Leica lens flange stuck

[radiocemetery]

Please don't beat me up, maybe this thread belongs somewhere else, but this is where the Leica traffic is.

I bought a Leica IIIb 348xxx. This camera came to me mostly complete and functioning except the slow speeds are erratic. Having no fear of mechanical devices, I decided I would be able to fix this problem. I would be able to if I could get the lens flange off.😡 It seems that the lens flange has been bonded to the body with contact cement! The mounting screws were only there to locate the flange. The threaded cleats or straps that are supposed to accept the flange screws are missing in action. I don't care about the missing hardware as those parts can be purchased, but I need a bright idea to release this flange from the rest of the body so I can service the camera. Hammer? Dremel? Hand grenade?

Seriously, I want to keep this old timer. If anyone has an idea to release this adhesive, I would certainly like to hear it. Thanks

Steve

 

[wolves3012]

Acetone is the most likely thing to soften it. I'm guessing that without the mount flange off you have pretty much got the camera still in one piece? Heaven knows what damage acetone might do if you get it elsewhere in the body so I'd go very carefully. Try getting some into the join but keep the body flange-down. It's liable to damage the body covering too and anything plastic and it's also EXTREMELY flammable. Add to that the fact it's highly volatile so you'll pretty much have to sit there and keep re-applying as it evaporates. If you can't get hold of it per se, ladies nail-varnish remover is mostly acetone but be prepared to remove the moisturiser type additives afterwards!

I wonder what clown glued the flange on in the first place!

 

[radiocemetery]

Thanks for the reply Wolves. I have a dispenser made for modeling with a very fine hypodermic like tip I am using to apply the acetone. I have had success removing the glue that had oozed to the outside when the flange was stuck down originally. This process hasn't help loosen the flange from the body, and yes the camera is still assembled. It seems that as the acetone evaporates the cement just becomes stuck again. One source I read claimed that heat will release contact cement, but stay away from that Leica with that blowtorch! I think I may put together an aluminum puck with the same diameter as the flange and place the puck on a controllable heat source and rest the camera, flange down, on the puck and see what happens.

At this point I have little to lose. The camera wasn't real expensive and I think I can do this.

Steve

 

[John Shriver]

You don't really need to remove the lens flange to take the camera apart. If you have the screws out, you're fine. The shell has to come off, and it's only stuck to the shell.

Some (*$&#@()* probably glued it in place to make up for losing the keepers!

 

[radiocemetery]

VICTORY IS MINE! Thanks John, You often have a solution. You are probably right about the ex-camera repairman losing the keepers. Now I have a parts order for DAG. In the mean time, I did get the flange off. I found the correct release agent for contact cement is methylene chloride. The commercial product I used is called "Pro Weld" from Ambroid. You can find this at hobby stores that sell plastic models. It is used to bond styrene, butyrate, acrylic, etc. This product is no more than methyline chloride in a 2 ounce bottle with a brush lid.

I had to allow the liquid to soak in after application with a very fine glue dispenser bottle. Eventually as I hooked a finger behind the flange and applied some force outward while supporting the camera body from the outside I saw a gap develop and I knew I had won.

So if you need to release parts bonded with contact cement get yourself some methylene chloride and do it.

Steve

PS Thanks for the input and maybe this can help someone in the future