?? Approximate cost to re-lube helicoid in 55mm Micro-Nikkor ??

Old-N-Feeble · May 17, 2018

I recently purchased a 55/2.8 Micro-Nikkor in truly excellent condition, other than the helicoid grease is thickened. The lens will focus but just barely. It needs the old grease removed and replaced. If I still had my dexterity and fully functional brain, I could easily do it myself in less than an hour. However, I no longer trust myself not to ruin this nice lens.

The local repair shop quoted $158 plus tax to do the job. That seems awfully high to me.

Any recommendations?

paul ron · May 17, 2018

most repair shops will charge you the going CLA price.

maybe you can find somone in here that may be willing to do it at a much more reasonable price?

also try putting the lens in the sun for a few hours to heat it a bit. that may losen her up.

Steve Goldstein · May 17, 2018

Zack’s Camera Repair (a Photrio advertiser in Providence, RI) has done a couple of lenses for me for considerably less than $158. My lenses were pretty simple, I don’t know how complex your Micro-Nikkor is. Give Michael a call and ask him.

Old-N-Feeble · May 17, 2018

Steve Goldstein said:
Zack’s Camera Repair (a Photrio advertiser in Providence, RI) has done a couple of lenses for me for considerably less than $158. My lenses were pretty simple, I don’t know how complex your Micro-Nikkor is. Give Michael a call and ask him.

The 55mm Micro-Nikkor has a double helicoid, each working in opposite directions. I worked on one when I was much younger. As long as one is careful to mark the start points for reassembly, it's a relatively easy job. It probably took me two hours when I did it but a competent repair person could easily do it in less than an hour. I find it difficult to believe they want to charge $150-200 per hour. I'll toss it in the trash before paying that kind of ransom.

I'll contact Zack's.

Trask · May 17, 2018

Do post your results, Old-N-Feeble, as I too have this same lens with this same problem — I’d like to get it working again.

Old-N-Feeble · May 17, 2018

Will do, Trask. This is one of the finest lenses ever made so it would be a shame to trash it.

StanMac · May 17, 2018

I’ll second the recommendation for Zacks Camera Repair - they’ve CLA’d a couple of lenses for me that were very well done.

Stan

Old-N-Feeble · May 17, 2018

I sent an email to Zack's earlier today.

NedL · May 17, 2018

Trask said:
Do post your results, Old-N-Feeble, as I too have this same lens with this same problem — I’d like to get it working again.

+1 me too. And I really like to use it not just for macro.

Trask · May 18, 2018

NedL said:
+1 me too. And I really like to use it not just for macro.

Hey, that makes three of us — maybe we can get a group discount from Zack!

Old-N-Feeble · May 18, 2018

Zack's replied with a quote of US$85 plus return shipping. Michael said they do charge for packing materials but no handling fee. I replied back, stating the box and packing in which I ship the lens to him will be more than adequate. I'm awaiting his latest answer. This looks promising.

RalphLambrecht · May 18, 2018

Old-N-Feeble said:
I recently purchased a 55/2.8 Micro-Nikkor in truly excellent condition, other than the helicoid grease is thickened. The lens will focus but just barely. It needs the old grease removed and replaced. If I still had my dexterity and fully functional brain, I could easily do it myself in less than an hour. However, I no longer trust myself not to ruin this nice lens.

The local repair shop quoted $158 plus tax to do the job. That seems awfully high to me.

Any recommendations?

but worth it.

NedL · May 18, 2018

Old-N-Feeble said:
Zack's replied with a quote of US$85 plus return shipping. Michael said they do charge for packing materials but no handling fee. I replied back, stating the box and packing in which I ship the lens to him will be more than adequate. I'm awaiting his latest answer. This looks promising.

I'll definitely send mine in if he will fix my "sticky aperture" for $85.
I was even thinking of buying a new one ( they are still made ), but this one has sentimental value because it belonged to my dad.

Old-N-Feeble · May 18, 2018

Ned, Michael specifically asked about the aperture and mine is fine. I suggest you contact Zack's to ask for a repair quote.

NedL · May 18, 2018

Oops. I see I didn't read carefully enough. Yours is the helicoid grease getting stiff. Yes, on mine the aperture blades are sluggish... I will contact Zack's!
Cheers!

RalphLambrecht · May 19, 2018

NedL said:
I'll definitely send mine in if he will fix my "sticky aperture" for $85.
I was even thinking of buying a new one ( they are still made ), but this one has sentimental value because it belonged to my dad.

sentimental value aside, these are superb optics.

Old-N-Feeble · May 19, 2018

Yes, and thanks to Dan Fromm, we know they make excellent macro lenses for 6x9cm and 4x5" at higher magnification ratios.

NedL · May 22, 2018

It's about the same cost for fixing sluggish aperture blades, and I'm packing up my lens this weekend.
Thanks OnF for posting this thread and thanks to Steve Goldstein for mentioning Zack's.
I'm looking forward to using it again!

Old-N-Feeble · May 22, 2018

I'm shipping mine this weekend too. Thanks to both Steve and Stan.

mshchem · May 23, 2018

Old-N-Feeble said:
I'm shipping mine this weekend too. Thanks to both Steve and Stan.

I've got one same thing 55 2.8 and, a 50 1.2 getting pretty stiff . I need to get these cleaned up .I don't use much, but they are so well made seems nuts not to maintain.

NedL · Sep 7, 2018

I finally sent mine in and it came back today. Aperture blades seem snappy and everything feels good as new.
It might be my imagination but I think the focus feels smoother than I remember too.
I wish I'd done this as soon as I noticed they were sticking a few years back. Zack's was a pleasure to deal with and the repair cost was very reasonable.

StanMac · Sep 7, 2018

Michael is the man! And Zacks Camera Service is da Bomb!

Stan

RalphLambrecht · Sep 7, 2018

Old-N-Feeble said:
The 55mm Micro-Nikkor has a double helicoid, each working in opposite directions. I worked on one when I was much younger. As long as one is careful to mark the start points for reassembly, it's a relatively easy job. It probably took me two hours when I did it but a competent repair person could easily do it in less than an hour. I find it difficult to believe they want to charge $150-200 per hour. I'll toss it in the trash before paying that kind of ransom.

I'll contact Zack's.

I bought a used one in good condition for considerably less.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 8, 2018

This one was advertised as near mint with no problems. It's optically perfect, the aperture works as it should and it's nearly pristine cosmetically. Since I got a pretty good deal on it, I'm happy enough. I was a bit surprised by the $20 return shipping fee from Zack's but it's still a very competitive repair price.

?? Approximate cost to re-lube helicoid in 55mm Micro-Nikkor ??

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