Fix Leica M2 shutter curtain and replace vulcanite

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billyohgren

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Hi!

I've just picked up a Leica M2 in quite good condition except for some holes in the shutter curtain (need to be replaced, big holes) as well as some lost vulcanite.

What do you guys think, will I be able to repair it myself?

I have repaired a lot of computers incl MacBooks, iMacs and mobile phones etc in the past..

Love this forum BTW 🙂

// Billy
 
The camera may well need other attentions, the time invested in learning to repair and adjust + acquire tools, materials, etc. and completely service the mechanical M's can well be spent on other projects, but I believe many repairmen have taught themselves to service M Leicas.

If it is a financial motive, I would say send it to one of the folks recommended, the price is still quite reasonable, and if they muck something up, they have the parts to make it right.

Some are better than others with the vulcanite repair. or some remove it and replace it with leather.

Regards, John
 
Thanks for the answer 🙂

For the vulcanite part I thought about replace it with leather.

My thoughts about this project would be to have something relaxing to do on my spare time and not a project where I should make money selling the fixed camera.

I'm not that concerned about removing the vulcanite and replace it but I need some advice on the shutter curtain thingy 🙂
 
I seem to recall that the M2 repair manual floats around on the web. Why not google it and judge if you are encuraged or the opposite? If you have too many questions after looking at it you should probably consider sending it to one of the experts.
 
I replaced the curtains in my M3 without any real experience. I had to do it three times - at first I tried to recycle the curtain edge holders, the light sealing gate so to speak, but it ended up too thick. The second time I succeeded but somehow managed to burn through the new old-stock curtains within a week or two. I didn't trust that old material the third time so I bought a fresh sheet of rubberized cloth and made curtains from that. After quite a bit of time it ended up very nicely mounted and works fine to this day. No problems what so ever.

I would advice you to buy a service manual and read the relevant sections prior to any disassembly. Also buy good tools, materials and a box with sections for all the parts. A clean workspace with a tray to work above is a good idea. Figure out what glue to use for mounting and make sure you get all the details worked out in advance. Don't rip out the old curtains in pieces if you're cutting new ones from sheet - you will need the old curtains for templates.There are small tolerances and there's a reason for every measure.

Once you get new shutters properly mounted you will also need a shutter testing device in order to tighten the spring rollers for the appropriate curtain travel speed.

I'm sure I forgot a bunch of stuff. Patience is necessary too.

Have fun, it's just a camera! But don't blame me if you mess up ;-)
 
Yuck, shutter curtain replacement is the one job that I hate the most. It is the only job that I am willing and motivated to send out for someone else to do (assuming that I trust that individual).

Maybe because I haven't done enough of them to feel good about it.

Good luck
 
My M4 is currently being fixed temporarily by a fellow member here. It hat one curtain come off the metal latch at the end of it.

The curtain now is back in place but it's 'floppy', not tight. Guess there is a strategy to avoid that? Maybe it needs another go at it?

I contacted DAG, Don told me Leica unfortunately are VERY expensive with their curtains: USD 120 A PIECE, excluding shipping... Yikes😱😱


I'll be posting a link to this thread in the 'Skilled Leica Repair Person' thread, for future reference.
 
Floppy? Or bulged?

The curtain has to be properly tensioned, to achieve the correct speed and tightness.

Regarding getting re-inserted back into the metal band, well, it has to be fully inserted, including even insertion and proper orientation. It is hard to get flat once it becomes loose.
 
Vic,

how would one go about to get the curtain properly tensioned? I understood it comes with ribbons attached and screw holes in the other end to fix it to the drum with? Isn't it always properly tensioned when fitted?

I'm asking while I'm all thumbs when it comes to repairs, but I'm interested all the same and it might help others... 🙂
 
If you never replaced curtains before, I would advise not to start with an M Leica, it is the more difficult camera of the rangefinders to repair. Always start with a cheap camera and see if you can replace a curtain - take for instance a USD 25 Zorki and try to change a curtain. Before taking out old curtains and ribbons, always place markers at the postions where the ribbons and curtains are glued, since these spots can vary per camera.

btw if a curtain is floppy after replacement, it is likely that they didn't glue the ribbons parallel / and or the curtains were not put straight. Before glueing you can test the position of the ribbons (and curtains) by using double sided scotch tape. So first use only tape and see if the camera works at low tension. If not it is easy to correct the position of the ribbons and/or curtains. Once in correct position you can glue the ribbons and curtains.

Before you start disassembling the camera, make sure you fully understand how to the restrictor gear(s) work and how to place the curtain drum and spring rollers in the right position....look out for very tiny spacers falling out of the camera when disassembling, they can be sitting on shafts but hardly be seen...

Btw curtains that are sewn are a bit more difficult to restore.....good luck!

ps here are some pics of replacing curtains of a NKVD FED I did a couple of weeks ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zorki_2007/sets/72157631569483687/
 
Shutter curtain replacement: difficult

Remove vulcanite, replace with leather: easy as pie with precut kit from supplier like Aki Asahi
 
Ron (Netherlands) said:
Btw curtains that are sewn are a bit more difficult to restore.....good luck!

ps here are some pics of replacing curtains of a NKVD FED I did a couple of weeks ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zorki_2007/sets/72157631569483687/
Click to expand...

My friends who have tried to stitch new curtains moved to using, I believe, super glue. A dead give away that a SM Leica has had the curtains replaced is the glued ends.

I think it is not uncommon for techs to cut their new curtains from material to fit.

The folks who deal in Leicas the most, know which repair folks are appropriate in terms of ability and price, and one I know of will often pick up and pass along repair materials when he comes across them.

I gave the guts of a IIIc to the late Al Banones, not that I am a dealer, but Al had been a friend for more than 30 years, we both worked at the same shop, and Al was learning camera repair as a hobby, turned out to specialize in LTM repair for many years.

+1 on practicing on cheaper cameras. A wholesale price on an M rebuild is just not that expensive, and you know you are not grinding up hard to replace parts and where the speeds are firing.

OTOH, you will learn somethings.

Regards, John
 
Hello
The tensioning is via the spring adjustment for the shutter, accessible by removing the inner bottom plate.

The Leica manuals are very specific for setting shutter curtain speed and shutter spring tension. Once the speed and tension are set properly, the shutter speeds pretty much fall into place.

....Vick

buzzardkid said:
Vic,

how would one go about to get the curtain properly tensioned? I understood it comes with ribbons attached and screw holes in the other end to fix it to the drum with? Isn't it always properly tensioned when fitted?

I'm asking while I'm all thumbs when it comes to repairs, but I'm interested all the same and it might help others... 🙂
Click to expand...
 
Have seen a few, looks like super glue, was told by the repair men it was super glue, - is there a limit to the "outgassing" Assume that all solvent based glues outgas while drying.

Pliobond is pretty old school standard for leather on the bodies, it can be removed.

Whatever the glue, seemed rather thin relative to the others listed.

Guess that is why I send shutter replacements to the experts.


Regards, John
 
I used Pliobond when I did a curtain replacement, glue only, no sewing. Perfect result, easy to work with. Available from http://www.micro-tools.de

Btw, curtain material in sheets can be bought from Aki Asahi: http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/curtains/shutter-curtain.php, as well as the ribbons. Nice, since you're probably buying your covers there anyway. There is also a guide on how to make your own curtains on the same site.

If you don't have clamps for unscrewing rings at different places on the body, you can find good ones on eBay. I don't remember the name of the seller I bought from, but any decent search will most likely yield results.
 
Above, I read that some people cut new curtains for their camera's themselves. Anyone have a template (online?) for shutter curtains for Leica Barnack or M cameras? Or care to create templates in a PDF file? :angel::angel:
 
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