Advice needed Mamiya Press Super 23 part

[John Wiegerink]

I'm in the process of going over my Mamiya Super 23 with a CLA when I noticed I have a broken part that needs replacing. I haven't even used the camera and don't know how or when this happened. It wasn't like this when I received it a while back, so it had to have happened on my watch. Probably when I transported it back and forth from my cottage to home. Oh well, shit happens, I guess.
It's one of the four rods for the back bellows. The rod has a small ball swivel on the end, and it seems the part that goes into the swivel ball is snapped off. The part number is SN 105K2 "Rod, bellows movement assembly" Common parts number is cSN 1221K2. Does anyone know where to possibly find this part? I contacted Bill Rogers, but no luck. Might have to try to find a parts camera? Here are some pictures of the part itself.

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[John Wiegerink]

I couldn't find anyplace to buy the part I need, so I just bought a nice, black Super 23 from Japan for $69.00, shipping included. Can't beat that with a stick, since the part I needed would probably cost near that itself.

 

[Paul Howell]

You can use the body you have as a second body, just remove the rod and push the back in to shoot at infinity, that is if you need to.

 

[John Wiegerink]

You can use the body you have as a second body, just remove the rod and push the back in to shoot at infinity, that is if you need to.

Yes, that's what I'll do. The one I just bought actually looks nicer than the one I have now. Also, you can operate the back just fine with three pivot rods. Of course, four makes it a little "beefer", but three works.

 

[Sharktooth]

You can use the body you have as a second body, just remove the rod and push the back in to shoot at infinity, that is if you need to.

That makes a lot of sense. The back movements are only useful if you have the special ground glass accessory. Even if you have it, it still means you have to switch that out again with the roll film back to take a shot. Not very convenient in any case.

To use the camera without back movements, you could try superglue to join the broken parts together. A more robust solution might be to drill out the end of the rod so you can tap some threads. You could then lock the back to the rod with a screw.

 

[ic-racer]

Sk Grimes can probably machine that but it will likely cost more that your second camera.

 

[John Wiegerink]

That makes a lot of sense. The back movements are only useful if you have the special ground glass accessory. Even if you have it, it still means you have to switch that out again with the roll film back to take a shot. Not very convenient in any case.

To use the camera without back movements, you could try superglue to join the broken parts together. A more robust solution might be to drill out the end of the rod so you can tap some threads. You could then lock the back to the rod with a screw.

I have the ground glass back. I also have a couple of sheet film holders stashed away somewhere, but darned if I can find them now. Superglue works on many things, but I'm afraid it's no fix for this broken part.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Sk Grimes can probably machine that but it will likely cost more that your second camera.

Yes, you're exactly right, the cost would be more than I paid for the body coming from Japan. At least this way, I'll have a 100% functional Super 23. I just finished adjusting/calibrating the rangefinder to the 100mm f3.5. I really wanted the Super 23 over the standard Press or Universal simply for the ground glass and movements. I like being able to get all the DOF I can at times. I'll take the crippled Super 23 out for its maiden voyage tomorrow and see what I think of it.

 

[Paul Howell]

I use my press with the Mamiya sheet film holder, although somewhat dim very workable.

 

[europanorama]

You can use the body you have as a second body, just remove the rod and push the back in to shoot at infinity, that is if you need to.

you meant not closeup not infinity per se.
NB: super 23 seems to have a major problem with this extension. nobody could reply my question til now.
when fully extended. with or without mag attached. when screw are tightend firmly one can move the unit to left or right side and it will move and not standing still. thats called wobbling and shouldnt do since when windy one can imaging how blurry the images will be. so what is the workaround. on must take apart the unit totally. dont try like i did simply opening the screw under leather. nothing for adjusting there. there is an explosion drawing in the parts manual. only an expert who repaired that can tell.Is your extension stiff? like up and downmovement. it will not move.

 

[europanorama]

NB: Aaron Smith at FB and on his website has real very precise universal G-adapter for MUP. it can be further improved-the blades adjusted to take up more of the different graflok 23 magazines. M RB 67/70 doesnt fit on standard G-adapter. now after altering/shaving blades its working. mag is altered to take 61.5mm too. has vacuum. and i have 70mm spool 61.5mm ideas which are working. only need 3dprinting