SNHOO adapter won't come off Summitar

[TheMapleLeafForever]

This happened a while ago but I thought I'd get everyone's input now that I can post here.

Long story short, my (cheap eBay) SNHOO adapter got stuck on my Summitar when I was screwing in the hood. I have tried using rubber bands, pliers, a cotton cloth, but nothing works. The problem is compounded by the fact that whenever I try to unscrew the adapter, the front element ends up unscrewing too. This happens even when I get a very good grip with pliers and a rubber band. It is really that stuck. The adapter is slightly damaged from this exercise but the lens is fine.

I won't do anything more heavy-handed as I don't want to damage the lens which is still perfectly working. I wish I can just cut the bloody thing off. When the lockdown is over, I will see if David Yau can remove it. But there is a part of me that thinks even he and Youxin Ye would have problems getting it off. That's how stuck it is.

I'd think twice about getting the cheap SNHOO adapters you see on eBay. Mine came with the Summitar I got but I think these cheap adapters are not threaded properly.

 

[raydm6]

Sorry to hear this. Threads are probably galled. Some tips here and elsewhere to separate galled components. Perhaps some penetrant (avoiding seeping into the lens) and very light tapping and light heat? Is this aluminum on aluminum? Hope you can fix this.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Sorry to hear this. Threads are probably galled. Some tips here and elsewhere to separate galled components. Perhaps some penetrant (avoiding seeping into the lens) and very light tapping and light heat? Is this aluminum on aluminum? Hope you can fix this.

Thanks for the links. I think the adapter is aluminum but not sure if the part of the lens it is screwed into is also.

 

[raydm6]

Yes I would tend to think the Summitar flange and body is steel. I'm sure others will chime in soon with suggestions.

Also, if nothing works, as a last resort and hopefully not cost prohibitive, these guys might be able to help:
https://skgrimes.com/

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Yes I would tend to think the Summitar flange and body is steel. I'm sure others will chime in soon with suggestions.

Also, if nothing works, as a last resort and hopefully not cost prohibitive, these guys might be able to help:
https://skgrimes.com/

Appreciate your advice. As I said, the lens still works fine, but I am just supremely annoyed/frustrated at having a $20 adapter stuck onto my $350 vintage lens in pristine condition.

 

[raydm6]

I feel your pain and is justified.

 

[02Pilot]

Get yourself a nice grippy surface to work on - I like rubber liners for tool box drawers, but there are kitchen products that should work; even a rubber glove slit open should be OK. Make sure you're on something that will minimize movement of the gripping surface. Turn the lens upside down, place the adapter on the surface, and turn while applying downward pressure. Make sure you're turning in the correct direction. The uniform downward pressure is often enough to relieve the static tension on the threads and allow them to release. You may need to trim off that small damaged bit if it doesn't push back down.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The problem is compounded by the fact that whenever I try to unscrew the adapter, the front element ends up unscrewing too.

It might be easier to separate the adapter from the front of the lens with the front of the lens removed from the lens body. Have you tried that?

The front block of the lens just screws right out and will only screw back in one way, so there's no way you can put it back in wrong.

 

[Larry H-L]

I had the same thing happen to one of my Summitars.

Do not twist too hard, it will cause separation in the front elements. Ask me how I know that.

Let a seasoned pro remove it.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

It might be easier to separate the adapter from the front of the lens with the front of the lens removed from the lens body. Have you tried that?

The front block of the lens just screws right out and will only screw back in one way, so there's no way you can put it back in wrong.

I have tried that a little bit but I was ultimately worried that I might end up scratching the lens somehow. Also with it detached from the body, I have even less to grip. I think I might just heed to Larry's suggestion and get the seasoned pro over. It has been a month since I have last tried unscrewing it and trying again today has literally reopened old wounds. My skin is already easily flaking off in the same spot.

I won't do this myself, but do you think it would be possible to cut it off?

Thanks everyone so far for all your advice and suggestions.

 

[View Range]

Take a big pliers, make sure you grip just the adapter, and twist with a mighty force. The adapter will now have a curved side and an S-shaped side; the overall diameter will be smaller so the adapter will lift right off, ready for the trash can.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Take a big pliers, make sure you grip just the adapter, and twist with a mighty force. The adapter will now have a curved side and an S-shaped side; the overall diameter will be smaller so the adapter will lift right off, ready for the trash can.

Seem pretty nice and simple.

Thoughts on this Larry? Will it cause that separation you mentioned? I am just concerned that if this doesn't end up working, the rim will be taken off and the threaded part will remain, making it even more impossible to get it out because now you got nothing to grip!

 

[View Range]

Don't try unscrewing anymore because of the threat of damage to the lens' threads. Anything you do to grip the adapter tighter will cause the adapter to become oval and wedge itself on even tighter on the lens threads. I didn't invent the pliers method. It is in one of Tomosy's camera repair books addressing how to remove stuck filters. (At least you don't have to break the filter glass.) You will be amazed how easily the aluminum adapter will deform into a removable shape. The "mighty force" was a bad attempt to be humorous.

 

[farlymac]

I got one of those adapters, Ken. The problem with them is the aluminum used in their construction is of a very low quality. This creates a graininess to the threaded area which makes it grip the lens threads more aggressively.

I was able to remove mine by just flicking it with a fingernail a couple of times to make a small shock wave that separates the threads from the lens just enough to loosen its grip. But if you really cranked on it when installing then that might not work.

Wrapping your fingers completely around the adapter helps, but do not grip it tightly, just enough to get it moving. When you grip the adapter too tightly it can deform it which makes the threads dig in even harder.

Once you get it off it should immediately go into the recycle bin.

PF

 

[Dralowid]

Take a big pliers, make sure you grip just the adapter, and twist with a mighty force. The adapter will now have a curved side and an S-shaped side; the overall diameter will be smaller so the adapter will lift right off, ready for the trash can.

The above works.

Alternatively (and also scarily) take a hacksaw or file to the ring and cut a couple of slots opposite each other then take a steel ruler or whatever fits in the slots and try turning.

The trick is try and keep the metal filings away from the lens, drawing the blade or file towards you helps. Whatever they will be very soft aluminium.

 

[Shac]

Ken - thanks for the heads up on this b/c I have a similar cheap aluminium SNHOO. Just taken it off in case I run into the same problem.
Cheers
David

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Well thanks everyone for all your advice, it has definitely made me feel less alone in having this problem.

I'll have my local Leica technician look over it first just to be safe. I'm not the best in working with my hands!

@Shac You are welcome! Glad my suffering won't be in vain.

 

[farlymac]

Ken - thanks for the heads up on this b/c I have a similar cheap aluminium SNHOO. Just taken it off in case I run into the same problem.
Cheers
David

Originally posted by TheMapleLeafForever
Well thanks everyone for all your advice, it has definitely made me feel less alone in having this problem.

I'll have my local Leica technician look over it first just to be safe. I'm not the best in working with my hands!

@Shac You are welcome! Glad my suffering won't be in vain.

Sometimes, as we have found with the imitation adapter, it really does pay to buy the OEM item. And the real SNHOO looks so much better than the knock-off. I've learned my lesson on that.

PF

 

[Malcolm M]

It's probably no consolation, but I have exactly the same problem. The adapter did come off once, unexpectedly, when changing filters. I put silicone grease on the threads before replacing, but it stuck again. My solution is not to worry about it, but then I don't have the mangled front thread like your photo.

 

[David Hughes]

Just curious; are they now saying that silicone lubricants work with metal to metal surfaces?


I thought they were the worst thing to use in that situation.


Regards, David