Deitz Premium 28-80mm lubrication

[Xylo]

OK!
Yesterday was a rainy day, so I mustered-up the courage to attempt a repair.
Long story short, it didn't go very well.
While the lens is identical to the Soligor (except that the mount has 4 screws), I ran into so many issues that I might as well never have attempted the fix.

The screws that hold the mount are properly seized. I tried warming them up with a soldering iron but it didn't work.
I tried taking it apart from the front instead. But there are some parts that need to come-out from the back...
One of the screws in the aluminum rind that holds the barrel is also seized.

I tried to re-grease it the best I can. but it wasn't great.
I did figure out that removing the front bezel with a friction tool isn't really necessary.
I stripped all 3 grub screws that hold the front element.

I also elongated the access holes slightly using a round file to make re-installing the vertical bearings a bit easier. Also, "gluing" the bearing to the screw with some grease really helps you keep your sanity.

All in all... spent 3 hours trying to fix a 5$ lens...

 

[Andreas Thaler]

OK!
Yesterday was a rainy day, so I mustered-up the courage to attempt a repair.
Long story short, it didn't go very well.
While the lens is identical to the Soligor (except that the mount has 4 screws), I ran into so many issues that I might as well never have attempted the fix.

The screws that hold the mount are properly seized. I tried warming them up with a soldering iron but it didn't work.
I tried taking it apart from the front instead. But there are some parts that need to come-out from the back...
One of the screws in the aluminum rind that holds the barrel is also seized.

I tried to re-grease it the best I can. but it wasn't great.
I did figure out that removing the front bezel with a friction tool isn't really necessary.
I stripped all 3 grub screws that hold the front element.

I also elongated the access holes slightly using a round file to make re-installing the vertical bearings a bit easier. Also, "gluing" the bearing to the screw with some grease really helps you keep your sanity.

All in all... spent 3 hours trying to fix a 5$ lens...

It gets confusing when it comes to dismantling the zoom mechanism. And since every zoom is built differently, it becomes a game of chance.

What is connected how, where is what adjusted, what goes on under the tube, how can I loosen a stuck screw, what do I do with broken plain bearings for which I have no replacement and why do I always have oil and old grease on my gloves...

Even if you document every step precisely with your digital camera, it's still an adventure ...

 

[Xylo]

Even if you document every step precisely with your digital camera, it's still an adventure ...

An adventure it definitely is!
It always feels like you're heading into the unknown with a definite chance it won't work at all...
It's funny because the most frustrating part was putting back those tiny nylon bearings through the access ports.
I can't imagine how they managed to get production rolling with such a finicky step right at the end.