Frozen focus threads - again

[Kevin Brown]

Various fluids/solvents for freeing hardened focus thread grease have been recommended all around the web; just thought I'd share what finally worked for me with a Ricoh Hi Color 35. Lens on this was not stiff, but absolutely glued tight, as so many have found with the Isolettes/Speedexes.

I removed the lens from the shutter and soaked overnight in denatured alcohol - did nothing. Soaked overnight in WD-40 - did nothing. Same thing with lighter fluid. Finally I remembered that I've been able to get completely dried/hardened acrylic and oil paint out of brushes and off of painting knives by soaking in an art material called Turpenoid Natural. I believe it's orange-oil based; the manufacturer is pretty vague about it's makeup. So I tried soaking the lens overnight in it - nothing, at first. Finding the lens still absolutely frozen, I decided to give up and re-install it in the camera in order to test it's meter and general mechanical function. Once re-assembled in it's outer knurled ring, on whim I decided to get a good grab on it twist with all my might - foomp !,
it came free and starting moving smooth as silk.

Now it could have been the accumulated effect all the previous solvents adding to the final soak in Turpenoid Natural; I'll never know, but I thought it was worth sharing. An added advantage of this stuff is it's non-toxic, non-flammable and has very little odor.

 

[Fixcinater]

Thanks for posting. I have an Ansco Super Memar that needs the lens to be freed up and continued soaking in isopropyl and lighter fluid have done nothing. This may be what it needs.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

If you have a lens that can be disassembled and the focus mech be soaked separately in fluid, the world is your oyster. There is a penetrating oil called "Aero-Kroil" that will do amazing things. Orange spray can.

 

[johnnyrod]

Fixcinator, this is a common problem with Agfa/Ansco it seems, often the answer is to warm it to soften the grease in order to get things moving.

 

[02Pilot]

Fixcinator, this is a common problem with Agfa/Ansco it seems, often the answer is to warm it to soften the grease in order to get things moving.

Yeah, forget the solvents and grab a hair dryer. If that doesn't do it, and you're desperate, I've used a soldering iron to apply more localized heat to the helicoid. Once it's apart, solvents for clean-up.

 

[Fixcinater]

Thanks. I'll try applying some heat and see what happens. I've pulled all the glass out so no worries on cracking it.

 

[Kevin Brown]

If you have a lens that can be disassembled and the focus mech be soaked separately in fluid, the world is your oyster. There is a penetrating oil called "Aero-Kroil" that will do amazing things. Orange spray can.

This is sort of a super-WD-40 and has done amazing things for me on many occasions, but with a frozen Isolette lens, a month of soaking in this did nothing. Perhaps with a different lens with another grease formulation, I don't know.

 

[farlymac]

I've soaked Agfa lenses in alcohol for over a week, and though loosened, I still had to use the hair dryer to get them apart.

Will give the Turpenoid Natural a try next time.

PF

 

[Kevin Brown]

It's very handy stuff to have around the house will take totally dried house paint (even oil based) from clothes, brushes, etc. Usually have to soak overnight, then just rinse out with water, then follow with soap and water to get all the Turpenoid Natural out.
BEWARE: the same company sells a product called simply "Turpenoid" (without the 'Natural'), which is a completely different product and nothing more than mineral spirits.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

As suggested, heat does miracles for the green concrete used in Agfa focus helicals.

 

[Fixcinater]

20 min @ 300F did not have an effect.
20 min @ 300F + 25 min @ 400 did have an effect and lens now is apart. I had removed glass prior to sticking it in toaster oven and applying heat. I had soaked it in Ronsonol, isopropyl alcohol and naphtha for few days or week prior, then it had sat dry for a couple of weeks while I was away.

This was on the focus mech for a Super Memar.

Thank you all.