Leitz Focomat V35: Arresting screw

[jseffel]

I have just bought my first enlarger and as always I can't stop my self from investigating how things are assembled. So... I managed to remove the "Arresting screw for the click-stop of the helical lens mount". My best bet is that the ring is there to make sure the lens doesn't fall off while trying to focus a bit too much. Anyway, inside the arresting screw was a small ball (the typical click-stop ball which is located in aperture rings). I can't seem to get it back and I am not sure what it really is supposed to do. Before I removed the ring I could feel a click but not sure what it did.

Anyone knows? Can I live without it?

 

[Alan9940]

What you describe has to do with calibrating the autofocus system. If you don't care about the autofocus and the ring moves the lens up/down, then you shouldn't be concerned. However, I believe the set screw secures the ring allowing focus. I would try and find a manual and/or contact Leica for support.

 

[John Koehrer]

Had one years ago. As I recall the spring holds the ball against the aperture or focus ring..What's needed is to set the AF, move the
spring & ball so the ball is held into the notch, That's it. The notch & ball are a reference locator that tells you when the AF
is set*, it does put a bit of pressure in the notch when everything's adjusted life is good. Best thing about the enlarger.

It makes the enlarger very easy to use because it changes the focus for you when you change the print size

*Get a copy of the instructions to learn the method.

 

[jseffel]

Thanks. I managed to insert the ball into the wrong hole and now I can't get it out so the is problem "solved"

 

[John Koehrer]

I've solved things like that too.

 

[voceumana]

Try a magnet, if it is steel.

 

[M Stewart]

I bought a V35 some years ago, and soon discovered that it needed some adjustment. It wasn't long before I completely unscrewed the focus sleeve.
Could I get it back again? No way. Until I cooled the inner sleeve in my freezer, when it screwed in without problem.

 

[4r36]

Dear all,

Another Leitz V35 user messing up with the autofocus setup here. I would be very grateful if any of you could help me out. By now I'm just confused and disappointed, as I paid a lot for the enlarger and, above all, I was looking forward to using it and start my darkroom experience!


The enlarger I just bought is in mint condition. The big problem is the focus ring. Following the instruction manual, I tried to set up the autofocus by (I quote):

(1) Set column height to the height of the printing easel or to 0 if you don't use an easel.

(2) Set head's position to its highest position.

(3) Focus with the large helicoidal ring.

(4) If the ring is outside the notch, unscrew the knob (17) on it and turn the ring (15) while maintaining the lens (16) with the other hand until you reach the notch. Screw the knob (17) and check the focus again.

Since I was not sure whether the helicoidal ring was in the notch, I did (4). However, nothing happened, in the sense that, when I unscrewed the knob and turned the ring while maintaining the lens, the ring simply ran around without doing anything, least of all reaching the notch. In fact, after unscrewing the knob, it was only by turning the knurled ring of the lens (16) that the helicoid system moved up and down at all.

In the end, I loosened the ring to the point of unscrewing it completely. By doing so,I found a tiny spring, which was making resistance to the act of turning (it was simply stuck to the wall of the helicoid), and no ball bearing. Attached you can find the pictures. But probably the following two videos that I uploaded on YouTube are more helpful.

In the first video, you can clearly see how the focus ring spins without making any "click":
youtube.com/shorts/yZFIid34suk?feature=share


In the second video, you can see how I found the spring while turning the helicoid ring. I had to use a plier to take it out!
youtube.com/shorts/gkGglpaPCH8?feature=share



Did the previous owner miss the ball bearing and mess up with the spring? Is this the reason why the focus ring runs around and nothing happens? Is there any solution I can find? Thanks guys...



P.S. By the way, I also removed the Focotar lens to check its state. However, after I screwed it in place, there is no way to unscrew it again. Any advice on what to do when this happens?

 

[John Koehrer]

As a SWAG, when the previous owner(or someone)was in there, The spring was deformed when the critter was reassembled without the ball last time.

The spring should go in a hole possibly the third picture and a ball bearing would go on top of it. this fits inside the ring that goes over it to
give the click stop. The spring is a COIL spring and was likely deformed when the ball was lost causing the scratches seen on the inner barrel.

You can measure the loop at the end of the spring to get the diameters and s small wire to measure the depth. the diameter of the loop is
probably the same as the diameter of the ball should be.

I haven't had a V35 for years so can't help that. Sorry that doesn't help with the assembly.

 

[4r36]

As a SWAG, when the previous owner(or someone)was in there, The spring was deformed when the critter was reassembled without the ball last time.

The spring should go in a hole possibly the third picture and a ball bearing would go on top of it. this fits inside the ring that goes over it to
give the click stop. The spring is a COIL spring and was likely deformed when the ball was lost causing the scratches seen on the inner barrel.

You can measure the loop at the end of the spring to get the diameters and s small wire to measure the depth. the diameter of the loop is
probably the same as the diameter of the ball should be.

I haven't had a V35 for years so can't help that. Sorry that doesn't help with the assembly.

Thank you very much for your reply John. I'll try to get a new spring and ball!!! Luckily the measure of both can be find online.