Fed 3 rangefinder problem

[Bob L]

Just received a Fed 3 and found I had a problem in that the Vertical doesn't line up ( one image is quite a bit above the the other).
Went to the page that shows how to adjust this but my Fed is different in that there is no adjustment screw under the front panel cover and my Fed adjust the horizontal by removing the rangefinder widow cover and adjusting it by turning the slotted shaft around it.
I even took the cover off ( first time I ever did that) and there are no screws under either of the front panel screws for vertical or horizontal adjustments.
Does anyone know how to make this adjustment ( the camera is in great shape, no marks and the cover is like new and runs real smooth).
Thanks all for any help.

 

[Bob L]

grayhoundman, I adjusted that ring, but it only moves the image from right to left and not up or down, there is no screw behind the screws on the front panel by the VF window, I took the camera apart and there is no place for a screw on the bar that move the lever in the camera body.
Don't know what gives ?

 

[Bob L]

I Lossen the inter ring after I removed the len as you said and this adjusted Horizontal so that the camera focus at infinity, but still will not merge the images one on top of the other and no screw under the larger screw on the cover, there has to be some way to adjust this, I just can't seem to figure it out.
Thanks for you help and if you come up with something please let me know.

 

[fidget]

I recently had my 3a apart for a CLA and noticed that the horizontal adjustment screw is quite well hidden. It acts as the mount point on the lever for the spring, so as you look inside, the screw cannot be seen (as it's inside the coils of the spring). Access via the larger headed screw to the bottom left of the large viewfinder allows a thin screwdriver to be used to adjust this. If the screwdiver is not thin enough, it will not engage in the slot of the screw and will "feel" like there is no screw in there (assuming it has not been lost or butchered in the past). I would hazard a guess that large movements of the prism (under the circular bezel) which adjusts the vertical alignment, or when nearing 90 degrees off, will also cause changes in the horizontal alignment. when nearing alignment, very small rotation of the prism will cause quite large changes in the vertical position of the image. Hope this helps!

 

[stitch]

Hi Bob L, any luck with your Fed 3. I have exactly the same problem. The image doesn't line-up vertically. 🙁

 

[Bob L]

rangefind fixed

rangefind fixed

Hi stitch
Just returned from up state NY and have finally had a chance to try something new with my Fed 3 rangefinder problem.
No matther how much I adjusted the Vertical and Horizontal adjustment I could not get the Vertical to merge, the horizontal worked ok but not the Vertical.
I removed the cover ( had to to get to the Horizontal adjustment screw, couldn't get to it throught the screw on the front cover) and loosen the 3 screws that hold the prism on the left side of the camera and put a .008 thousand thick shim under the prism, this was enough to rise the prism and give me the range so now I was able to adjust the Vertical both up and down, with just a little more adjustment with the adjustment screw and ring and now all lines up perfect.
The whole job took me about a hour with most of the time getting the right size shim which I made from regular note paper.
Give it a try, mine now works like it should, let me know how you make out.

 

[kmack]

I was having the same problem with a Fed 2L, which has the same body as a Fed 3 .

I was able to solve the problem by loosening the two screws on the plate that holds the small ball bearing that acts a piviot point for the prism on the rangefinder arm. In my case moving the plate backwards a small amount was enough to fix the vertical alignment. A small adjustment to the plate had a large effect on the vertical adjustment.

I have never cracked open a Fed 3 but chances are that the rangefinders are very similar.

 

[stitch]

thanks Bob L and kmack, i haven't opened up my Fed3 since i had a roll in it. The photos still came out nicely and sharp but yeah, i should get to work and open it up. Thanks for the pointers guys. I will update you what happens since I'm not so dexterous 😉