Fitting new curtain ribbons to Leica iiic - help!

[olliewtf]

Brett - spot on - it is something to consider for sure.

I am wondering how far out the timings will be - im sure theyre ballpark anyway when you consider film latitude etc. As Peter suggests, even exposure is more important.

I made headway yesterday - built up the slow speed parts and the rest of the crate. Forgot to check that the spring was properly located on the escarpment, which had me scratching my head for a while!

Interestingly all slow speeds to the left of 30th are working (down to 1/10s) but to the right (round to T) work only once, when first set to that speed, then after re cocking fire at 1/30. I will most likely never use them, but it bugs me that this camera has had all this work done so I would like to fix this problem if I can!

Any ideas? I cant work out why, for example when i set to 1 second, it will fire and trigger the slow speed timer, but then when i re-cock and fire again, it no longer engages it? If I move the speed back to 30 and then back to 1 second I can get it to fire it again most of the time....

Either way Im very close to finnishing and might risk taking it away this weekend - though it might be wise to run a test roll if I can find time!

Still need to fit the new beam splitter mirror and clean the viewfinders.

 

[Peter Jennings]

It could simply be a slight misalignment. I'd try removing the front panel and reinstalling it. Leica tolerances are quite tight.

 

[richardHaw]

adjust the slow governor and lead it forward. that sometimes works 😱😱😱

the most difficult part is the balance of the springs' tension 🙄

 

[olliewtf]

One step closer!

Though I had definitely checked the small spring on the escarpment was properly located, it seemed it had jumped off - hence the pivoting thingy wouldnt return to its position once all the speeds to the left of 1/30s had been fired - thus they would fire once, then not again.

So everything works!

all is built up now apart from the top - fitting the new rangefinder prism glass tonight (which im not looking forward to). I have a choice between bostik (contact adhesive) or UHU super glue. not sure which is best for this, maybe the bostik as itll give me a little wiggle room to adjust infinity before it sets.

It also seems that the eyepiece with the diopter adjustment is missing its screw to the rangefinder housing - deefinitely wasnt there before either so someone has been in here before and lost it. I may lightly glue the housing so it sits in the right place, otherwise its just wiggling around. Also the cover for the beamsplitter was also missing, but i dont think that really matters.

onwards and upwards!

 

[olliewtf]

Just read that superglue is a super no-no as the gasses it releases can ruin optics.

bostik it is!

 

[olliewtf]

update - I'm finished!

I had some trouble with the prism - i left the prism holder thingy in the rangefinder (as I'm sure I'd read somewhere it's wise not to disturb it if you don't need to) and glued in the new mirror. Couldn't get vertical to adjust properly. Took out the prism holder thingy and re-glued the mirror. It's flush as anything so it kinda has to be right.

It was dark so a bit tricky to do rangefinder adjustments, but I got the vertical near as (it's not perfect but that doesn't really matter) and the horizontal at infinity is now adjusted too.

I should really check 1 metre with a tape measure but its got to be ballpark enough - plus I mostly zone focus anyway, and if I do shoot wide open the rangefinder should be pretty close.

One thing that did take me back though was that the patch isn't all that bright. My Zorki C is far clearer, and much older. So I'm wondering what might be causing that. I did clean all the various optics. I was expecting a fairly dramatic difference, and only got a minimal one.

Any tips re that are appreciated, but for now I'm going to shoot a few rolls of Foma in Prague (obvs) and see how they come out.

Feels great to have everything back together again!

I urge anyone who can use a screwdriver and has ample patience to not shy away from attempting a cla or shutter replacement - the curtains and ribbons are tough to change for sure, but the rest of it is pretty easy.
I got this Leica fairly cheap so was loathe to make it not cheap anymore. The results are very good. It's smooth as anything, a real pleasure to hold and use. Now I just need to learn how to take better pictures! haha.

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Well done Ollie!

 

[olliewtf]

@Brett - thanks especially to your help via messenger - lots of super info there too, really appreciate it.

Think my next project will be the Summar lens I have for it - aperture is stiff and loose at the same time - clean and grease me thinks. But after my trip!