removing the VF, frame counter, RF and frameline Illuminator plastic / glass panes

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Does anyone have any information on removing the VF, frame counter, RF and frameline Illuminator plastic / glass panes from the top plate? Are they glued? What is the best way to go about removing them?

The purpose is for a repaint. Everything else I understand, but this is one thing I am not sure about. I don’t want to damage or worse, crack the glass panels trying to remove them.

Thanks
 
mpaniagua said:
Probably its me but I fail to see which camera/accesory you want to remove the VF from.

Regards

Marcelo
Click to expand...

Perhaps I haven’t been clear enough.

What I mean is this.

When removing the top plate from the camera body, the brass top plate comes off the top with a glass panel on the viewfinder window, as well as the RF window, frame line illuminator window, and the small circular frame counter window. What I am wondering, is how to remove these glass panels without damaging them - and whether they are glued or sealed to the top brass plate.

Here is a photo example of top plate and the windows I mean:

m2.jpg


Notice the glass windows have been removed prior to repainting.

Video here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtqDd-4qPI

Notice the glass windows remain with the top plate when removed.

I wish to know how to go about removing these windows, and how to seal them back onto the top plate. Please note, I have an MP model. Which has glass VF windows flush with the surface of the top plate, unlike M2 and M3.

Thanks!
 
JLaidley said:
Was there ever a solution to this? I'm also trying to figure this part out as I work my way through a repaint on an M6 LHSA.
Click to expand...

Hello!

Yes, pulled my MP apart to test this, and learned that the windows are taped down with a very thin line of black double sided tape around the edges of the windows holding them in place from the outside. To remove the windows I put the top plate under hot (ish) water for a few minutes to soften the tape but without shattering the glass - a heat gun used carefully would be better for this (but not so hot that the glass shatters)….
After heating, I just pushed very gently and carefully from INSIDE the top plate outwards, as in, the windows are taped in from the outside, not from the inside. They pop outwards, rather than inwards. BE CAREFUL DOING THIS, DO NOT CRACK YOUR WINDOWS!
Once removed, I was careful to keep the thin tape intact on the windows, and after I was done tinkering, simply stuck them back in using the same tape. This is a temporary measure, and once I have finished the repaint, I will probably try to replace with fresh tape before reassembling.
I have attached some images showing the direction the windows come out, you must put gentle pressure from inside the plate and push them outwards. Be careful and have fun! I will post this on the thread too.





http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/leica_m2_service.pdf <---Link to Leica M2 service manual - some good info.

Hope this helps. Don't judge.
 
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