Soligor 2x teleconverter repair

[Xylo]

Hi!
I just went to a charity sale where I got an old Soligor 2x teleconverter in Minolta MC mount.
I got it for 2$, so it was a good deal. Only problem, the shutter actuation lever is pretty darn rough. Since the 3 grub screws that hold both halves together were very loose, I figure that there's probably a bent part somewhere in there, so I'm trying to open the thing to take a look as I really want to fix it even though it's probably worthless.
I tried removing the element block so I can slip the hook that activate the aperture on the lens through the slot, but no matter how much force I put on my spanner, it just won't budge.

Anybody go any idea?

Thanks

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi!
I just went to a charity sale where I got an old Soligor 2x teleconverter in Minolta MC mount.
I got it for 2$, so it was a good deal. Only problem, the shutter actuation lever is pretty darn rough. Since the 3 grub screws that hold both halves together were very loose, I figure that there's probably a bent part somewhere in there, so I'm trying to open the thing to take a look as I really want to fix it even though it's probably worthless.
I tried removing the element block so I can slip the hook that activate the aperture on the lens through the slot, but no matter how much force I put on my spanner, it just won't budge.

Anybody go any idea?

Thanks

don't force it and take it to alocal camera repair expert.

 

[Xylo]

don't force it and take it to alocal camera repair expert.

At the price they charge, might as well get one off ebay...
But it would be fun if I could figure out how to fix it myself. At least I would know what to do if it ever goes wrong again.

 

[loccdor]

Can you use it while manually stopping down the lens? That would be low effort.

I have an extension tube I use in a different mount and one of the "hacks" to allow the lens to operate in manual stop down mode with it is to not twist it to completely attach with the tube. Sometimes that works for lenses without an auto/manual aperture lever. The lens' aperture communication doesn't connect which leaves it in stopped-down mode.

 

[Xylo]

Can you use it while manually stopping down the lens?

That would require some modifications on the teleconverter. Thing is that the interior lever/push stick (I don't know how to call this thing) just sticks and is rough to operate. To use it in stop down mode, I'd have to stick it to one of the ends, but then I would have to use an external meter as the meter raceway, which is external like on a Nikon, would give the wrong readings...

 

[MattKing]

I don't often disagree with @RalphLambrecht ....
However my experience with Soligor lower end products like tele-converters leads to the advice that you not invest repair dollars on this particular item.
But if you can get it to work well in stop down mode, go ahead and have fun with it.
Teleconverters can be great for close portraits.

 

[OAPOli]

Can you show a few pics?

 

[Xylo]

OK, I finally figured out what was wrong with it!
And it was so darn stupid that I'll describe it in as much detail here in case others have the same problem.
On the lens side of the teleconverter, there is a bent piece of metal that has a 90° bend in it that serves as a hook to drive the lens' aperture control lever. On the Minolta mount, it's usually a thick piece of round stock and it's quite sturdy. What happens is that some people don't clock the lens properly when inserting it on the teleconverter and apply force so that the mount goes-in. That's where the problem is. This type of misuse bends the hook a bit too much and it ends-up scraping against the lens holding metal flange.

The trick is simple: take a pair of long nose pliers and just slightly bend-up the tab that's scraping. This releases pressure on the whole mechanism and allows you to fully separate both parts if necessary. It also makes the actuation a lot smoother, just like it should be.

In my case, I took both sides apart to ensure that everything was OK. I then re-assembled it, clocked both halves to make sure that the transmission lever had full motion and re-tightened the set screws to lock everything in place.

It's now working like new, so I'm adding this to my kit of cheap lenses.

Yay!

 

[loccdor]

Hurray!

 

[Xylo]

I know I am quite happy with this fix, especially since this thing is in such pristine shape.
It's funny how much I've come to love those old off-brand lenses. They're always super cheap and sometimes you just stumble upon one that just blows your socks off. It's just like a surprise bag: you know what it looks like but you never know what you'll get.