Kiev/Contax II RF system issues

[FrankS]

Who has been under a Kiev or pre-war Contax top plate? I'm getting a Contax II body through a joint ebay purchase venture with Ash and Paul (Screwy). It has RF issues where the 2 images cannot be lined up. Does anyone with knowledge of the mechanics and optics involved, have any ideas as to what the problem might be? I'll be getting this camera in hand in a week or 2. I don't have the patience a second time around to send this Contax to Henry Scherer, so where else can it be sent for a fix/cla?

 

[dexdog]

Frank, this thread has some repair recommendations

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26470

 

[FrankS]

Thanks, dex! I've also found the Kiev Survival site: http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/adjust rangefinder.html

 

[dexdog]

The kiev survival site is a great resource. I have used it as a guide when doing maintanence and cleaning of my Contax cameras.

 

[Pherdinand]

Frank,
the "Simple Fix" on the Kiev survival site worked well for my Kiev.
I hope it works fgor you too, because it is so stupidly simple!

 

[nzeeman]

Thanks, dex! I've also found the Kiev Survival site: http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/adjust rangefinder.html

i repaired my rf on kiev4a with a help of kiev survival site. problem was this - arm number 3 from that link (http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/adjust rangefinder.html) was in the wrong side of arm with number 4. everything was jammed. just be careful when disassembling a camera and everything will be easy. good luck.

 

[Ash]

Frank, you're getting that Contax dirt cheap, so good luck getting it fixed

 

[FrankS]

Ash, we all did well on that deal!

 

[Ash]

true true

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Not all of the Contaxes have those screws mentioned in the simple fix. I think my 1938 J series has them but I can't recall 100%. The 1936 model I had did not.

 

[steamer]

Steve Ash in England sorted out my Contax II for about 50 pounds and a couple weeks as I recall

http://www.sdash.plus.com/