vertical RF calibration on a Fed 5

[patrickhh]

Hi,

my recently purchased Fed 5 needs a little RF calibration. I read that for vertical adjustment, the small round window for the RF spot had to be turned. But it doesn't move. Is it just stuck in old grease, or is there a special trick to enable it to be turned?

Plus I can't get the top cover off. I have taken off the faceplate, the film advance stuff, the shutter speed selector, the eyepiece and all visible screws. The top plate seems to be stuck at the exposure calculator and the little RF window (which doesn't turn). I was able to take off the outer ring of the exposure calculator, but not the rest of it.

Any tips?

TIA
Patrick

 

[Jocko]

Patrick, it's really the collar around the window you have to turn, which has two small notches - you can insert the tip of a small screwdriver in one and adjustment should be quite easy. Jay's instriuctions for the FED/Zorki one apply to all FEDs - http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page422.htm

Cheers, Ian

 

[ZorkiKat]

You don't have to remove the top plate to adjust the RF's alignment. You need only to remove the front name plate. Push the plate a bit to the left, pry it lightly upwards and off it will go.

Once the plate is off, the two parts you need for adjusting RF alignment can be accessed- the optical wedge and RF setting screw.

The optical wedge won't readily turn since its collar is usually fixed with black lacquer similar to nail polish. You would have to remove this first with a small cotton wad saturated with acetone. Once the lacquer is gone, the optical wedge's collar should turn for adjustment.

Jay

 

[patrickhh]

Thank you! I don't have acetone, but lighter fluid did the trick.

I wasn't able to get the RF spot 100% in line, it's always a little bit below.
But now it is much better than before.

Thanks again!
Patrick