Replace viewfinder lens on lynx

[zdav]

Hi,

during cleaning I accidentally broke the square front lens of the viewfinder of my lynx (I tried to "pop" it out to clean the inside but I broke it...)

I bought a broken minister-d (which has the same focal length) to use a a donor camera.

Does anyone know how I best remove this piece of glass on both the minister-d and the lynx? I searched the usual yashica repair guides but really can't find how this piece is assembled.

I noticed on the minister d the top of the viewfinder assembly is just a piece of thin cardboard, on the lynx this is metal. I think the lens is glued to the assembly but how do you break the glue without breaking the glass?

thanks in advance,

Staf

 

[Frontman]

Hmm, a difficult situation. You can soften the glue by heating the lens (slowly and carefully), or you can try applying lacquer thinner to the glue to soften it. The last option is to find a complete Lynx parts camera and simply swap the entire rangefinder assembly.

Good luck,

 

[Bill58]

I'd use acetone out of an eye dropper. It's a better/ stronger solvent than lacquer thinner and won't harm the glass but make sure it's glass--not plastic--before....... or else either will damage the plastic. After a drop on the glue, gently try to cut and pry the glass loose w/ an X-acto knife. Work slowly and carefully all the way around.

 

[btgc]

I haven't dealt with Minister, though on all cameras I've put mu hands on, glue used around glass pieces weren't particularly hard, they used kind of water based glues. I've been able to prey paper covers off using thin and sharp blade.

 

[zdav]

update: mission accomplished!

Since I didn't have aceton or patience I used nailpolish remover. I used quite a lot of it: dripping it on the glue with a q-tip, then scraping a layer of with a needle. Finally I managed to get the viewfinder lens off.

As stated before, be very carefull if you attempt to do this, the glass is extremely fragile. I was less cautious removing the broken lens on the lynx and pieces come of as soon as you put to much stress on the glass.

I cleaned all the surfaces (even couldn't resist whiping the dust of the coated mirror with a dry q-tip) so now I have a very bright viewfinder!