Olympus Pen S lens block won't screw back into body

[callumross]

I'd be really grateful of some help, as this has completely baffled me.

To access the shutter mechanism of the Olympus Pen S you first unscrew the entire lens block from the front; i.e., once you've removed the distance scale, you can continue turning it beyond minimum focus until it simply completely unscrews from the thread. In the factory a little mark is scratched onto the side of the lens face so you know where to line up to infinity. All good.

Now, having cleaned and reassmbled the shutter, I get to the step where I rescrew the lens block and it simply will not go in. I have tried with lots of grease, and no grease at all, and have inspected the threads and can't see any damage. I can't think what could possibly have changed in the time I was cleaning the shutter that would prevent the lens from screwing back in. It almost feels as though it's too large to fit, but of course it isn't because it's been there happily turning for the last 50-odd years.

Any ideas? I could post pictures of course if it would help.

Thanks!

 

[aizan]

Can you get the threads to engage by turning the lens in reverse until you feel a click?

The helical might be slightly out of round, but I doubt it.

 

[callumross]

Can you get the threads to engage by turning the lens in reverse until you feel a click?

The helical might be slightly out of round, but I doubt it.

Thanks for the reply. I tried that, it doesn't seem to give any indication of where the threads engage. Just jumps around a lot.

I've attached some pictures.

 

[aizan]

If going by feel doesn't work, there's always going by sight. Can you see the beginning of the threads?

 

[callumross]

If going by feel doesn't work, there's always going by sight. Can you see the beginning of the threads?

Yeah, I can work out the beginning of the threads by running a toothpick along them to the end. It looks like there are two different entry point points or two threads (not sure this is the right way to describe it). As in, there are two different ways the lens can screw in, but only one is right.

 

[aizan]

Do you have a rubber or cork bottle stopper to twist the lens block? A little distance might help keep it level to engage the threads. I could do it with just fingertips, though. Not sure what’s going on there...

 

[callumross]

Do you have a rubber or cork bottle stopper to twist the lens block? A little distance might help keep it level to engage the threads. I could do it with just fingertips, though. Not sure what’s going on there...

That's a good idea, I'll give that a go if I can get hold of something. Yeah I've no clue either, it's like the whole thing changed shape. Doesn't even feel like it should fit any more. Finding another model for parts will have to be my last resort if I can't solve it, which is a shame, as these are so simple I doubt I can find one that is truly irrepairable. Thanks for your help!

 

[Nitroplait]

Full disclosure: Other than being an owner of an Oly Pen S, I have no repair experiences and have never unscrewed the Lens block.

I notice that the lens block extend a good deal further back than the threads on the block.
May the rear part of the lens block is touching something inside and preventing the threads to engage? I don't know how much you needed to remove and reassemble to get to the shutter but maybe the cause of the problem can be found further inside the camera?
Just a thought.

 

[callumross]

Full disclosure: Other than being an owner of an Oly Pen S, I have no repair experiences and have never unscrewed the Lens block.

I notice that the lens block extend a good deal further back than the threads on the block.
May the rear part of the lens block is touching something inside and preventing the threads to engage? I don't know how much you needed to remove and reassemble to get to the shutter but maybe the cause of the problem can be found further inside the camera?
Just a thought.

Good idea but I don't think that could be it. If you look at the pictures in my earlier post, you'll see the brass ting that the lens screws into. That itself is a retainer ring for the shutter mechanism, and screws out itself; even attempting to screw the lens into this brass ring without it attached to the body doesn't work.

It's incredibly annoying because I managed to get the shutter to work beautifully.