W-Nikkor 3.5cm F3.5 disassembly guide?

[cnphoto]

I’m in possession of a W-Nikkor 3.5cm that’s been in a drawer for quiet a while - has focusing issues.

With moving recently I found an LTM to M adapter I forgot I had, so figure it might be a good time to try and fix this little guy up.

It looks like a previous owner has removed the optical module from the helical & it’s been put back wrong. A collector friend handed it to me a while ago with a shrug and a “if you want to see if you can fix it”. So, it seems relatively simple to do but the cursory go I had at it when I acquired it wasn’t successful.

Any help / advice? Not keen to get it repaired properly, if I can’t do it it’ll just go back in the drawer but seeing as summer is coming it might be a fun little lens to carry around on my M4 ☺️

 

[charjohncarter]

I have a Canon 35mm f3.5 Serenar which I have to clean all the time. I borrowed a spanner tool to loosen the back two rings and the front ring and removed and clean them. It is easy 10 minutes. I snug the rings back on with a toothpick so the come off easily the next time.

Your Nikkor is probably very similar; give it a try.

 

[cnphoto]

I have a Canon 35mm f3.5 Serenar which I have to clean all the time. I borrowed a spanner tool to loosen the back two rings and the front ring and removed and clean them. It is easy 10 minutes. I snug the rings back on with a toothpick so the come off easily the next time.

Your Nikkor is probably very similar; give it a try.

The lens module is fine, it’s just the focusing helical / seating the lens module in the helical correctly so focus is correct.

I have already cleaned the actual lens units & aperture blades are fine.

As it’s a screw mount lens and the focusing helical on the lens module is quiet long throw i’m Just unsure of the correct procedure to put it back together and ensure focusing is ok. Am acquiring some S10 / NS4 grease shortly to clean and relive the helical.

 

[cnphoto]

for those interested, after spending way too much time pulling down and rebuilding the lens and much frustration - it turns out that the helical mount and the optical unit are from different lenses �� the answer was staring me in the face, but i was too busy working on assembling & disassembling to notice.

the bayonet / focusing mount has a stamped serial number on the rear, 8 digits starting with 50XXXXXX so it looks like this is from a different lens, as Nikon LTM lenses didn’t have serial numbers stamped on the rear of the screw thread / bayonet / focus housing but on the from of the optical module (as this lenses optical module does, 42XXXX

i also noticed that when mounted in a good LTM to M adapter that I have used for other LTM lenses, the focusing helical cutout does not line up with the RF focusing arm of the camera.

 

[jonmanjiro]

for those interested, after spending way too much time pulling down and rebuilding the lens and much frustration - it turns out that the helical mount and the optical unit are from different lenses �� the answer was staring me in the face, but i was too busy working on assembling & disassembling to notice.

the bayonet / focusing mount has a stamped serial number on the rear, 8 digits starting with 50XXXXXX so it looks like this is from a different lens, as Nikon LTM lenses didn’t have serial numbers stamped on the rear of the screw thread / bayonet / focus housing but on the from of the optical module (as this lenses optical module does, 42XXXX

i also noticed that when mounted in a good LTM to M adapter that I have used for other LTM lenses, the focusing helical cutout does not line up with the RF focusing arm of the camera.

Early Nikon lenses did have serial numbers stamped on the rear of the lens, athough 5005xxxx is a number I'd expect to see on a 50/1.4, not a 35mm Nikkor. Is there a MIOJ engraving as well?

Its such a simple lens that, if shimmed correctly, the newer optical cell should work just fine in the earlier focus helicoid (if it is a 35mm helicoid).

The focus helical cutout not lining up with the RF focus cam isn't a big deal either since the lens can only focus to 1 metre anyway.

Does the RF image line up at infinity when the lens is set to infinity on the camera?

 

[cnphoto]

Early Nikon lenses did have serial numbers stamped on the rear of the lens, athough 5005xxxx is a number I'd expect to see on a 50/1.4, not a 35mm Nikkor. Is there a MIOJ engraving as well?

Its such a simple lens that, if shimmed correctly, the newer optical cell should work just fine in the earlier focus helicoid (if it is a 35mm helicoid).

The focus helical cutout not lining up with the RF focus cam isn't a big deal either since the lens can only focus to 1 metre anyway.

Does the RF image line up at infinity when the lens is set to infinity on the camera?

it’s not MIOJ, i’ve put it away now and likely won’t invest any more time in it. i’ll just pass it back in on my friend when i see him next.

 

[richardHaw]

i wanted to say that i wrote an overhaul article for this lens then I realised that you have an LTM version 😱😱😱

If you need to make new shims, I make mine by using fine wire. I hammer it to be flatter and that's it. I would sand it down to the desired height if I need to. I use stainless steel wire.

I love this lens a lot. nothing special about it, really. the one thing I like about it is how sharp it is and the size is also very compact. I am sure that you will love yours, too.

I rarely shoot with it now after acquiring a 2.5 and the even faster 1.8 😎
maybe I should shoot with mine again.