MAMIYA 37mm lens ring stuck.cant turn it

awsjulio · Dec 2, 2013

Hi, I have a mamiya lens that is giving me problems, the lock ring is stuck and I dont know what to do, I have looked online but only see rear lens cap stuck issues, has anyone had this problem happen to them?

When I try to put it on the body, the ring wont turn to lock it onto the body. It just got stuck there, I cant even put the lens cap back on it.any help would be greatly appreciated.

EdSawyer · Dec 3, 2013

It turns counter clockwise to tighten... Are you talking RB or RZ ? Pics could help.

awsjulio · Dec 3, 2013

EdSawyer said:
It turns counter clockwise to tighten... Are you talking RB or RZ ? Pics could help.

Hi Ed, im aware of that, it isnt my only lens, my other ones work as they should. The ring wont turn at all, its just stuck on the open position. I have an RZ body.

Xmas · Dec 4, 2013

First mount a different lens fire the shutter and set the operating lever fully remove the lens.

Then fire the 37mm shutter off the camera and set it fully again and fire it and set it fully again. It needs to be ok ie fire ok and be set completely think the dot you set it to is red.

Then fit it to the breech lock and try to turn the lock ring gently.

If it does not rotate easily email/phone mamiya. Or send it to a specialist repairer.

edit
you are being abstract did it used to work ok?
have you tried to force the ring?

awsjulio · Dec 4, 2013

Xmas said:
First mount a different lens fire the shutter and set the operating lever fully remove the lens.

Then fire the 37mm shutter off the camera and set it fully again and fire it and set it fully again. It needs to be ok ie fire ok and be set completely think the dot you set it to is red.

Then fit it to the breech lock and try to turn the lock ring gently.

If it does not rotate easily email/phone mamiya. Or send it to a specialist repairer.

edit
you are being abstract did it used to work ok?
have you tried to force the ring?

I will go ahead and try this, and yes the lens did work just fine before this problem happened. I have also tried to force the ring to a safe extent, I dont want to break it either. It does feel like its mechanically stuck if that makes sense, not stuck from lack of smoothness. its almost as there is a piece of metal locking the ring in the open position.

Xmas · Dec 4, 2013

it needs to move freely off the body a jar knock or drop may have wedged it off its normal circular track

inspect visually carefully

EdSawyer · Dec 4, 2013

you can also remove the rubber covering that surrounds the outside of the ring, and I think it has 3 radial screws that secure it to the inner parts of the barrel. that might be worth trying. Mamiya USA will send parts diagrams that show this in good detail, if you ask them. I have them somewhere too and can post/send if need be.

Gotta get it working again, that's a great fun lens and one of the best and most unique in that system.

awsjulio · Dec 4, 2013

EdSawyer said:
you can also remove the rubber covering that surrounds the outside of the ring, and I think it has 3 radial screws that secure it to the inner parts of the barrel. that might be worth trying. Mamiya USA will send parts diagrams that show this in good detail, if you ask them. I have them somewhere too and can post/send if need be.

Gotta get it working again, that's a great fun lens and one of the best and most unique in that system.

I believe I've found the problem after removing the rubber covering, one of the screws is noticeably loose therefor it sticks out slightly higher than normal, the one by the sync socket to be more specific. Inspecting by gently moving the ring over as much as possible over each individual screw it looks like they all have enough clearance except that one. Now the problem is tightening it back down…it isnt turning and im scared of stripping it. Any ideas on how to get this screw in or out?

Also not as relevant at the moment but what would be the cause of something like this happening??
I take very good care of my equipment, This set up in specific sits in a foam molded Pelican case. The lens has never been dropped either.

:confused:

P.S. if you have those diagrams in handy, is there ANY way I could get a copy to look at? that would be greatly appreciated

Xmas · Dec 4, 2013

they may have used sealant at the factory steal 3 mls of nail varnish remover and a darning needle from friendly female and try and get micro drips into thread clearance try over several days

keep the remover in 35 mm cassette tub it is acetone and not nice.

only use a screw driver that fits perfect.

if that does not work over several days borrow a PCB low wattage soldering iron and heat the screw head

or any camera repair shop or Mamiya recommended service shop

vibration in an auto try soft foam pad between case and auto floor

awsjulio · Dec 6, 2013

Just wanted to write a quick update. I was able to take the stuck screw out, after taking that out it allowed me to turn the ring a bit more until I encountered another screw stopping the ring once again, took that out which came out pretty easily, after taking the second screw off I was able to unscrew the locking ring out of the lens… once taken out something fell out, its a metal piece almost looks like a screw without the threading and has a tiny white ball on top that pops up to lock your ring from turning any further, you can actually hear this on your lenses, it makes a small click sound when it locks your ring from open to close or visa versa. This seemed to be the problem, the ball was out of loose and out of place, I took it out and screwed the locking ring back on, screwed the two screws back and I now have a working fisheye lens once again

cheer!

EdSawyer · Dec 7, 2013

Congrats! Nice work. These lenses are fairly straightforward to work on once you have done so a little bit.

MAMIYA 37mm lens ring stuck .cant turn it

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MAMIYA 37mm lens ring stuck.cant turn it