Yamato Pax 35 RF camera

[MAXIMUS966]

Hello!

First time poster here.

My father-in-law gifted me a week ago a Yamato Pax 35 RF camera he had used to take pics back during the Korean War.



Did some tweaking/tinkering with the unit, and found out the following:

1. Lens focusing ring gets stuck after a while after cleaning with lighter fluid. Assum old grease/gunk.
2. F/stops open and close fine; maybe requires some cleaning, as I am assuming that any grease it may have is old as hell.
3. Lens Shutter - did not work. Got it to operate after major cleaning with lighter fluid. Again, I know this is a temporary solution, but hey, at least I know it works after opening up front element and cleaning.
4. RF feature - I can adjust the lens, but I don't see any changes with the image in the rangefinder.
5. I know for a fact that there is a snapped wire/spring in the lens that I am pretty sure that it assists in some way the shutter operation.

I have pics and videos of the camera operating after I loosened up some of the old grease gunk/crud in: Log into Facebook Just do a search in there with my name (Jorge Hedges), and you'll see the open lens pics and all other pics/videos.




Anyone have or know where to get a service/parts manual for these PAX 35 cameras? Would love to get it 110% operational and have my father-in-law take pics with it.

Hell, know of anyone who can indicate if it is worth fixing up for purely sentimental reasons?

Thank you for your time!

Jorge

 

[bcostin]

Cool! The little Pax 35 doesn't come up very often. I inherited the same camera from my father and it had the exact same issues with hardened old grease. I think it's even worse than the gunk the Russians used.

The rangefinder on my is also frozen. I was able to loosen it up with some lighter fluid just long enough to finish a couple rolls. I don't like fussing with rangefinder mechanisms, but I know I need to disassemble it for a real cleaning before I use it next time

I don't have any advice about that broken spring. I suspect you'll get an answer here from someone who recognizes the mechanism.

It's a cute little camera and I was surprised by how fun it was to use. I'd try to fix it if you can.

 

[MAXIMUS966]

Cool! The little Pax 35 doesn't come up very often. I inherited the same camera from my father and it had the exact same issues with hardened old grease. I think it's even worse than the gunk the Russians used.

The rangefinder on my is also frozen. I was able to loosen it up with some lighter fluid just long enough to finish a couple rolls. I don't like fussing with rangefinder mechanisms, but I know I need to disassemble it for a real cleaning before I use it next time

I don't have any advice about that broken spring. I suspect you'll get an answer here from someone who recognizes the mechanism.

It's a cute little camera and I was surprised by how fun it was to use. I'd try to fix it if you can.

Any idea if a service/parts manual is available, or any exploded views? I am pretty good with auto engines/mechanical stuff, but this is a new world for me, and I am worried about the parts... would love to see my father in law's face if I got it to work.

Pretty sure it is ALL gunk/petrified grease...

 

[raydm6]

Welcome to RFF.

Great post! I was not aware of this camera.

I do not know where you might get this CLA’d - (maybe ask Youxin Ye for advice or if he might attempt a repair).

HOME | YYeCAMERA

www.yyecamera.com

Good luck getting it operational.

 

[MAXIMUS966]

Started to work on it. Shutter is working beautiful at the moment, but the focusing ring… jeeeeeezzzzzz!!!! Gunk/crud all the way. Will have to disassemble.

Also, opened the 2 front and 1 rear “windows” for the rangefinder. A little brush with a bit of alcohol, and a bit of lens cleaner. EVERYTHING so bright now in there, and the actual alignment images work!!!

Stoked, to say the least. The lens focusing ring is the one that worries me the most. Will definitely remove the complete lens assembly to see if the ring can be dismounted, cleaned and lubed for install.

Will advise when a roll is finally ready for shooting!!! 🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏

 

[MAXIMUS966]

Quick update... have the rangefinder function finally operational, shutter working, cleaned body inside and outside... but (there's always one, right?)...

I dismounted the les from the body, and started to clean the elements... no problem here. My issue is the helicoid... I removed all of the gunk/crud/dried grease as best as I could without dismantling the unit, as I know that there's a catch related to alignment when disassembling/assembly.

I am here at the moment... almost a clean helicoid up to where I could reach.. I know I have to get some additional work done, but not sure on much further to proceed. I would greatly appreciate some feedback / tips/ hints or links.

Pics below... all of the black specs are "grease crumbles"... no idea when this might have been serviced. Softened it up with lighter fluid.

Also, need to adjust the Bulb setting... even when fully depressed, it opens and closes as a regular pic shutter release. Any idea on what to set?

Thank you tons!