Service manual for Retina IB?

[Biber]

I'm looking for a service manual for a Retina IB.

I have to take my old Retina apart to clean the viewfinder and shutter. I've never done anything like this before, but the camera isn't working as it should, and it cost me $2, so it seems like a good place to begin. 😛

Does anyone have any general advice when trying this for the first time?


edit: wrong forum?

 

[pshinkaw]

Biber:

Try Chris Sherlock's homepage at:

http://rawhiti.tripod.com/

There is a lot of useful information there on folding Retina's.

-Paul

 

[Biber]

Thanks pshinkaw. I'll see if I can find something useful there. 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Retina 1B: Should be like my IIc and IIIS. The top is very easy to pop. Take off the rewind knob, regular thread. Should be two screws under it. Those two screws and the one on the side are all that holds the top down. Mind the shutter release, it will fall off with the top out.

Shutter: I think the front element comes off on the 1B with a twist. They saved money on the basic mechanism, so even though the Xenar lens does not have other elements available like the Xenon, they still made it removable. Now you have access to the shutter blades. If a squirt or two of Ronsonol (lighter fluid) or Isopropyl alchohol will do the trick, I think you are done.

$2 for a 1B! If working, they easily fetch $50 on EBay.

 

[Biber]

Thanks Brian. I'll try to remove the front element on the lens and put some lighter fluid on the shutter blades. I tried with the rear element (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/retinafocusmechanism.html) before but I couldn't get it loose.

I managed to clean the viewfinder earlier today, it was very hazy and had what I guess was fungus all over the lenses when I got it. I cleaned the lenses and all the other parts i could get to one by one in isopropyl alcohol and put them back together again. The finder looks almost new again. 🙂

The lens is badly infected as well but I haven't figured out a way to take it apart and put it back together yet. If I'm lucky it might be enough to clean the front and rear elements as soon as i figure out how to remove them without damaging anything.

I calibrated the meter against my Eos3 when I put it back together and it seems to be working ok. I'll try it in daylight tomorrow.

I also tried to lubricate the leathery material on the outside of the camera with some oil used for preserving old books. It was in good shape but a bit dry. I don't know if it made any difference yet.


I found the camera at a flea market in Helsingør (Denmark). The original price was $1 but the seller demanded $2 as soon as I picked it up. 😀



edit:
It worked fine to remove the front element just as you said. I put a few drops of lighter fluid on it and fired some blanks. The shutter times are much more consistent now, it seems like the problem is solved. Thanks. 🙂

The front element was totally clean. I'll try to remove and clean the rear element later tonight or tomorrow.


edit 2:
I just found an interesting detail. When I move the shutter speed dial from B to 1s the shutter speed becomes something completely different. Looks closer to 1/30. When I then move it to 1/2s and back to 1s it works fine again.


edit 3:
I decided that the rear element was just one lens and that I should try to clean it without removing it from the camera. I cleaned it with alcohol like I did with the finder and I got rid of all the fungus and haze. It looks as good as new now.