Jupiter 12 lens with balsam separation?

[Fin]

So, I very recently took delivery of a 1969 Kiev 4 (iii), fully working and allegedly serviced with a Jupiter 8. An initial roll of FP4 confirms that it's all working very well, including the lightmeter, which is really good as it cost £30 (GBP) plus another £15 for shipping from the Ukraine. Happy with that!

I also bought a 71 Jupiter 12 from a UK seller who mistakenly bought the wrong mount lens for his/her camera. This came with the original case and rear lens cover, the rear lens is pretty much faultless and the helicoid seems good. Annoyingly though, it has what looks like balsam separation marks visible from the front of the lens.

Questions:

Has anyone ever repaired one of these lenses?
Are both doublets actually bonded with balsam or something else like epoxy?
What would be the best way of heating the offending doublet to re-flow the balsam/glue/whatever is in there and separating?

This Jupiter 12 only cost me £20, so I have little to loose if it all goes the way of the pear. Any suggestions would be great!

TIA!

 

[sissysphoto]

In 1969 it is possible that instead of balsam, some modern synthetic was used. But I personally have been happy to just use balsam. Soak the doublet in a little capped jar of methylene chloride for a week or 2 until they separate. Then wash the lenses at the kitchen sink with dishwashing liquid, using your fingertips as your scrubbing medium. Use warm-hot water to rinse, and then swab with paper towel. When they've dried, use a high magnifier like a 50mm lens turned around backwards and a fine brush to get rid of lint and specks. Put a dab of balsam on one surface and put the 2 lenses together. The balsam should spread out to the edges. Lay the cemented pair down on a piece of paper or paper towel and block it from 3 directions to center them with each other. If some balsam gets out on the front surfaces, don't worry as the methylene chloride will get it off later. You have read that other solvents such as acetone, xylol, etc can be used. But I have found them ineffective whereas methylene chloride WILL do the job. So just cut out the experimenting and use the methylene chloride. Be sure to seal the jar good because that stuff evaporates like crazy.
It's not all that big of a job. If I have done it successfully on Hasselblad lenses, then you can do this

Edit: after the lenses have separated, you will probably have to clean the surfaces with methylene chloride and toilet paper, cotton swabs, cotton pad, etc..

 

[btaylor]

Before you get too involved with a repair, if it isn’t really terrible try using it first. I have a number of old lenses with some balsam separation around the edges that work just fine.

 

[howardlalala]

So, I very recently took delivery of a 1969 Kiev 4 (iii), fully working and allegedly serviced with a Jupiter 8. An initial roll of FP4 confirms that it's all working very well, including the lightmeter, which is really good as it cost £30 (GBP) plus another £15 for shipping from the Ukraine. Happy with that!

I also bought a 71 Jupiter 12 from a UK seller who mistakenly bought the wrong mount lens for his/her camera. This came with the original case and rear lens cover, the rear lens is pretty much faultless and the helicoid seems good. Annoyingly though, it has what looks like balsam separation marks visible from the front of the lens.

Questions:

Has anyone ever repaired one of these lenses?
Are both doublets actually bonded with balsam or something else like epoxy?
What would be the best way of heating the offending doublet to re-flow the balsam/glue/whatever is in there and separating?

This Jupiter 12 only cost me £20, so I have little to loose if it all goes the way of the pear. Any suggestions would be great!

TIA!

Hi, recently I got the same lens with the same front element separation problem. I'm wondering if you'd fix this issue.
Any feedbacks? Thanks!

 

[BAC1967]

Hi, recently I got the same lens with the same front element separation problem. I'm wondering if you'd fix this issue.
Any feedbacks? Thanks!

If you want some lenses for your Kiev. Lenses - Jupiter 11 & 12

 

[250swb]

If it was only £20 I'd suck it up to experience, but on the other hand I've never seen a Jupiter 12 with separation, other problems yes, but not separation.