Contessa 35 folder reassembly help needed

[largedrink]

I finally got around to removing the front lens group from my Zeiss Ikon 35 folder (533/24) to try to clean off some fungus. The disassembly went fine, I took the usual precautions of marking the infinity focus and also the point at which the lens came out of the brass helicoid, for ease of reassembly.
Or so I thought: after cleaning the lens I now cannot seem to get the lens to screw back into the helicoid. After many attempts the best I can manage is a turn of a few millimetres at which point the lens will lock up, clearly in the wrong position. I have cleaned both the male and female threads out but nothing appears to work. The helicoid appears to have many entry points, not as simple as the Olympus Trip 35's or other folders I have cleaned in the past!
Has anyone encountered this problem before? Or any clues how I might fix it?

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

You did well noting the start points for the threads. A much better option than having to work this out by trial and error later. It sounds to me like there may be some foreign matter in the thread or maybe a nick that's making it jam. If the camera was focusing smoothly enough before there's no reason in principle why it shouldn't now. Hence, if it's being started at the right place and won't turn much, it's either cross threading or something is stopping it threading sweetly. I'm afraid you're going to have to get the threads scrupulously clean so that you can inspect them, in the first instance, to look for answers, and, secondly, so that you can proceed with some fresh grease that is known to be free of particles that might encourage it to lock up. You'll need to take it from there once the parts are clean enough to be closely examined for reasons why they don't mate.
Cheers
Brett

 

[largedrink]

Hi Brett, thanks (again!) for the advice, think I'll wait until the weekend when I'll have some good daylight and a clear head to tackle it again, following your suggestions. And use a good magnifier to inspect the thread closely. Hope to get it back together and put some films through!
Cheers
Hugh

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Yes, a magnifier may help, front cell focus threads are generally very fine, hence, easily jammed by a little grit.
Cheers
Brett

 

[largedrink]

I tried again for a couple of hours last weekend to screw the lens back into the helicoid but without success unfortunately. Both the male and female threads look ok from what I can tell, no noticeable nicks or obvious reasons that would cause it to jam. Looks like I'll need to send the camera away for repair.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Well if that is the case, Chris Sherlock is just down in Dunedin and one of few repairers I have never read a complaint about. He pops up here at RFF occasionally to dispense good advice, happily, to owners with a query or problem. I have never used his services being someone who repairs my own cameras but I have corresponded with him and can say he come across as a really nice guy and genuine enthusiast. In the absence of any usual or preferred repairer to look at it I'm happy to give him a recommendation if this is of any assistance to you. So you could give him a call or email to see if he is willing to take a look at it for you. He's a lens shutter specialist so I doubt he'd turn it away. Retina Rescue is his business tag.
Cheers,
Brett