Leica LTM Sticky Summitar Aperture - Lighter Fluid?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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retrograde

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I heard somewhere that lighter fluid acts as a good lubricant for an ltm lens with a sticky aperture ring, specifically the Summitar. (I happen to have just such a lens!)

But something in me thinks it insane to put lighter fluid on a lens with any value. Mine has some real pretty glass, and I'd like it to become usable.

What do you think? I suppose my real question is what lubricant is really best and where do I buy it, and where on the lens do I put it?

Thanks!
 
"A Little Dab Will Do IT". You can use lighter Fluid, or 99% Isopropyl Alchohol. My Summitar and Canon 50/1.4 RF lens both had this problem. The culprit was grime under the ring. Do'nt think of 50 years of someone elses dirty fingers using the lens...

ANYWAY: Dab a little bit on, turn the ring, and dab it up with a Q-Tip or cloth, see if it improves.
 
If there is no oil on the blades, you just need to remove the aperture ring, and clean and very lightly grease it. The two screws on the sides hold it.

Still, it's a really nice lens, and really worth the $75 to have a professional do it. They will clean the glass inside and out as well, and if it is coated, that is NOT a do-it-yourself job with Leica's soft coating.
 
I could not pull the ring off after the front cell was removed. I put some alcohol on a swab and ran it around the joint in front of the numbers. Sticky aperture ring problem solved.
 
Ok. I'm thinking some of that denatured/pure/99% isopropyl alcohol sounds like the right stuff. Where can I find some of that? Forgive my ignorance, but I only know where to find the low percent, low purity variety.

xayraa, I think sending the Summitar in for a cleaning is a good idea if this doesn't work. But if the pure alcohol is truly harmless, I'll try a dab of that first.

Thanks for the help, folks!
 
retrograde said:
Ok. I'm thinking some of that denatured/pure/99% isopropyl alcohol sounds like the right stuff. Where can I find some of that? Forgive my ignorance, but I only know where to find the low percent, low purity variety.

xayraa, I think sending the Summitar in for a cleaning is a good idea if this doesn't work. But if the pure alcohol is truly harmless, I'll try a dab of that first.

Thanks for the help, folks!
Click to expand...

you can try the alcohol, but if it has good nice glass , I would not would want to take it apart myself when it is such a worth while lens.
a Tech like DAG or to Essex is the way to go.
 
Quite awhile back someone posted a thread complete with photos on how to fix a sticky aperture ring on a Summitar. I had one with that problem that would not be fixed by flushing it. I followed the the instruction in the thread and removed the aperture ring, cleaned everything up and put a light coat of grease in. Never had another problem. A simple half hour job. OTH sending it out is easier if you you don't want to try it yourself.

Bob

Just found the thread http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50601.
 
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Bob, that's great info! Do you happen to have any photos of when you did the cleaning and greasing? I saw the three photos from that old thread, but it's unlcear what happens where after that.

Am I right in inferring that the alcohol or acetone just gets rid of the sticky old Leitz lubriant from the 50's and then you have to put in your own lubricant? If so, what grease does one use?

And xayraa, I really am hearing you. If this job looks like I even stand a real chance of scratching the glass, I'll be sending this puppy in rather than chancing it. It's my only "near-perfect" Leitz lens.
 
No I didn't take any photos of doing it. Basically it is reassemble in reverse order if I remember correctly. I used lighter fluid very sparingly to clean the ring so it would not get into other areas. I used a heavy duty synthetic auto chassis grease but I am sure there are better ones out there and search of the threads here would turn up a few. I don't know how it will stand up long term. As simple as this job may appear you always take a chance when you open a lens up of inadvertently damaging it. As it is your only near perfect Leica lens then a pro cleaning might be the way to go and that will solve any other problems that are not apparent with the lens too. Only you know your comfort zone when doing these things.

Bob
 
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