little asterisk after synthetic that said "exclusive of oil carrier". Here's the specs on it


http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENGRSMOMobil_1_Synthetic_Grease.asp

I'm curious as to what grease you all use to lube the helicals in the FSU lenses. I've searched and come up with about 30 different indistinct answers. I don't think this mobil grease will break down, but you never know. In the end, its only ~6 bucks, so maybe I'll buy it and do the paper test. I also have the radio shack lube gel, but that is a bit thick for helicals.
 
Hi,
The grease I use is this http://www.exxonmobil.com/USA-English/Aviation/PDS/GLXXENAVIEMMobilgrease_28.asp

It works and I got a big tub for nothing.

Kim

Damian said:
Kim or Brian - question. I went to look for grease today at the auto store. The only full synthetic grease they had was mobil 1. What worried me was the little asterisk after synthetic that said "exclusive of oil carrier". Here's the specs on it


http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENGRSMOMobil_1_Synthetic_Grease.asp

I'm curious as to what grease you all use to lube the helicals in the FSU lenses. I've searched and come up with about 30 different indistinct answers. I don't think this mobil grease will break down, but you never know. In the end, its only ~6 bucks, so maybe I'll buy it and do the paper test. I also have the radio shack lube gel, but that is a bit thick for helicals.
Click to expand...
 
Damian said:
I'm curious as to what grease you all use to lube the helicals in the FSU lenses. I've searched and come up with about 30 different indistinct answers. I don't think this mobil grease will break down, but you never know. In the end, its only ~6 bucks, so maybe I'll buy it and do the paper test. I also have the radio shack lube gel, but that is a bit thick for helicals.
Click to expand...

The fellow who runs the Kiev Survival Site recommends Loctite white lithium grease, which he claims will not run. Here's his page on the dismantling and lubing of a Jupiter 9. You need to scroll down a ways to find the section on the grease.
 
Hi,
I use a lithium based grease to set the aperture ring on the J8's albeit another aviation one. The lithium greases are much thicker and cause too much drag for many of the LTM lenses especially the J9 because of the difference in the way the RF tab moves. Most of the tube as opposed to tub based greases are rather thick.

Kim

Guy Bennett said:
The fellow who runs the Kiev Survival Site recommends Loctite white lithium grease, which he claims will not run. Here's his page on the dismantling and lubing of a Jupiter 9. You need to scroll down a ways to find the section on the grease.
Click to expand...
 
thanks so much for the link!
but i got stuck at the first step...
my j8 is a black one, so it should be the same as the Lens 1 in the pdf,
the guide says "firmly grip the lens unit and unscrew it from the focus unit"
could somebody kindly give me more details on this step? thanks a lot!
 
yeah...but the first step should be the same, that's what the instruction says...
screw your lens unit off from your focus unit...that sounds quite scary to me lol
 
There should be a single set screw holding the optics module into the Kiev/Contax mount. Remove it, and it should unscrew just like the LTM version. There was a later J-8M (I forget the change-over) with click stops for the Kiev. The basic disassembly of the optics module is the same.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
There should be a single set screw holding the optics module into the Kiev/Contax mount. Remove it, and it should unscrew just like the LTM version. There was a later J-8M (I forget the change-over) with click stops for the Kiev. The basic disassembly of the optics module is the same.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks. I have some extra J-8s I want to clean up and then sell.
 
Resurrection...

Resurrection...

Can I resurrect this 5 yr old thread? I have a J8 that I have taken some of my favourite photos with. It has a very loose aperture ring and a hair on one of the internal elements. I would like to CLA it, and am wondering what I would need to do this. I have some isopropyl alcohol, but will need some tools and lube. It is the version 4 in Kim Coxons PDF guide. This would be the first time I have attempted to service a lens.
Cheers
 
The optics module unscrews from the focus mount by hand. The rear module will come out using a rubber grip, like a mouse pad.

For the loose aperture ring: I put a layer of scotch tape on the inside of the focus mount to provide some friction for the aperture ring.
 
I have a black J8 that has a loose aperature ring. It was reshimed by the previous owner & apparently too much oil was used in that there is a bit of oil on the blades. Whats the best way to get the oil off? or should I just let it be?
 
Nice trick Brian, I'll need to do that with mine.

I'll give that a go during my next reshimming attempt. I think I've improved it twice now but I have a hard time nailing it. :)
 
Last edited:
gb hill said:
I have a black J8 that has a loose aperature ring. It was reshimed by the previous owner & apparently too much oil was used in that there is a bit of oil on the blades. Whats the best way to get the oil off? or should I just let it be?
Click to expand...


Funny that this thread should be revived just now! I took delivery of a 1976 J-8 from Fedka just this week and it apparently has been gone through with re-lube, etc. and has extremely smooth focus. Unfortunately, the tech left more oil on the aperture than I like and the aperture ring is fairly loose. It is not worth sending back to Yuri (good guy, that Yuri), and I may try the tape trick noted by Brian above. As with the other posters, I am concerned about the "unscrewing" from the focus mount part. Just what unscrews from what?

Steve

(Will do some more research and maybe answer my own question...)
 
Last edited:
Tried the unscrew with no luck. Either I am getting old and weak or someone applied a little Loctite to the threads :(


Steve
 
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