The number of Leicas in for repair...

R

Roger Hicks

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...never ceases to astonish me. I've been using Leicas for 40 years. One M2 broke down once; my M4-P needed a new viewfinder glass after it was smashed by a cretinous 'security' inspection at LAX; and my 74-year-old IIIa needs an overhaul.

The possibilities that occur to me are

1) Many people use their Leicas much harder than I do (unlikely, given what I do for a living)

2) Many people don't use their Leicas enough, so they gum up from disuse.

Cheers,

R.
 
I've used a leica for 7 years and the only problem I had with mine was the little post under the angled rewind knob. Had it fixed for $75, and haven't had any problems since.
That being said, the other problem I have is a bad case of GAS!
 
I've had three CLAs on my IIIf in 45 years: not bad for a $50 camera. I also have had a 90mm Elmar CLAd. Overall, I think the quality is excellent my repairs and problems have been not from worn parts but dried lube, haze and out of tune shutters.
 
I'm convinced that most of the CLAs are a result of the continuous trading here and on ebay. Many are not necessary.

Roland.
 
My next door neighbor had a fast car with a Dual-Point Distributor. Extra horsepower, extra complexity, more to maintain within spec.

After looking at the repair manual for the shutter of a Leica M2 and comparing with a Nikon SP, I'll compare it with the sportscar. More adjustments to make, tighter tolerances, more to maintain.
 
Well- the quality on that sports car with dual-point distributor was up to standards, but being more complex- more time with the dwell-meter.

The Leica shutter has separate adjustments for various shutter speed ranges. It is "simply more complex" than most of the shutter mechanisms in a Nikon RF, Canon RF, and others.
 
I had (and still have) never a problem with any of the older M Leicas, up to the M6TTL. My former MP and actual M7 however ...

The M7 just came back from a complete service at Solms (was under warranty since I bought the camera used but "Leica factory refurbished") after having been serviced by Leica USA at the end of last year. So the M7 already made three trips to Leica for being serviced after it left the factory and the camera is maybe only 7 years old and moderately used ...
 
"2) Many people don't use their Leicas enough, so they gum up from disuse."

Yup. Bought a beautiful LHSA M6 used and within a year I had to send it in because the framelines were frozen. It's back from servicing now and I think I will sell it. I just can't run enough film through the various bodies (Leica and other) I have to keep them in fighting trim. I'm sad to part with it, but they deserve to be used.
 
I bought and returned 6 M6 bodies to get the two that I have that actually work correctly. All the others had serious issues ranging from inaccurate focus, oil on the shutter curtains, misaligned rangefinders, and one had haze in the small RF window!

When I bought the M4 bodies that I had, I originally wanted an M2. After going through 6 of them, all returned, I gave up on finding one with a rangefinder that wasn't dim and impossible to focus. I had to return 2 of the M4 bodies I bought before finally getting the 2 good ones I had.

I've looked at a few in camera stores too where I could touch and look. I bought one of my M6 bodies at a store here in Indiana that had the M6 I bought plus an M4, an M5 and an M2. The M6 was the only one not obviously broken! The M2 rangefinder was extremely dim. The M4 rangefinder was way off, I focused on something about 4 feet away and the lens indicated 25 feet! The M5's framelines were screwed up and didn't change properly when different lenses were mounted.

Why so many bad ones? First of all, these were all, except the M6's, very old cameras. Antiques really. They probably hadn't been used in a long time and were gummed up. The M2 finders are probably all just shot from aging of the glues used in the prisms in them. Old cameras need regular use and regular maintenence. I am always amazed at the "I've had my camera for 50 yrs and by God I never had to CLA it like you fools!" posts. Do you never change the oil in your car?
 
Can anybody tell the exact amount of rolls of film to run through my M6 so 1. I don't wear it out too soon and 2. so I don't gum it up from not using it enough......waiting.
 
I've had a IIIc in for repair for non-fuctionaing slow speeds, had a VF clean and repair done as well at the same time.

Sent my M4-P in after it was dropped and focus slipped out. The VF was also cleaned and was so much clearer it was remarkable, but i never complained with how it was before being cleaned.

My M3 arrived working and has no issues, and I don't suppose it will either. When it breaks it'll go in for repair, I think that unnecessary repairs are really pointless in a way and I imagine that's what the OP is referencing.
 
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kshapero said:
Can anybody tell the exact amount of rolls of film to run through my M6 so 1. I don't wear it out too soon and 2. so I don't gum it up from not using it enough......waiting.
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Don't let it sit for 20 years unused. That's basically it. A lot of old Leicas really have sat that long unused after grandpa quit using it then he dies and the kids ebay the no-longer working camera...which needs a CLA. If you use your M6 it'll be fine, no exact number of rolls needed.
 
 
 
Jaques H said:
You should take a look at LUF from time to time. It's AMAZING.

" red dot fell off... the red dot on my M8 fell off and was lost.

I ordered a replacement from Adeal in Australia and they sent me one.... only it was a few mm too big. I have called them three times since then and they have not called back.... very annoying. I assume they can't be bothered as the item is so inexpensive. But they are the only Leica service option we have locally.

Does anyone know of a source for a red dot online- that I can get quite quickly? I have a temporary gaff tape black dot in place.... but I plan on selling the M8 and need the real dot."
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I'm not seeing what's got you so upset. The guy's request is perfectly legit. The red dot on an M8 serves a purpose other than decoration, it covers the rangefinder vertical alignment adjustment screw. You do not want this uncovered, it'll allow dust into your RF mechanism. If it was mine and they sent me the wrong part, I'd be mad too.
 
jonmanjiro said:
I know CLA stands for Clean, Lube, Adjust, but what is actually done to a camera when it is CLA'd?

Genuinely curious.
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If its done right, they clean the old lubricants out of the wind mechanism and the shutter and relube these parts with new oil or grease where needed. They also replace any worn or broken parts and adjust the shutter speeds to the correct times and adjust the rangefinder for accuracy and the light meter for accuracy if the camera has one.
 
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