Which Leica is the best for DIY CLA, if any?

[Ko.Fe.]

My FED-2 is still somewhat working after my repairs 😀 and I made two Zorky working just fine after restoring them from gunked grease and cracked curtains. I sold them on eBay and received positive feedback. 🙂

So, I asked Bodo once (ex-Leica technician) why he is not servicing FSU Leica like cameras, but mostly Leica LTM ones? He told me what with FSU it is too much fluctuation of the gear quality and standards. Too much improvisation and brain storming needed too often. And it is better to have plenty of boxes with spare parts. I agreed with Bodo.
Well, he and other local great Leica technicians are not with us by now... Here is only one local left and it doesn't feel secure. No new technicians on local horizon, either. And I'm not so keen on sending my two M to USA or else. Once in a while if I have money, but if camera is in the bag every day it will needs CLA not just once in a while.

I've been thinking about Contax IIa, which is serviceable by DIY, I have seen great examples and cameras after it were very smooth. But Contax is not my style to operate and still too much parts in it for me.

I think, LTM Leica series are easier for DIY CLA than M series. But which LTM? I guess, those without RF/VF are the easiest ones?

I would like to ask for suggestion, comments and opinions on my thoughts.

Thank you, Ko.

 

[Vickko]

I'd got top-of-the line, IIIf and IIIg. And frankly, all the M's below M5 are pretty easy to CLA. In my opinion, easier (or at least just as easy) than the LTM's.

Pre-IIIf, you run into things like stamped metal bodies, and threaded holes in those sheet metal parts, way too easy to strip. By the IIIf, you get castings.

And the beauty of it, for all the M's (M1, through M4) they are pretty much the same. The M5 has some tricky items like the meter.

The IIIf and IIIg are pretty similar; once you do one, you can do the other.

And by that time, they knew how to build in the adjustability and "easier to assemble" features.

Good luck.

Vick

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thank you, Vick. I re-opened M2 repair manual pdf file and it is still way too complicated for me.
M seems to be very specific on lubricants and probably alternatives are hard to find.

IIf looks to be easier for cleaning, re-lubrication and most likely will works with same easy to obtain lubricants I'm using for FED-2. I don't need slow speeds for everyday in the bag camera. And I'm not using RF for this kind of task, either. So, even If will do. In IIIf service manual If looks just like my thing 🙂

 

[Rob-F]

Thank you, Vick. I re-opened M2 repair manual pdf file and it is still way too complicated for me.
M seems to be very specific on lubricants and probably alternatives are hard to find.

Nahh. A little 3-in-1 ought to work fine (kidding) 🙄

I have thought of picking up a junk Leica and learning to take it apart and put it back together. But so far I haven't. Maybe this winter?