Vertical adjustment tool for M4P - anyone have one they would let me borrow?

[yossarian123]

I bought an M4P from the RFF boards, the owner says that the vertical is off but it was CLA'd by Sherry about a year ago. I'd prefer to just do this myself - I don't really want to send it out, nor do I want to spend an outrageous amount for the special adjustment tool. Does anyone have one that I could borrow? I'd pay for shipping to & from and you'd have it back by next week.

Is adjusting the RF harder on an M4P/M6/etc or is it pretty easy once you've got the right tool? I do this on my M3 & M5 all the time.

 

[johannielscom]

😕

I was under the impression that M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 etc all need the same RF adjustment tool and that it is simply called 'small screwdriver'.

Any Phillips jewellers screwdriver should do, IIRC?

 

[Rogrund]

Nope, a special tool is required for adjusting the vertical alignment on the later M4-P and the M6.

 

[chrishayton]

M4-P is easy to adjust the Vertical RF. You just need a couple of screwdrivers ( can get away with one but two of different size to fit the screws better is advisable)
Be careful not to put too much inward pressure on the screw when you adjust it.

 

[yossarian123]

any instructions on this? Will I need to remove the top plate to use 2 screwdrivers?

M4-P is easy to adjust the Vertical RF. You just need a couple of screwdrivers ( can get away with one but two of different size to fit the screws better is advisable)
Be careful not to put too much inward pressure on the screw when you adjust it.

 

[Rogrund]

Here is an older thread on the subject.

 

[Moriturii]

You unscrew the screw on the front of the camera. Underneath that tiny screw there is ANOTHER screw. Give it 5 degree turn, and check if the rangefinder patch is in place. Could not be easier, you literary just use one screwdriver and give it a very slight turn.

 

[Nicolai]

Do one need a lens fitted to see if it is out of alignment?

Sorry for the stupid question...

Nicolai

 

[yossarian123]

Do one need a lens fitted to see if it is out of alignment?

Sorry for the stupid question...

Nicolai

No, you should be able to tell without having a lens mounted.

 

[Nicolai]

No, you should be able to tell without having a lens mounted.

May I ask how? 🙂

 

[Vickko]

Here is the tool.
Not a simple screwdriver.

 

[yossarian123]

That's the tool alright. I see that Zhou is selling a version of the tool for $66 on ebay. That's still way too much for a metal stick that will be used for less than 5 minutes.

 

[Vickko]

Don't you think you could make one?

Go to the hardware store, buy a suitable screwdriver as stock, and cut and file one?

Remember, as a watchmaker apprentice, one had to file a perfect cube out of a chuck of bar stock. This thing should be dead simple, and once you are done, very satisfying.

Vick

That's the tool alright. I see that Zhou is selling a version of the tool for $66 on ebay. That's still way too much for a metal stick that will be used for less than 5 minutes.

 

[yossarian123]

I could probably build it myself. My main fear is the inevitable tiny adjustments that will need to be made (in the meantime blindly poking into the guts of my $600 camera), plus the fact that I have no stomach for removing the top plate on the camera (if it comes to that).

 

[Moriturii]

I fixed the vertical with one of my Leica's long time ago, only needed a simple screwdriver, not that thing, it worked perfectly ever since... the rangefinder patch anyway.

I just unscrewed the "screw-cover" that sits between the framelines iluminator windowd and rangefinder window, and just did a tiny turn on the screw underneath, perfect. How does your Leicas look?

 

[Steinberg2010]

I fixed the vertical with one of my Leica's long time ago, only needed a simple screwdriver, not that thing, it worked perfectly ever since... the rangefinder patch anyway.

I just unscrewed the "screw-cover" that sits between the framelines iluminator windowd and rangefinder window, and just did a tiny turn on the screw underneath, perfect. How does your Leicas look?

Yes but it depends what model you have – up to the M5 they all have a simple screw to turn, after that you need the more complicated tool.

~S

 

[Rogrund]

How does your Leicas look?

Check out this link!

 

[Moriturii]

Yes but it depends what model you have – up to the M5 they all have a simple screw to turn, after that you need the more complicated tool.

~S

Thaaaat makes sense, I did it on an M3, maybe a year ago, new owner was happy with it too.