furcafe
Veteran
Does anyone have any recommendations on cleaning the pressure plate on a thread mount Leica? Film run through my IIIc is exhibiting horizontal scratches on the outer (non-emulsion) side & I want to make sure it's not a piece of dirt, etc. stuck on the pressure plate (or somewhere else in that area). I've tried using blasts from my "DustGun" canned air, but that doesn't seem to be doing the trick. I've thought about swiping a folded microfiber cloth through the narrow slot, but haven't done so for fear of messing up any sensitive parts (since you can't open the back, I'm pretty much working blind).
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Have you taken off the lens and opened the shutter at "B" to inspect the portion of the plate that would be visible?
furcafe
Veteran
Yes (used "T" actually), but I didn't see anything obvious. Of course, there could be something somewhere outside of the area covered by the shutter. Right now, I'm still 1/3 of the way through a roll, so any cleaning will have to wait, anyway.
Brian Sweeney said:
denishr
アナログ侘・&#
I'm not familiar with thread-mount Leicas, but I recall reading somewhere about a guy who had similar problems - discovering later that the problem was dirty rollers! So, besides the back plate, check also the rollers, if there are any. Basically, check the full path of film traveling through the camera....
I'm afraid you'd have to dismantle the camera to do that, though - i.e. to be able to reach those parts.
Denis
I'm afraid you'd have to dismantle the camera to do that, though - i.e. to be able to reach those parts.
Denis
Too Bad Kodak does not make a 35mm "cleaner cartridge" like for VCR's! Aside from taking the main casing off, I would not see how to do this.
VictorM.
Well-known
Open the shutter on T, remove the lens, base plate and take-up spool. While gently pressing the pressure plate towards the back of the body, examine it's edges through the film chambers. You won't see much, but you may be able to find the source of the scratch. It's likely to be tiny piece of film sticking to the edge closest to the film cassette. This happens more often than it used to because people now must cut the film leader themselves. While you're doing this, gently and carefully blow compressed air across the surface of the pressure plate. Be careful not push any dirt and film chips deeper into the body. Also, be careful not to leave finger grease on the pressure plate. Any oil or grease on the plate will hold dust particles.
VictorM.
Well-known
I almost forgot: another way I've dislodged small particles from my IIIf, is to cut a piece of perfectly clean, stiff paper to size and the slip it (again gently) in front of the pressure plate (with the shutter open, etc.), then try to blow any particles out.