Leica M curtain replacement?

mooge

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hey all,

I got an M2 with a curtain full 'o holes. anyone here done a curtain replacement, or am I going to be the first one to attempt it? any help/consolation will be welcome...

cheers.
 
I think, when you think about the risk, cost of parts, waiting time, all hustle with adjustments and more risk, asking Youxin Ye (If you are in north america) would be your best bet. He is very quick on email inquiries, super quick turnaround and quite low cost compared with other known Leica repair persons.

He's done curtain replacement and CLA on IIIf for me before, and the total cost was way less that others would charge for a CLA alone.
 
Are you in Ottawa?

Replacing a curtain isn't rocket science, if you want to do it yourself. It does take care to disassemble the camera, and to remove the curtain and ribbon.

I find re-gluing the curtain (if it is the first curtain) and the regluing the ribbons the most difficult parts of the operation, as you have to carefully re-align the edges of the curtain.

And I do support the recommendation of sending it to Youxin Ye. He knows what he's doing, and is very economical.

....Vick
 
Oh, find the military M2 KS15 maintenance manual;

Oh, find the military M2 KS15 maintenance manual;

Oh, find the military M2 KS15 maintenance manual; it explains the entire operation. It is often on ebay although I don't see any now.
 
Having done it in the past I would send it to Ye Youxin. He replaced a curtain in mine and while I'd don't remember the cost it was very reasonable. Unless you have a love afair with learning how thinks work and are good at working with small parts and have lot's of patience. Also by the time you buy all lubricants, glues, shutter materiall, tools, etc Ye isn't that much more. Plus he usually has it back to you in less than 10 days.
 
I've got an M on its way to Youxin for a curtain replacement. He's done a curtain replacement on a previous M and it's worked perfectly.

An email will get a quote from him, he's very fast with responding. (and his charge for replacing a curtain is very reasonable)
 
yeah, Ottawa. and it's strong and free enough for me, I guess.

Maybe I should ask Youxin for some pointers. or an opening curtain. I asked Leica USA for one, they pointed to Leica Germany. I asked Leica Parts or something in Germany, they said I should ask Leica USA. I asked the repair office in Germany... and they haven't replied yet. it's ok, I'll get fussy later...

that KS-whatever manual I have a link to on the other machine. I'll go find it. later.

yeah, Youxin is the one who put the bad curtain in. and I find it hard to imagine that this camera has been taken apart twice or whatever in two years- it's not very smooth, the VF is dirty inside, the counter is really right, and half of the felt ring underneath came out yesterday...
but hey, the closing curtain is nice and new.

ps- ring retainers are a pain.
 
Getting a mechanical cloth shutter to open a tiny slit and maintain that tiny opening as it run across 36mm of space under a thousandth of a second is a feat. Even more so if the device operating such a shutter is over 60 years old.

If the camera has been used there will be wear and tear, and not every device can hold all its functions perfectly when use and age takes it's toll.
 
Getting a mechanical cloth shutter to open a tiny slit and maintain that tiny opening as it run across 36mm of space under a thousandth of a second is a feat. Even more so if the device operating such a shutter is over 60 years old.

If the camera has been used there will be wear and tear, and not every device can hold all its functions perfectly when use and age takes it's toll.
Just for the record, mind, the curtain crosses the 36mm in 1/30th second at any speed above 30th. Only the slit changes width. ;)

The 1/1000 means the slit is about 1mm wide and maintains that across the frame perfectly evenly, side to side, and never varying. Now "that' is the magic of a well built shutter.
I had forgotten the M2 was as old as 60 years!
Murray
 
Ahh thank you for the correction.

Just for the record, mind, the curtain crosses the 36mm in 1/30th second at any speed above 30th. Only the slit changes width. ;)

The 1/1000 means the slit is about 1mm wide and maintains that across the frame perfectly evenly, side to side, and never varying. Now "that' is the magic of a well built shutter.
I had forgotten the M2 was as old as 60 years!
Murray
 
hey chaps,

I cracked 'er open and now have access to the shutter. now for the scary bit of replacing that curtain...

I cut my own flexiclamps out of that plastic stuff. it's alot of work, but it works...

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and by the way, I think the curtain crosses the film gate in the same speed as the flash sync, in this case, 1/50. because that's the fastest speed that the film gate will be completely open at...

anyways,
cheers.
 
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