how to remove a stuck ltm-m adapter?

leguaan

Dancing in the grain
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Dec 5, 2009
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Hi,
I bought a Nokton 50 1.5 with a wrong (35mm) adapter on (CV Type I).
I can't get it off the lens... I tried unscrewing it by hand, with help of the rear plastic cover for the M mount (broke it) and even with a screwdriver and a hammer :eek:
Nothing. It doesn't move a bit. Do you have any ideas what I could try to get it off?
Thanks!
 
1-put the lens on the adapter on the camera.
2-twist the lens off.
3-tighten the lens on a little.
4-press the lens release and twist the lens+adapter
5- twist the lens off the adapter from here

good luck!
 
should I be twisting the lens off while the adapter and lens are locked on the camera? won't this damage the locking mechanism on the body?
 
Yikes! I've never had one on this tight. Perhaps try again with the rear cap but this time first apply heat to the rear part (small butane torch, or even a lighter)? When I cant get seized metal parts off during car work, I've used WD-40, heat, rapping firmly with a mallet, and finally just cutting off the offending part. Of these, I wouldn't try WD-40 anywhere near the lens as I've previously ruined a 50 pre-asph lux and a contax T this way (please, don't ask!).
 
yes, twist when the adapter is locked on. the locking mechanism should be able to take it... I hope.

it's okay to use force- just don't break anything.

DON'T use heat or WD-40!
 
should I be twisting the lens off while the adapter and lens are locked on the camera? won't this damage the locking mechanism on the body?

That's indeed the idea, but when it is so tight that you even broke the lugs on a plastic cover, I'm not so sure ... The mount itself is stronger then the plastic cover, of course, so give it a try.

Stefan.
 
one more stupid question, I should be turning counterclockwise, right? neither turning in the mount saved the day. I guess I'll be returning the lens to the seller.
 
i had similar problem but never that hard. My canon 50mm f1.2 when mounted it is even very hard to reach to the button. But in every case I was able to put the lens back tighten it and twist it counter clockwise to unlock..Good luck...
 
1-put the lens on the adapter on the camera.
2-twist the lens off.
3-tighten the lens on a little.
4-press the lens release and twist the lens+adapter
5- twist the lens off the adapter from here

good luck!

Correct. This is what I did when an adaptor was stuck on a CV lens I owned, except that I didn't perform step 4 as above. Instead, I simply removed the adaptor from the body (using my hand) as I would a lens.

Although the adaptor was stuck on my lens, when I mounted it and the lens on the body, with the idea that I'd use minimal force to unscrew the lens, the lens unscrewed surprisingly easily.
 
Same as above. One more thing helps: put the lens at close focus and grab it entirely.

Inspect visually first though. Maybe the original owner glued the adapter - it can happen, believe me.
 
be careful about that minimum focus... I got to borrow a Canon 50mm 1.8 that was stuck on a Canon VI-L. someone turned it to minimum focus and tried to get it off... and bent a bar inside. it couldn't focus to infinity afterwards...

use a reasonable amount of force (whatever that is) and you'll be cool.
 
some rear lens CAPS have special notches for this.

EDIT: sorry. Eating while typing. Obviously i didnt read your full post :/
 
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I can vouch for that! I have a 3.5cm/1.8 Nikkor in LTM that had an adapter glued onto the threads.

If it's THAT stiff, I seriously consider this possibility, too. Maybe the thread got damaged with cross-threading, or the previous owner used glue, harder Loctite or something.

Why wrong focal length? I don't know. But it can happen if the owner just wanted to use on Micro 4/3 or NEX or even Bessa (manual FL selector) and didn't think of reselling at all. :bang:

My life is history of hate and horror with threads. :eek:

Good luck!
 
aaah, that's crazy :( can't imagine why someone would glue the adapter to the lens. but after some more hours trying, I guess that is the conclusion :(

My life is history of hate and horror with threads.
I guess that would make an interesting blog post...
 
aaah, that's crazy can't imagine why someone would glue the adapter to the lens. but after some more hours trying, I guess that is the conclusion

Sorry to hear that.

The tab on the adapter for 50mm frame line is shorter than 35mm, so you'll have to "add" some length to the tab. If you are handy and careful, I'm sure JB Weld does the job. Just mask out the rear element and helicoil area real good, ad the tab with JB Weld and file/polish. The tab has to push the FL selector inside of camera more to bring up 50mm line.

I guess that would make an interesting blog post...
I started motorcycle racing and wrenching when I was 13 so yeah, lots of cross-threads and stupid mistakes on my belt. :p
 
The classic way is use the lens mount as a wrench.

Push lens release, turn as far as it will go to remove position, the add more force to unscrew.

This will remove all NORMALLY tightened adapters. But if somone used a thread locker compound or put in a set screw, you could damage the camera.
 
OK, I'm not going to tease it anymore. I'll return it to the seller, and meanwhile wait for a 50 M-Hexanon I just got from the classifieds. I will get a sound sleep after all.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions!
 
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