[rollei_list] Re: CLA tips


----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean-Marc Saffroy" <junk42@xxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 2:09 PM
Subject: [rollei_list] CLA tips


Hello,

I recently acquired my first MF camera, a Rolleicord III it seems. The
shutter seems ok, however the camera shows its age, two things in
particular:
- the focus seems somewhat shifted, ie. when I set the focus in the
finder on a target at infinity, the focusing knob is set between 10 an 20
meters
- the ground glass and mirror need a good cleaning

I would like to clean the ground glass and mirror, and I suppose I could
use the ground glass to check that both lenses focus at the same distance,
so I am trying to remove the ground glass. But I do not succeed in
removing the 4 screws that retain the hood, I think they may have corroded
a bit.

Now to my questions:
- how can I unblock these screws?
- would it be useful to use the ground glass to check the focus?
- if the viewing lens does not focus correctly, can I try a repair
myself?

I guess a camera like this is not worth sending to a camera shop, right?
I'm no crazy collector anyway, all I want is a cheap MF I can use. :)

Thanks in advance for your answers.


Regards,

--
Jean-Marc Saffroy
---
You may be able to get the screws out by using a little penetrating oil like WD-40 on them. Apply it with a toothpick or bit of wire and let it sit for a couple of hours. If the screws are badly corroded it may not be possible to get them out without damaging them.
Once they are out the ground glass can be removed and cleaned in warm water with a little dishwashing detergent in it. Its not delicate. The mirror may be more difficult. If its corroded it must be either replaced or re-silvered. If its just dirty I suggest swabbing it with water with dishwashing detergent in it. Fold up a lens tissue, wet it with the cleaning solution, and drag it over the surface of the mirror. First surface silvered mirrors usually have a coating of lacquer on them to protect the silvering. The lacquer may be damaged or removed by Alcohol or other normally fairly benign cleaners.
The footage scale being off means that the focus knob has been removed at some time and not correctly re-installed. The infinity stop for the focus system is actutally the knob itself. The knob is held in place on the focus shaft by a conical chuck. This chuck is loosened or tightened by a nut with a split slot seen when the cover of the knob is removed. I've found that very small needle nosed pliers will fit the holes in the knob cover. Once off the slotted nut will be obvious. The best tool is a screwdriver with a notch cut in the center of the blade with a file.
The knob is used to adjust the focus of the taking lens to infinity, the nut is then loosened, teh knob moved to the infinity position and the nut retightened. A fine ground glass can be cut to fit the film gate for focusing. It should sit on the rails and rollers.
The viewing lens is fixed in place with a set screw. to get to it and make the adjustment one must remove the front panel of the camera. Its possible that the two lenses are still in co-incidence despite the focus knob being off.
If the taking lens is in good condition the camera is certainly worth having serviced. The lens is excellent and the camera a good one. While it does not have a couple of refinements found on the next model they are not important to practical picture taking. The Rolleicord is an excellent simple camera, relatively light, and with very good ergonomics.
Depending on where you live the list members can suggest good Rollei techs. Repair is not cheap because it is skilled hand work, but a properly serviced camera will not need attention again for years.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

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