Speed graphic rangefinder repair

[michr]

I had accidentally bent the rangefinder plunger on my Speed Graphic. In attempting to bend it back I accidentally pulled it out and BBs went everywhere. The plunger isn't is very good shape now either.

Does anyone know if there's a kit I can buy to repair the rangefinder?

At minimum I'll need to replace the plunger, by that I mean the metal piece which compresses the BBs inside the rangefinder tube. Most likely I've dropped a BB or two, so it would be good to have a full set as well.

 

[Paul Cunningham]

Ha! This just happened to me too. Except that I think I was able to get it all back together, but minus one BB.
I carefully laid them all out rod-BB-rod-BB and so on. But when I got to the end, there were two rods and the alignment was off. So I feel I've lost one BB.
I could realign the rangefinder but I'd rather replace a BB first.

Could I impose on you for a few bb's and rods? I'd more than happy to pay postage and a little something for your trouble. Maybe a couple sheets of film?

Paul

 

[michr]

How did you manage to get them all back in?

 

[Terry Christian]

The same thing happened to my Crown soon after I got it. Still unrepaired -- I just use it on a tripod as a view camera until some repair option presents itself.

 

[shutterfinger]

All you need to know to fix them is in my post here:
http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=4952&highlight=balls+spacers

 

[michr]

Your link is very helpful. Do you know a source for the plunger. Should I just try to have one machined?

 

[Paul Cunningham]

One at a time. I used a bic-type ball point pen with the insides removed. It fit just right over the tube end. It took a couple of tries, be sure to put them in one at a time.

 

[michr]

Awesome, that's something I wouldn't have thought of. I'll give it a try.

 

[smithdoor]

Do you have a photo of the part and size

Dave

Your link is very helpful. Do you know a source for the plunger. Should I just try to have one machined?

 

[michr]

I'll post one later this evening.

 

[Paul Cunningham]

Terry, do you want to part with a few of the small parts, if you no longer have a complete set of bearings?

The same thing happened to my Crown soon after I got it. Still unrepaired -- I just use it on a tripod as a view camera until some repair option presents itself.

 

[shutterfinger]

Some hardware stores have ball bearings balls in small packs. 3/16 bicycle hub bearings are .1875 so they might/should work.

 

[Tom1956]

Trying to use balls alone will not work. They will not roll on one another as you might think. Instead they will "crowd" or "cram" for lack of better words in my vocabulary. Whatever way you put it, you would have nothing but a conglomeration of haphazard tangents and never any accuracy. The spacers maintain parallel tangents that follow the curvature of the tube. Gives it just about the same accuracy as you would expect from hydraulics. The balls diameters need to fit the tube, lest they will crowd against one side of the tube under pressure, giving an effective smaller ball diameter..

 

[shutterfinger]

somestimes you loose just the balls and find the spacers. if'n you loose the spacers also you'll have to find or make some, easier than makin' a round ball that small.

 

[Paul Cunningham]

I just need one ball of the correct size to replace one lost.

 

[smithdoor]

Try this site for a replacement ball http://www.mcmaster.com/#balls/=qsg0k9

Dave

I just need one ball of the correct size to replace one lost.

 

[Paul Cunningham]

The closest common bearing size would be 7/64" or 0.1094, versus the original spec of 0.1085. With a difference of 1/1000" it's a close approximation. It would be a different story however, if you needed a rod.

 

[shutterfinger]

Some hardware stores have ball bearings balls in small packs. 3/16 bicycle hub bearings are .1875 so they might/should work.

I got the numbers mixed up, its what happens when relying on memory. Paul is correct, 7/64 is the size to use.