Dirty blades

[dxq.canada]

I took apart a Chiyoko Super Rokkor 45mm LTM lens to tighten the loose aperture ring.
Along the way I took apart the aperture ... tons of brown crud around the upper and lower pins. This is the part you can't see if you do not take it apart, no Q-tip will get under there.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Normal. Denigrated, old grease.

 

[dxq.canada]

These blades would not have any lubricant (maybe Moly), and not exposed to any grease from the helicoid, so I suspect it is an accumulation of rust/corrosion particulate that floated its way into this area over the past 60+ years.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Almost all old lenses I have seen have lubrifiant on blades. This one is not something unique. Over years it oxidized and turned into gunk.

 

[Kai-san]

Submerge it in lighter fluid for a few hours, that should take care of any old grease.

 

[dxq.canada]

I took each blade out and the powdery layer came off with IPA ... it was not grease.