GS645w Lens Front Ring Trim/Baffle Removal

[Tessar.]

I have the usual problem with my gs645w fuji camera where the front of the lens with the shutter speed and aperture ring controls is a bit loose and wobbly.

I wondered has anyone successfully removed the front filter ring/nameplate around the lens front element to access and tighten the three retaining screws for the front mechanism to fix the wobble. I tried to untwist the ring with a microtools rubber bung filter ring trim removal wrench (which I've done many times before on SLR and RF lenses) and it wouldn't budge and I just ended up making the front more loose.

If anyone knows of an easy way to remove it I'd be very grateful!

Mike.

 

[Tessar.]

If anyone with the same problem is interested, I discovered the trim ring is self adhesive and sticks onto the shutter unit. You get at the lens by removing the flocking around the front element - it is held on only by glue, so comes off easily.

The cause of the wobble is a stop screw behind the shutter being loose or worn over time there is nothing to tighten up in front.

I discovered the hard way because in trying to remove the nameplate/filter ring trim I sheared off the stop screw and had to send the camera to have the shutter removed and the screw replaced and all put back together again, so a valuable lesson learnt in how not to tinker without a repair manual...

h

 

[Steve M.]

Be careful in there. On mine, I had to send it back to KEH for the same problem. They fixed it, but it got all wobbly again after a month. When I sent it back the second time, they refunded my purchase price and kept the camera because there were no parts to fix it.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks for this info, H. So how does one get to this set screw if not through the front.

 

[Tessar.]

I think still through the front by dismantling more more than I cared to without a repair manual, but not entirely sure as I had it repaired by Fuji's repairer in the end (Camera Repair in Milton Keynes who are excellent). I bought a replacement shutter on ebay and got them to fit it as cosmetically the existing one was beat up, so it's now spare...

The new one has a very slight sideways play/wobble but that's normal. What struck my is that the flocking is just held on by glueing it onto the three screwheads behind. What a lash up.

I can relax now and leave well alone!

 

[seatramp]

Front baffle disassembly

Front baffle disassembly

I had the same problem on a second-hand GS645W, only more severe: the shutter ring partially separated from the lens assembly.
This is because the three tiny mounting screws became loose. They are easily accessed and re-tightened by removing the (glued) conical light baffle. Removing the sticker with "FUJINON W" may allow a better grip for removing the baffle.
Baffle reassembly: the baffle would likely stay in place by friction only ; I used a drop of neoprene glue for each of the three screw recesses on the back of the baffle, hoping this will keep the screws from getting loose too fast.