Lubitel 2 Pop-Up Hood Repair

[bvy]

I'm trying to fix the spring that "pops up" the front knock-out panel of my Lubitel 2 TLR camera. This is the panel you fold down to use the sports-finder. Mine is loose, and it looks like the spring just came out of place, but I can't figure out how it's supposed to be situated.

Here you can see the spring. The curved bottom part looks like it should be anchored somehow. As it is, it moves around freely. (The left panel is being held down in the picture.)



Thanks.

 

[shutterfinger]

The right end of the spring in your picture is not factory smooth. The right end of the spring appears to have broken off. It most likely turned 90° with a short section resting against the panel.

 

[John Koehrer]

The spring looks like it should hold the panel out of the way. By removing the shaft the panel pivots on you could get a better look at the thing. The curved section may fit under the panel to hold it up.

I think also think the right end of the spring may be broken. The spring would have to have tension on it to keep the panel raised. This means it(right side) should be rotated counter clockwise.

I'd remove the shaft/pivot to see if the spring isn't simply disengaged under the panel.
The shaft is simply pulled out with needle nose pliers and reinserted the same way,

 

[AgX]

The right end of the spring in your picture is not factory smooth. The right end of the spring appears to have broken off. It most likely turned 90° with a short section resting against the panel.

But that residue of the spring still rests against that upper part (as it would be doing with a right-angle part still there).

 

[bvy]

Well, thanks. It's not the most cleverly engineered thing in the world, and apparently the bottom part of the spring rests directly on the viewing glass. Apparently it slipped back at some point. I was able to pull it back up, and the front panel pops into place now like it should. No more tape. It's probably just a matter of time though...