Zorki S CLA - strange RF lens

[fub]

Hello there,

i am about to be done with todays CLA on a Zorki S. When giving the rangefinder a closer look i noticed that the lens that usually does the horizontal alignment is just like the others. When that lens is in place the vertical alignment is off, when i take the lens out the RF alignes perfectly.
What is going on there? The Zorki S did not came with that lens there original, did it?
Attached are some pics of the mess.

By the way: This Zorki did not have any shims under the lens mount. I did not find my caliper and a new one is still on delivery, but i should really assume, that there were some shims in there before somebody removed them, shouldn't i?








edit: when i slightly unscre the lens i can get the two images to align. is that normal for the Zorki S? should that lens not be tightly screwed in? should i apply some loctite or something like that?

 

[Duofold RF]

The vertical adjustment should be inside the lens with two slots or holes, turn left or right to align the vertical patch

 

[Coldkennels]

Yeah, you've removed the entire lens. You only need to remove the outer "shroud", like so:



That outer cover can be quite firmly fitted, so if the actual lens itself hasn't been screwed down tightly (that's the brass outer ring out of the two slotted rings visible around the lens), I can see how it'd take the lens out with it. Separating the two parts will allow you to rotate the vertical adjustment with the black inner-most ring once the lens is reinstalled.

 

[Duofold RF]

Just push the inside lens out, put the lens first, then adjust the vertical alignment, you may need to clean the inside of the outer ring then refit it, check the vertical again if off, remove the ring adjust again

 

[WoodallP]

As stated this “lens” is the vertical adjustment. It is normally a two-part arrangement, the chrome bezel should separate leaving the brass window holder. This can be screwed back in tight to the camera and the window itself can be rotated to get allignment by turning the two slots. Once done the bezel is simply screwed onto the outer thread of the window to make it look pretty and stop it being knocked out of alignment.

Sometimes people may apply glue to hold the alignment in place so don’t force anything.

Your first challenge will be removing the bezel. If you have the right tools it is not so hard but it may be held on with glue or old grease.

 

[fub]

thanks for the input guys!

the chrome ring was somewhat frozen to the inner part. i actually tipped out a post explaining the problem in more details and took some pictures of that 'lens', but it is not needed anymore: the ring suddenly came off pretty easily. 😅

i have set the rf alignment on zorkis before, but the ring never was so tight on there. for a moment i actually thought somebody had put a different lens on there.
all is well now