Z4: Tongue at top of mount

[mike goldberg]

Hi All,

An engraved Zorki 4 came my way recently... very clean, smooth and quiet. Here's the problem: When affixing a lens, the little tongue at the top of the mount does NOT engage the RF yellow patch for focusing. At the top of the flange, one can feel the spring is very weak, and offers little resistance.

I like this Z4 a lot and am considering sending it to Youxin Ye for CLA.
See Thumbnails and feedback welcome.

Cheers...

 

[ZorkiKat]

Mike

Have you tried checking the rf adjustment screw found behind the BIG screw next to the viewfinder window? If this screw is turned too far out, the spring powering the rf coupling arm may not work. Hopefully, that spring is still there.

A substitute spring may probably be made from the springs found in some ball point pens.

Jay

 

[mike goldberg]

Thanks Jay,

I've been in touch with Youxin Ye, and he appreciated your comment. Y.Y. says the Z4 is based on the Leica III design, and he has parts. I like the camera, and tho' handy with tools, I don't open cameras ;-) So, it's going to have a CLA.

Cheers,

 

[wolves3012]

Could be as Jay says, or it just might be gummed up. I have a spring if you're stuck for one.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Thanks Jay,

I've been in touch with Youxin Ye, and he appreciated your comment. Y.Y. says the Z4 is based on the Leica III design, and he has parts. I like the camera, and tho' handy with tools, I don't open cameras ;-) So, it's going to have a CLA.

Cheers,

Mike

Youxin Ye may have an easy time working on the Zorki-4 RF. Its RF is big, roomy, and easily accessible. Once the top plate cover goes off, everything is exposed. Much easier than on a Leica III RF where the RF is enclosed in a brass tunnel.

The parts are so large that even the spring in question can be easily seen. Compared to those found in the original Leica, the parts involved are about twice as large. This is how I've come to think that those springs from ballpoints may just fit into a Zorki 4 RF.

And the Zorki-4 RF seems to have more in common with Canon IV or III RFs than the Leica III.

Jay