Leica IIIg light leak

[Robbie Bedell]

I have a light leak on my IIIg. It seems to be getting worse. I have tried the flashlight in the dark several times. The camera is in excellent shape...never been abused. The lugs are nice and tight. I can't figure it out. A long time ago I read some knowledgeable advice on the form and now I can't seem to find it. Has anyone ever seen a leak such as this? Thank you!! Robbie

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I suspect it's the slow speed dial light seal on the body shell.

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Aha! Thank you! That is what I read (and then forgot). Youxin does not do light leak testing (I do not blame him for that). But how do I explain to him what should be done to the dial? ..just replace the seal?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

If it is coming from under the slow speed dial, that is fairly common. You can send it to someone, which is the most acceptable way to fix this, but there is a faster (as in immediately), less expensive (as in 'free') way to do this, which has always worked for me (permanently). YMMV
If it is leaking from the slow speed dial, it is not leaking through the dial, it is just leaking around the periphery of the dial, where the vulcanite has hardened and pulled back from the metal bottom of the dial surround a bit. You can fill that gap, which won't necessarily be huge, and problem solved. Something black is nice and can be undetectable. I use a gasket material which was made by Gore (as in Goretex), which is compressible. Probably NLA, so you could use bits of quality black electrical tape, I'd imagine.
I know that all sounds very McGyver, but, if the leak is coming from the slow speed dial, it works, perfectly IMO, and you can go about the rest of your day happily shooting away.

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Thank you Larry. I sent this camera to Youxin about six months ago for a separate minor problem. In fixing that the original vulcanite fell apart so he put a new skin on it. Anyway, I like your idea of the free fix. I am going to tape up the dial and shoot a test roll. If that solves the problem I will but in some filler. I have had good luck in the past with artist's acrylic black paint which is viscous and yet when dry is still malleable. Thank you very much!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

On other models it wouldn't be too difficult to remove the body shell and replace the felt seal that prevents light leaking in around the dial. But with the shell on the IIIg you have to remove the delayed-action lever. I would not recommend doing that yourself unless you've some experience in taking Leicas apart.

Larry's solution is much less invasive. 😉

 

[jcb4718]

I used Milliput BLACK putty to replace a small bit of vulcanite that had broken away from around the slow speed dial of my IIIG (between the dial and the lens flange). Its easy to work and gives you plenty of time to get it right. I used a toothpick to indent its surface so it looked like the original vulcanite. When hardened it has a slight matt finish so I varnished it. It is indistinguishable from vulcanite. I didn't have a light leak problem, I just didn't like the having a bit of vulcanite missing!

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Thank you both! I will not attempt to open the camera! A man's got to know his limitations....

Thanks JB. I have my black acrylic and also some very thin black tape used for fine paint masking. Stretched it will be extremely thin. I am about to delve into the project. I will report back with results. This will take a couple of days...