Leica LTM Sticky apeture ring on Summitar

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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AnthonyM

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My Summitar came yesterday in the mail. Using it will have to wait until my IIIF is repaired. However, I did try it on the camera.

The apeture ring is very tight and it takes some effort to move it. It apparently was not designed to click into place. Is there a way to loosen it up? Maybe a drop of oil? I hesitate and wait for an answer, since oil may get into the lens.

When I try to twist it into a new F stop position, counterclockwise, I note that the lens starts to unscrew from the mount.
 
I had a Summitar that acted the same as yours, and the only solution I could find was to have it CLA'd. It is now cleaner and the aperture ring is very smooth.

Jim N.
 
oil it up..

oil it up..

go to radio shack and pickup a precision oiler/lubricator pen for $3.50. don't even squeeze the pen, but let the tiniest amount drop here and there around the aperture ring, and it's as good as new..less is best...the amount of oil you use in comparison to the $3.50 price less than half a penny..but much less than sending it for a CLA...
 
The Summitar I had also came with an aperture ring practically locked in place. I put in one drop, or perhaps two drops, of light oil with the point of a needle, and it worked. Ideally, the remnants of old lubricant should be removed, together with accumulated muck. The lens does not have click stops.
 
Having a tight aperture ring on a Summitar looks like a common problem and one of the two I have had it. Someone posted a how to fix complete with photos and it was not the post mentioned above. A patient search of Summitar on this site should bring it up. It took me half an hour to do with very minor disassembly of the lens to clean out the old solidified grease and apply new grease. The Summitar works like new now.

Bob
 
My summitar is away getting the "golden touch" for exactly the same reason - stiff aperture ring. I figured that I am too clutzy to try to fix it myself, and a drop of ronsonol only helped a little.

As I really want to use this lens regularly I sent it out to get it fixed properly. It's a great lens and probably deserves a good cleaning after 50+ years. :D

good luck on getting your lens running smoothly,
rt
 
Thank you for all the input on this. How long do you estimate it will take to clean the ring? More than 15 minutes? A local repairman want a lot to do this simple task. I am going to do it myself.
 
AnthonyM said:
Thank you for all the input on this. How long do you estimate it will take to clean the ring? More than 15 minutes? A local repairman want a lot to do this simple task. I am going to do it myself.
Click to expand...


It will just take perhaps 5 minutes if you try to free the ring by injecting minute amounts of lighter fluid in the grooves of the aperture ring. No disassembly required. If the aperture ring doesn't tighten again after a few minutes or perhaps a few hours, the cure has worked and no further disassembly or a trip to the repairist is no longer necessary.

The Summitars I got always came with tight rings. The lighter fluid method always worked.

Jay
 
Jay

I tried the lighter fluid trick several times on the same lens but it always became stiff again by the next day. I did not want to use large amounts of lighter fluid as I thought it might wash/flush some of the dried up crud into the lens internals. I followed the advice from the link that I posted and working slowly it took me half an hour start to finish. I have had the lens out in sub zero temps without a hint of it getting tight again so I think for the long term cleaning and relubing is the ultimate answer. I just can't stress how easy it was for someone like me who has more than a few parts cameras in boxes from tinkering to do this. I should add that it is possible that the climate where you live makes the lighter fluid trick work successfully for you.

Bob
 
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Don't mess with it! Send it out and have it properly serviced. It's vintage Leitz precision optics, not a lawnmower. BTW the Summitar is a great lens optically, but badly designed from a user's point of view,IMHO: the same knurled ring that collapses the lens unscrews the front element.
 
My Summitar did loosen up with a few drops of lighter fluid. I work the aperture back and forth before the fluid evaporates and sop it up with lens cleaning paper. The gunk came out with it. If it was much worse, taking the ring off would have been required. As far as doing it yourself, or paying $60~$90 to have it done, it is what you are comfortable with.
 
Brian

It definitely boils down to what you are comfortable with.

Bob
 
Gentlemen, thank your for your input. I am going to send my lens to DAG along with my camera. Both need repair and I want to do it right.
 
This worked 4 me

This worked 4 me

payasam said:
The Summitar I had also came with an aperture ring practically locked in place. I put in one drop, or perhaps two drops, of light oil with the point of a needle, and it worked. Ideally, the remnants of old lubricant should be removed, together with accumulated muck. The lens does not have click stops.
Click to expand...

WD-40 on the tip of a plastic toothpick. Wanted to thankyou, after reading your method I squirted just a little WD40 into the cap of the can to dip from with a plastic toothpick. I laid my M3 on its back and applied it just above the aperture ring so it would drip down. i applied it all the way around, in such small amounts I couldn't even see it.

My Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM with the severely sticking aperture ring works perfect now. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Sincerely,
Tony Remington:)
 
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