Vito B with stuck shutter

MV72

MV72

Marc VERRIERE
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5:22 PM
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Sep 29, 2008
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I'd love to put life back into my granny's Vito B with 2,8 Color-Skopar lens.
The shutter is stuck, but I don't know how to get access to it from the front. How do you remove the lens helical ? Or maybe I have to remove the whole lens assembly ?
But there again, how do I do it ? Are there screws under the leatherette which allow the lens disassembly ?
Didn't find any thread or info on the web apart from for removing the top plate, which I did, but it didn't help me with the shutter issue.
If you've done a similar repair and wish to share your knowledge about this lovable little camera, I'd be much obliged.
Thanks
Marc
 
edit--better advice given below...

edit--i just took mine out and the shutter was a little sluggish! if you roll the sprocket wheel in the film chamber, it will cock the shutter. if it hangs up, massage the sprocket wheel back and forth a little and the shutter should release. i always forget that when i put this thing down for a long time it needs to have a good work out before it works right again.
 
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The sticky shutter on one of mine was cured by regular exercise, so I have not been far into the internals. The chrome focusing ring should have three tiny screws around the periphery, and with this out of the way you should be able to screw out the front cell, which may enable you to get at things. It has to be remembered that this will be a 'four-start' (or more) thread ( actually - four separate threads, on the same cylinder) and can be put back in three wrong positions! good luck!
Dave.
4156226896_60d7a01794.jpg
 
fidget said:
Are these cameras front cell focussing?
Click to expand...
Yes, look at the focus ring in my picture, there is a gap from the inside to the black lettered ring, turn it to 'close focus' and the gap disappears as the cell moves forward, but look in the camera back and the rear element has remained stationary (as has the diaphragm). FYI - the four ( Or more ) threads - side-by-side speed up the transfer of rotary motion to linear motion, one 'normal' thread would require too many rotations from infinity to close - to be practical.
Dave.
PS they are bloody good fun to machine - too! (NOT)
 
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You have to remove the front of the lens. I believe there are grub screws that hold the lens cylinder, which must be removed. I don't have a Vito B near me, so this is from memory.

Then the front element simply rotates out of the middle element, which also must be removed. That should allow you to service the shutter.

After reassembly, be sure to reset infinity focus on the lens.
 
ZeissFan said:
You have to remove the front of the lens. I believe there are grub screws that hold the lens cylinder, which must be removed. I don't have a Vito B near me, so this is from memory.

Then the front element simply rotates out of the middle element, which also must be removed. That should allow you to service the shutter.

After reassembly, be sure to reset infinity focus on the lens.
Click to expand...
Yep! - that's more or less what I just said! - thanks for the agreement! ;)
 
Vito B back from the dead !

Vito B back from the dead !

Thanks guys. I first set about removing the front of the lens but could only take out the dial around the aperture ring. After removing three set screws as you said. But then I couldn't get at brass screws behind, nor could I extract the aperture ring.
I shied away from taking off the whole lens from the body, so took another route and poured lighter fluid on the shutter from the inside, then took the top plate off just in case, oiled the winding lever and ran a dummy film through the camera 3 times.
The good news is it came back to life ! Works at all speeds from B to 300th.
Now it remains to be seen whether that'll last. Still it feels so good hearing my grandma's little Vito clicking away again !
It it still fires tomorrow, I'll run a B &W film through it, and post some pics if any are interesting enough.
 
Make sure that the lighter fluid didn't get on the inner lens surfaces. If that happens, it usually gets between the middle and rear lens elements. Then you'll have to remove the rear element so that you can clean them.
 
Thanks. I tried not to put too much. Doesn't seem to have splashed on the lens, but I'll keep an eye on it.
 
MV72 said:
Thanks guys. I first set about removing the front of the lens but could only take out the dial around the aperture ring. After removing three set screws as you said. But then I couldn't get at brass screws behind, nor could I extract the aperture ring.
I shied away from taking off the whole lens from the body, so took another route and poured lighter fluid on the shutter from the inside, then took the top plate off just in case, oiled the winding lever and ran a dummy film through the camera 3 times.
The good news is it came back to life ! Works at all speeds from B to 300th.
Now it remains to be seen whether that'll last. Still it feels so good hearing my grandma's little Vito clicking away again !
It it still fires tomorrow, I'll run a B &W film through it, and post some pics if any are interesting enough.
Click to expand...
Great!, you may get a little oil 'mist' distill onto the elements now, but remember to take it from the cupboard (or closet! ) occasionally and give it exercise, a scrap film helps, but the shutter can be cocked with the back open, and thumbing the wind drum.
Dave.
 
fidget said:
Are these cameras front cell focussing?
Click to expand...

Dave Wilkinson said:
Yes, look at the focus ring in my picture, there is a gap from the inside to the black lettered ring, turn it to 'close focus' and the gap disappears as the cell moves forward, but look in the camera back and the rear element has remained stationary (as has the diaphragm).
Click to expand...

I have a Vito B with Color-Skopar 3.5 and a Vitomatic II with the 2.8. Both are unit focussing. The front element, diaphragm and rear element move in unison.
 
batterytypehah! said:
I have a Vito B with Color-Skopar 3.5 and a Vitomatic II with the 2.8. Both are unit focussing. The front element, diaphragm and rear element move in unison.
Click to expand...

Yes, on my faulty Vito B (non-op shutter) I can see that the aperture blades move in and out with the outer cell. My CLR must be the same, but has film in it at the moment.
 
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