Loose metal foot on Rolleiflex 2.8F how to fix?

Emanuel Schi · Tuesday at 4:40 PM

Hi everyone,
I have two Rolleiflex TLRs, and on both of them, one of the small metal feet on the bottom is a bit loose. It doesn't fall out, but when I try to turn it, the inner part (the screw or nut) rotates as well – I assume it's no longer properly fixed from the inside.

I'm concerned this might cause light leaks in the future, or get worse over time. Has anyone here dealt with this issue before or knows how to fix it properly?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated – thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Emanuel

JensH · Tuesday at 4:52 PM

Hi!
Good question. I suspect you would need some kind of hand riveter (Nietzange) to secure them without glue.
My most used Rolleiflex only has three of those left... :-S

Best
Jens

Emanuel Schi · Tuesday at 4:58 PM

Thanks for the reply Jens!
Hmm that could be.
Does this cause any light leaks?

F4U · Tuesday at 4:58 PM

A picture of the backside of that foot as seen from the inside of the door bottom would have been helpful. And also, doe the foot sit on top of the leather, or is there a cutout in the leather around it?

Emanuel Schi · Tuesday at 5:05 PM

It sits on top of the leather.
Here is a picture of the inside

JensH · Tuesday at 5:30 PM

Emanuel Schi said:
Thanks for the reply Jens!
Hmm that could be.
Does this cause any light leaks?

No, the last film some weeks ago was fine. I should fix it anyway, a rotten donor camera is at hands. Then I will have the same problem to solve like you...

Kino · Tuesday at 5:45 PM

Good epoxy, a small dab that stays on the metal surfaces will work... for a while.

No real solution other than to drill from the backside and put in a screw or rivet.

F4U · Tuesday at 5:50 PM

OK, confirms my suspiion. The only feasible home remedy would be to carefully mask the leather around the foot, and make sure the masking tape you use is firmly pressed down so as to not allow bleeding of the glue you are going to use, and use CA glue "super glue", getting it down inside the foot as best as you can and press the foot in place to dry. A well done. careful job should be permanent.Lest its a matter of time before the foot finally comes off and gets lost. Super glue gel might be the best thing

Emanuel Schi · Tuesday at 6:03 PM

I see – was hoping for a more elegant solution, but glue it is. Thanks a lot for the advice!

BrianShaw · Tuesday at 6:12 PM

According to the Rolleiflex repair manual that is a formed rivet. So it seems that epoxy or cyanoacrylate might be a good option if hte rivet cannot be tightened. Check that the hole in which that part fits is not bent at a cocked angle.

Kino · Tuesday at 6:13 PM

I have a 2.8A that had the foot knocked-off. Dan Daniels glued it back on when he rebuilt the camera for me, but I knocked it back off when putting new leather upon the camera body.

Epoxied it back on and now I am sure to keep it in the leather half-case when shooting in case the foot decides to liberate itself again.

Dan did great job salvaging this borderline ratty 2.8A, (not a camera everybody wants) on a budget.

F4U · Tuesday at 6:28 PM

Since i never saw a picture from the inside of the camera back of athe rivet on a good foot, I can't know if the rivet in the sheet metal of the back itself is secure and rigid, and the rivit is coming loose from the foot. Or if the rivet is secure and rigid on the foot, but is wallowed out and loose in the sheet metal. If it's loose in the sheet metal, then JB weld applied down around the rivet it from the back side would be a secure repair. But you better do something soon or you are going to end up with a 3 footed camera, with the other foot lost forever.

Mamiya_Repair · Tuesday at 7:17 PM

It is not uncommon for the feet to come loose on the Rolleiflex. Your foot needs re-staking or replacing. Either way is not difficult if you have the proper tool. If you don't have a camera repair shop nearby that is equipped for this, watchmakers use staking sets and they could do this job easily.

250swb · Wednesday at 3:04 AM

The foot needs to be rested (not gripped or squeezed) between the jaws of a vice and a suitable drift (scribe, punch, nail, etc.) used to spread and flatten the rivet head via a whack with a hammer.

Emanuel Schi · Wednesday at 6:09 AM

250swb said:
The foot needs to be rested (not gripped or squeezed) between the jaws of a vice and a suitable drift (scribe, punch, nail, etc.) used to spread and flatten the rivet head via a whack with a hammer.

uff, I think I will stick to glue for now, I do not want to bend my door...

250swb · Wednesday at 6:17 AM

Emanuel Schi said:
uff, I think I will stick to glue for now, I do not want to bend my door...

The idea is you hit the rivet not the door.

Dan Daniel · Wednesday at 10:25 AM

Whatever you do, short of a true reset of the rivet, put a small tab of black electric tape over the interior spot. As a safety in case it comes loose without being noticed. There is lots of room in this film chamber so it won't interfere with a spool.

Emanuel Schi · Wednesday at 6:45 PM

Dan Daniel said:
Whatever you do, short of a true reset of the rivet, put a small tab of black electric tape over the interior spot. As a safety in case it comes loose without being noticed. There is lots of room in this film chamber so it won't interfere with a spool.

I will definetly do that, thanks!
I might also go to a watchmaker, I do not dare to hit the rivet with a hammer

F4U · Wednesday at 7:17 PM

Electrical tape? That stuff is worthless for anything. Just turns to a gooey mess. If the rivet has wallowed out it's hole or lost its crimp strength, then resetting it with the correct punch or drift would be the best remedy. But I still think mine is quite worthy of consideration as a permanent fix. "Permanent" being outlasting the owner and anyone on this forum, or 50 years, whichever comes first.

Kino · Wednesday at 7:24 PM

If the foot is like the one on mine, there is no material to reset; it broke off flush with the top of the foot, leaving the flanged material in the hole and a smooth surface on top of the foot.

F4U · Wednesday at 7:29 PM

Kino said:
If the foot is like the one on mine, there is no material to reset; it broke off flush with the top of the foot, leaving the flanged material in the hole and a smooth surface on top of the foot.

On yours it sounds like the rivet just plain broke in two, leaving part of it still in the foot. In that case just attempting to use glue would be worthess.

Kino · Wednesday at 7:31 PM

F4U said:
On yours it sounds like the rivet just plain broke in two, leaving part of it still in the foot. In that case just attempting to use glue would be worthess.

And yet, it worked.

Loose metal foot on Rolleiflex 2.8F how to fix?

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Loose metal foot on Rolleiflex 2.8F how to fix?

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