Industar 61 Problem.

[jimford]

I recently bought an Industar 61 for my Fed 2. It's nice and clean, but the focussing was very 'gritty' in feel - as if there was sand in the mechanism.

I stripped it down, but there was no sand on the helical threads. What I did find was that the 'anti-rotation' steel screw that operates in an alluminium groove when focussing had worn the aluminium, preventing smooth travel. As the lens showed little evidence of hard use, I suspect that the lubrication was inadequate in this area.

I used a dead smooth swiss file to clean up the wear in the groove and pin, and it now operates smoothly. I've now only to decide on a suitable grease in order to complete assembly.

Jim

 

[tbhv55]

I've now only to decide on a suitable grease in order to complete assembly.

Lithium grease seems popular in recent years. Having read about it, I used it when re-building an I-61 L/D about three years ago, and FWIW, the results have been very good, to date.

 

[wolves3012]

I've yet to find an Industar-61 that didn't need a re-lube to be smooth, I've done a dozen or so of them. White lithium cycle grease is the stuff, doesn't flow, creep or break down and it's not overly viscous.

 

[jimford]

In the event I used lithium auto grease and it's working nice and smoothly.

Thanks for the replies.

Jim

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where are some special lubricators available, even original FSU (sold on-ebay). But I never bothered to get special one.
I have automotive grease with wide operating temperature range and non evaporating one. It works fine for me as well.

Any old FSU lens required relubing if it wasn't done already. Or any old folder camera lens.