Replacing RB67 Bellows - how to?

dpt2014 · Feb 9, 2013

I managed to puncture the bellows in my RB67 today. Picked it up without realizing the bellows was not fully retracted and puncture it with my finger. Doh! Oh well, it was showing heavy signs of use and cracking, anyway.

I've found a replacement on eBay and it's $75. I've read about cheaper ones, but can't find any. I'm in no rush so I will keep searching for a cheaper solution. Any suggestions?

But I've searched here and Google and cannot find a DIY guide to replace the bellows. Can anyway point me to a DIY or explain in detail how to do it? I've read it's rather simple to do, but no one ever actually says how it's done (not that I've seen, anyway).

M Carter · Feb 9, 2013

I was just wondering about this myself (though my bellows seems fine, I'm re-foaming this week and will be using the RB for a big personal project soon). The guy who sells bellows on eBay says he sends instructions upon purchase; you might see if he'll send it to you, tell him you need to see if you can do it before you buy.

You might also try John Goodman - he sells foam repair kits for the RB and his instructions are amazingly detailed. Very nice guy and he may know how to do it. JGood21967(at)aol(dot)com

The photos I've seen of the bellows show a plate with screw holes; I just set my shutter to T and flipped the mirror up - I can't see anything inside the body that seems right - mystified a bit myself.

dpt2014 · Feb 9, 2013

Hi M Carter, thanks for your response. The auction I am watching does not mention sending instructions - would you mind linking me to the auction with instructions offered?

I know about John Goodman's light seal kits, but I didn't think to ask about bellows replacements. Worth a shot, thanks!

tkamiya · Feb 9, 2013

I don't have a direct answer to your question but I did find an RB Pro-S repair manual and parts list.

They may be of some help to you. There are no instructions in these manuals on how to replace bellows, however.

Look here:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

paul ron · Feb 10, 2013

Buy a junker ugly body off KEH for $20 n take the bellows off that instead of paying so much for it. Also you may even find a working body on KEH for $50.. still cheaper than flea bay.

now a question.. why not patch the bellows you have on there?

E-mail me I can tell you exactly how to remove n replace the bellows.

.

M Carter · Feb 14, 2013

paul ron said:
E-mail me I can tell you exactly how to remove n replace the bellows.

.

Why not post it here? It will be googled for years to come and you will go down in web-history.

paul ron · Feb 15, 2013

I'm already in web history and so many times I've posted how tos no one ever reads. Even though I've posted so many how tos I still get e-mails asking the same questions anyway...

I'll post it here as well later. It;s really easy to do.

fmajor · Feb 15, 2013

Thanks Paul!!! I read everything you post about RB67 cameras. Everything. In fact, i send people here who have problems with their RB67 to get in contact with you.

paul ron · Feb 17, 2013

Thanks for the plug F-major.
sorry I took so long, had a few family things to take care of.

To change the bellows..
fire the camera so the mirror is up
extend the front standard all the way out
now with the camera looking up at you (sit it on a foam pad)
there are 4 screws, one at each corner, on the body side of the bellows take em all out
To get the 7 other screws on the lens mount side you have to go from inside so now you cna turn the camera over so you are looking through the back.

Using a long #000 crosspoint, undo all 7 tiny screws.. you may have to lift the bellows up to see each side as you unscrew.

Once the screws are all out; all that holds it in now is rotted foam.

Gentle push n a lift her here n there n it is out!

putting in the new bellows is jsut the reverse but first replace all the rotted foam with new.. it is the very thin foam.

hope this was helpful.
paul

flavio81 · May 18, 2015

paul ron said:
Thanks for the plug F-major.
sorry I took so long, had a few family things to take care of.

To change the bellows..
fire the camera so the mirror is up
extend the front standard all the way out
now with the camera looking up at you (sit it on a foam pad)
there are 4 screws, one at each corner, on the body side of the bellows take em all out
To get the 7 other screws on the lens mount side you have to go from inside so now you cna turn the camera over so you are looking through the back.

Using a long #000 crosspoint, undo all 7 tiny screws.. you may have to lift the bellows up to see each side as you unscrew.

Once the screws are all out; all that holds it in now is rotted foam.

Gentle push n a lift her here n there n it is out!

putting in the new bellows is jsut the reverse but first replace all the rotted foam with new.. it is the very thin foam.

hope this was helpful.
paul

Paul, thank you very much. I have a RB67 that needs new bellows. I think I can make myself a bellows, but i needed to know how to remove the old one.

wombat2go · May 18, 2015

I am in the middle of changing the bellows in an RB67 ProS.
I was not able to follow Paul's advice, because on the camera here, there is a light baffle plate on the body side of the bellows assembly that inhibits access to (4) of the (7) screws.
Also the M1.6 screws are very tight with age and threadlocking.
I have dis-assembled the front standard and removed the old bellows without drama, although it took a few hours.
Laying the front standard and body flat on foam on the workbench, , I used drops of acetone and gentle tapping of the screws to break them loose without damage
Now I am cleaning the old gaskets off ready to install the new bellows.

I have been taking photos and notes of the steps as bellows replacement is not described in the service manual.
I will put up my procedure when finished.
The bellows came from Hong Kong and need to be glued to the above baffle plate before assembly
I will also be changing the mirror foam when the kit arrives from USCamera.

paul ron · May 18, 2015

Wow i cant believe you looked this up after so long. Im happy at least someone benifited from it.

If you release the side without the plate, the other is essily accessed because the bellows can be msnipulated in such a way to clear.

The tight screws break out easy enough if you are using a good quality n correct size driver. Putting acetone was a very good solution as well since its the old foam acting as glue after 35 years being seated.

The plate isnt glued, there is a very thin foam under it as well as around the edges of the bellows. Your old one may seem glued but thats old rotted foam.

Anyway, your method worked n that just proves there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Love to see pics added here for postaraty.

Long live APUG n lets keep those RBs on the road for another 35 years.

.

flavio81 · May 18, 2015

wombat2go said:
I have been taking photos and notes of the steps as bellows replacement is not described in the service manual.
I will put up my procedure when finished.

Yes! Please do! Thanks! And thanks Paul as well!

wombat2go · May 18, 2015

Thanks, Paul,
Yes,
The old bellows gaskets against the die cast are alternatively rock hard or goey goop.
So it is probably better that I pulled the front standard off to get access for cleaning..
I have spent a few minutes today applying acetone and "Goo-Gone" with a cotton swab, letting it soak and scraping down to get a flat surface.
I don't have replacement gaskets, so I am thinking of cutting self adhesive telescope flocking into picture frame shape and sticking to the die cast as a contact surface for the bellows plate on the body end and the bellows end-fold on the front standard..
OK?

paul ron · May 18, 2015

Buy the self stick foam in sheets from microtools. They have an assorted pack fairly cheap n its enough to do a few cameras. You dont need shapes, use strips.

The old gooey is the worst! The crusty is easy n not such a mess.

paul ron · May 18, 2015

Now heres a thought for a hady hacker... Tilts n swings?

Dam ive always dreamed that would make the rb perfect!... Like the fuji but built like a russian tank!

Bipin · May 18, 2015

I'm a bit of a lurker here, having never posted before but having read the forums for a good year or two. This discussion rekindled my yearning of removing the RB67's front standard to modify it for tilt/swing movements and replace the breech lock mount with a #0 hole. I'd be interested to see what methods you come up with for removing the bellows, from the front standard at the very least.

paul ron · May 18, 2015

What i see as a plausible method, you'd have to install a universal on the cocking shaft. Otherwise the shutter can't be loaded n firing could be done as usual.

The front standard can easily be modified for movements. And if you arent using rb lenses n rather use lf lenses with manual shutters, you've simplified it to a weekend project since now all you need is the focusing racks on the sides. Even remove the cocking shaft.

But all this will take some mechanical intuition n skill, let alone having the tools required.

To remove the bellows, follow this thread from the start.

wombat2go · May 19, 2015

Continuing:
The plates on each end of the bellows are of 0.4mm aluminum.

On the front standard end, the plate is chamfered on the corners. The bellows last fold encloses the plate so that the bellows is positively clamped to the front standard.
So on the front standard, no glue is necessary.

The body- side baffle plate has a 1.6mm screw in each corner. The orginal bellows had the end folds glued to the front of this plate.
The plate is too large to fit in the fold, anyway it has no chamfers
That glue is the only means of holding the bellows to the body, meaning that it is in tension.

I think I will use JB Weld as a glue, as I have it here and it is of a thicker consistency. I will try to make a jig to press the bellows onto the plate while the epoxy sets.
If I mess this up the new bellows will be ruined.....

wombat2go · May 19, 2015

https://app.box.com/s/xl0eex900b9ijjo2zakd539dfeioiewy

Here is a link to a directory with the procedure ( in progress) for the RB67 bellows job, and some photos taken along the way.
I will add to it as I go.
Any comments and advice will be appreciated!

M Carter · May 19, 2015

…and hats off to Paul Ron, who talked me through an RB lens teardown. I was certain I'd destroy it… but it's still going strong, sir!

Rbs are pretty fab machines.

paul ron · May 20, 2015

Wow that was a long time ago... Nice to see its still working n you're still using the old girl.

wombat2go · Jun 14, 2015

After a bit of drama, I have the Bellows replaced in the Mamaiya RB67 ProS, along with new mirror foam, and the camera is re-assesmbled and light tested.

The first bellows I purchased were of the folds only. So I glued them on to the original thin aluminum body plate uneventfully.
When preparing for re-assembly, the thin aluminum plate fractured through a mounting screw hole.

I then found a supplier of the complete bellows assembly with end plates. The supplier gave me some info and warned that the holes would probably not line up to the old ProS body. he said that as far as he knew, the ProS bellows were no longer available and that others had modified this bellows assembly.

I have uploaded a sketch of how I modified the new bellows body side plate to fit the ProS, in case anybody has to do this.
https://app.box.com/s/5wxt6x3sjqxv65vy6iqkmanrhl7okmfi

However as a DIYer I would recommend any other DIYer to try to obtain the correct part number first.
An altenative, which I would try if ever doing it again, would be to purchase the folds only from the Hong Kong suppler, and make a new body side plate, on the mill drill, maybe of 0.4mm brass. The original 0.4mm aluminum plate is too flimsy for DIYer to re-use.

zavdiel · May 6, 2017

wombat2go said:
https://app.box.com/s/xl0eex900b9ijjo2zakd539dfeioiewy

Here is a link to a directory with the procedure ( in progress) for the RB67 bellows job, and some photos taken along the way.
I will add to it as I go.
Any comments and advice will be appreciated!

hi, first thenk you very much for all the post here, i am going to replace the bellows of my r67 pros and i saw the instruction and photos at the above, and i wonder if i must to take the rail out as showen in there?

paul ron · May 6, 2017

taking the rail was a modification someone used because he found the screws in his camera hard to get out. id rather not do that but its an option.

if you are using a good screwdriver, those screws should come right out... they are tiny buggers! magnitize your driver so you dont lose the screws.

Replacing RB67 Bellows - how to?

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