How to remove a Pentax lens front trim ring

gone · Jun 14, 2022

I'm interested in a Pentax SMC 85 2 lens, but it need the elements taken out to be cleaned. The front trim ring on my SMC 50 2 has the same sort of ring, so I thought it might be good to practice with. Unfortunately, the sink stopper I use for removing these isn't a good fit and it won't budge. Other than drilling 2 small holes on opposite sides of the trim ring and fitting a tool into them, are there any other tricks to getting one of these loose?

I tried a tiny bit of light oil on the edges hoping it might sink in there, but it made no difference, it's stuck pretty well onto the lens.

Mamiya_Repair · Jun 14, 2022

These rings on the Pentax lenses are often quite tight. If your stopper is not getting it off, it is not "sticky" enough to allow the turning force to remove the ring. In this case, I would use a metal ring that fits into the name ring and use double stick tape on the edges.

4season · Jun 14, 2022

Is the outer light baffle a separate piece which needs to be removed before the “beauty ring”? It’s slotted to accept a spanner.

Mamiya_Repair · Jun 14, 2022

The name ring is the first part to remove.

gone · Jun 14, 2022

Thanks for the tip, I have some super sticky tape and will give that a try.

I saw the 2 little nibs to put a tool into just as you did 4season, but the trim ring is actually on top of that part of the lens element.

flavio81 · Jun 14, 2022

Try pouring, at the edge, drops of, in order:

1. naptha

then try removing

2. . acetone (wait until it makes effect)

try

3. a minute amount of oil

try

If nothing works you'll have to drill holes for a spanner...

flavio81 · Jun 14, 2022

momus said:
I saw the 2 little nibs to put a tool into just as you did 4season, but the trim ring is actually on top of that part of the lens element.

Exactly. Don't unscrew that retainer, it might make things worse.

BobD · Jun 15, 2022

A few drops of alcohol around the edge usually works for me.

Note that not all lens name rings unscrew though I'm pretty sure the ring on your lens does.

gone · Jun 15, 2022

It appears to unscrew. Eventually.

I sure wish I knew why they did things like this, there's no reason, it would have been just as easy to do this a number of ways. On some lenses, every time you screw a hood or filter onto these type of lenses, you smoosh the trim ring harder and harder against the lens,

gone · Jun 15, 2022

Success.

Nothing seemed to work, so I thought to myself "What did I do in auto dealerships when something wouldn't budge?" So I took a small screwdriver, filed it to give it a chisel edge, and placed into the "I" on the trim ring. One tiny tap w/ a hammer and it spun around like it was on ball bearings.

Tel · Jun 15, 2022

Nice work!

How to remove a Pentax lens front trim ring

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