What did you fix today? (part 2)

Kino · Jul 6, 2023

I just finished cleaning the viewfinder, prism assembly and the other reflex optics of my Bolex Rex 3 H8 camera. I bought this camera in very rough, inoperable shape and have been steadily working on it in my spare time as I collect missing pieces or replacement parts.

Lenses for this camera are very hard to find and can be quite expensive, so I had to play the long game to find the two I have.

It should be good to shoot a test roll now; the viewfinder is clean and clear and it will run a full wind with only the most tiny slowdown in the last 5 seconds of a full wind at 18 fps.

I have a real affinity for Bolex Cameras, as I ran a motion picture equipment check out cage at two Universities and had to do many self-taught repairs on all models of cameras to keep the students going. They are great cameras...

Next, I have full Bolex Titler that needs attention. I just love working on this camera line...

PS: if anyone has a round Bolex Logo for the magazine door laying around in their junk drawer, I'd be interested in buying it!

Xylo · Jul 6, 2023

Helios 1984 said:
A few weeks back, I replaced the worn out front bearing of our 13 years old dryer. That thing was so noisy that I could hear it from outside the house with the window closed (not kidding). Then, this past Saturday, I replaced the rear bearing which was only 3 years old but aged prematurely due the front one being so far gone. Now, the dryer sound as smooth as a new one.

That's why I'm keeping my 1976 Inglis dryer. I do regret having to have let go the washing machine though as I couldn't find some parts anymore. But if I did, it would probably have run for another 30 years!

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 6, 2023

I had to go through a couple rounds of finding the correct tap/die set for adapting my Kostiner Archival Washer to take a threaded hose bib, but I found the right size (18mm x 1.5mm thread) and got the body of the washer threaded. When I bought the thing, the store had thrown out the original inlet hose with whatever press-fit adapter it had for the hose because it had gotten all gunky. Now it is fitted up and working and I gave it a test this week. It's an 11x14 so it will be perfect for use on smaller prints or washing 8x10 and 5x12 sheet film.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 6, 2023

Fixed the wobbly 38mm lens for my Oly Pen FT. I haven't used it for a long time since it was so annoying. I think there was some slack in the helical so I filled it with a combo of Nygel which is really sticky thick, and Helimax. I've found Helimax can be a little thin so the combo works well.

Helios 1984 · Jul 8, 2023

I've opened the inoperative Topcon-Meter that I picked up this morning with the intention of re-ionizing the selenium cell which I believed was dead. However, after playing with the meter a wee bit, it turned out that the cell is very much alive. The problem appears to be a bad solder joint which I haven't identified yet.

Tel · Jul 8, 2023

Picked up a Nikon F2 body "parts or repair--inoperable" for $80. Crunchy advance/cocking gear train. Popped the top right-hand plate and the bottom, cleaned out lots of crud from the gears and cams and did a little lubrication and it's nice and quiet now. The DP-1 and the Micro-Nikkor were in the arsenal already and not part of the purchase...

Tel · Jul 8, 2023

Kino said:
I just finished cleaning the viewfinder, prism assembly and the other reflex optics of my Bolex Rex 3 H8 camera. I bought this camera in very rough, inoperable shape and have been steadily working on it in my spare time as I collect missing pieces or replacement parts.

Lenses for this camera are very hard to find and can be quite expensive, so I had to play the long game to find the two I have.

It should be good to shoot a test roll now; the viewfinder is clean and clear and it will run a full wind with only the most tiny slowdown in the last 5 seconds of a full wind at 18 fps.

I have a real affinity for Bolex Cameras, as I ran a motion picture equipment check out cage at two Universities and had to do many self-taught repairs on all models of cameras to keep the students going. They are great cameras...

Next, I have full Bolex Titler that needs attention. I just love working on this camera line...

PS: if anyone has a round Bolex Logo for the magazine door laying around in their junk drawer, I'd be interested in buying it!

View attachment 343057 View attachment 343058 View attachment 343059

Beautiful restoration job! Many moons ago I had an H16 until I discovered Kinors and started shooting 35. The Bolex was more fun though. I even had a Clive Tobin synch motor. Sigh.

Kino · Jul 8, 2023

Tel said:
Beautiful restoration job! Many moons ago I had an H16 until I discovered Kinors and started shooting 35. The Bolex was more fun though. I even had a Clive Tobin synch motor. Sigh.

Yeah, I once had a pair of Silent-era B&H 2709's and a Konvas, but life happens and they had to go to pay bills. Life goes on...

Mr Flibble · Jul 11, 2023

Couple of weeks a friend asked if I had any interest in some of the cameras he was given after another friend had passed away.
I wasn't really that interesting in any of them, but I reminded him of the going rates for some of the more collectible ones he had.

He did challenge me to fix one of that was worse for wear....a very tired-looking ICA Icarette.
Which is now very much a Work In Progress Project.

The leatherette was mostly gone or peeling off due to the rust on the body.

It needed a few taps from a rubber mallet to open up.

It is missing the red window, the latch, one of the knobs to draw out the lens onto the drop bed.
So yeah, this thing is going to be a challenge.

Cleaning off the old leatherette and rust.

One obstinate screw refuses to let me remove the drop bed from the body. If all else fails I'll drill it out.

Sourced some parts from the bits box, and bought some new self-adhesive leatherette. Slightly too thick, but it'll do.

And then I found a latch, very similar to the original on one of my parts cameras....

Currently I'm in the process of adjusting the latch so it'll fit properly and then either rivet or epoxy it onto the body.
Then the new skin can go on.

Kino · Jul 11, 2023

Mr Flibble said:
(snip)
Currently I'm in the process of adjusting the latch so it'll fit properly and then either rivet or epoxy it onto the body.
Then the new skin can go on.

Now that's a restoration!

Helios 1984 · Jul 11, 2023

I've replaced the solenoid plunger of my Pentax K50.

Edit: I didn’t work, the aperture still stays fully closed when the Live View is on and the camera won’t stop down when the aperture ring is on A.

Humm

- Did I receive a defective or incompatible solenoid?
- Did I properly soldered the wires?
- Does the camera has a bigger problem?

Edit:
I re-opened the camera, and the joints were fine. Out of ideas, I tried resoldering the old solenoid but switched its U magnet with the new one. It worked, by gum, it worked! The live view and modes are back.

Helios 1984 · Jul 13, 2023

Update on the Topcon-Meter

It is fixed *thumbs up

I found out that the brass retainers were integral to the circuit and not there only to hold the needle mechanism. The circuit was open due to a small amount of play between the retainers and the mechanism which is why the needle was irresponsive. After moving the bottom retainer a wee bit inward to remove the play and make a solid contact, the needle started responding to light normally.

4season · Jul 13, 2023

Installed a brighter focusing screen into the Hasselblad 500c

Tweaked the Zenit 122K, 412, and 15M (check collimation, ensure that light baffle doesn't intrude into frame, paint glare-prone interior surfaces with Culturehustle flat black (pre-3.0, which looks very similar to stuff used in many vintage Japanese SLRs). Got 5 Zenits currently, have been thinking to reduce that down to 1-2.

I don't know if it came from the factory that way, or someone removed the lens mount and lost spacers, but the Zenit 122K was focusing well past infinity (verified at focal plane). Shimmed lens mount for correct infinity focus

mshchem · Jul 13, 2023

I put up some shelves in my store room got some order, so I don't trip and break my neck.

MattKing · Jul 13, 2023

I like the "2 of 19" notation on your box of Kodak Rapid Fixer.
Unless of course it is supposed to indicate February 2019

mshchem · Jul 14, 2023

MattKing said:
I like the "2 of 19" notation on your box of Kodak Rapid Fixer.
Unless of course it is supposed to indicate February 2019

Yes I bought a bunch of Kodak branded stuff when Tetenal got into trouble, I really like the Tetenal made Kodak stuff. I bought 6 or 7 of those boxes of rapid fixer, February of 2019. I panic bought Ilford Bromophen Twice! First time was when Ilford got in trouble, you can see a couple boxes marked 2004, made in England. Second time was in 2019 same time I have just about everything to get by, that's not half of what I have squirreled away.
Room is air conditioned always. Cool, dark, dry stuff keeps forever.

mshchem · Jul 14, 2023

Mr Flibble said:
Couple of weeks a friend asked if I had any interest in some of the cameras he was given after another friend had passed away.
I wasn't really that interesting in any of them, but I reminded him of the going rates for some of the more collectible ones he had.

He did challenge me to fix one of that was worse for wear....a very tired-looking ICA Icarette.
Which is now very much a Work In Progress Project.

The leatherette was mostly gone or peeling off due to the rust on the body.

It needed a few taps from a rubber mallet to open up.

It is missing the red window, the latch, one of the knobs to draw out the lens onto the drop bed.
So yeah, this thing is going to be a challenge.

Cleaning off the old leatherette and rust.

One obstinate screw refuses to let me remove the drop bed from the body. If all else fails I'll drill it out.

Sourced some parts from the bits box, and bought some new self-adhesive leatherette. Slightly too thick, but it'll do.

And then I found a latch, very similar to the original on one of my parts cameras....

Currently I'm in the process of adjusting the latch so it'll fit properly and then either rivet or epoxy it onto the body.
Then the new skin can go on.

I'm looking forward to seeing this when it's reassembled.

Mr Flibble · Jul 17, 2023

mshchem said:
I'm looking forward to seeing this when it's reassembled.

It's getting there....

I've epoxied the new latch to the back cover. Reskinned and riveted the cover for the red window in place. The corners have been rounded off and sealed with LET.
Cut and attached the new skin for the front of the body shell, but still need to finish the corners.
The bellows have been treated with leather conditioner.
The shutter blades were cleaned and haze cleaned out of the doublet lens.

Some black paint is in order to touch up the rough spots.
I still need to find/make a small replacement knob for the rail lock, though it's not necessary for it to work.
Also need to polish or replace the 'mirror' inside the brilliant finder

That said, it's starting to look like it might actually take pictures at some point in the near future.

mshchem · Jul 17, 2023

mshchem said:
I put up some shelves in my store room got some order, so I don't trip and break my neck.
View attachment 343776

I was feeling a little weird after doing this, so Friday morning I called our ambulance, went into UIHC Iowa's top hospital. I had an infarction in my R coronary artery. The cardiologist placed a 20mm stent, I watched it all live on wall sized TV. Laid around a couple days eating too much, came home Sunday morning right as can be. Easy Peasy

Kino · Jul 17, 2023

mshchem said:
I was feeling a little weird after doing this, so Friday morning I called our ambulance, went into UIHC Iowa's top hospital. I had an infarction in my R coronary artery. The cardiologist placed a 20mm stent, I watched it all live on wall sized TV. Laid around a couple days eating too much, came home Sunday morning right as can be. Easy Peasy

Wow! Glad it turned-out well!

Did that same scenario a few years ago; it's become so commonplace it's like changing oil in the car to these hospitals.

Take it easy for a bit!

Xylo · Jul 17, 2023

mshchem said:
I was feeling a little weird after doing this, so Friday morning I called our ambulance, went into UIHC Iowa's top hospital. I had an infarction in my R coronary artery. The cardiologist placed a 20mm stent, I watched it all live on wall sized TV. Laid around a couple days eating too much, came home Sunday morning right as can be. Easy Peasy

Pfew! That was a close call. Thank god today's medical technology is so good.

Cholentpot · Jul 18, 2023

Latch popped off on the body of my Pentax Auto 110. I recovered the sliding latch and the plastic latch holder but lost the spring. The latch holder thing was worn away from the screws on the body. Not the end of the camera I can just tape the door shut. Right now the part is being glued into place so the latch will still hold but with no spring tension I'll still need to tape door shut. At least gluing it in place will keep me from losing the pieces though.

mshchem · Jul 18, 2023

Cholentpot said:
Latch popped off on the body of my Pentax Auto 110. I recovered the sliding latch and the plastic latch holder but lost the spring. The latch holder thing was worn away from the screws on the body. Not the end of the camera I can just tape the door shut. Right now the part is being glued into place so the latch will still hold but with no spring tension I'll still need to tape door shut. At least gluing it in place will keep me from losing the pieces though.

Little springs are devils! Good call on preserving the latch parts. Very cool camera. What did we all do before tape!

Cholentpot · Jul 18, 2023

mshchem said:
Little springs are devils! Good call on preserving the latch parts. Very cool camera. What did we all do before tape!

Rubber bands!

I'm on a roll today! I have an Asahi K1000 that's been jammed for a few years, I've tried multiple times to unjam it. I was told it's a simple fix but I just couldn't manage. Being the stubborn guy I am I kept tried. On today's annual try I watched this video again. This time I paid close attention to one of the levers and gave it a little lift, what did I have to lose? It popped correct and I reset the spring and it works! My other K1000 sadly needs the shutter adjusted as I noticed shadowing on the shutter, but this one is back in business for now. Taking it out for a spin today.

@mshchem Glad you caught your ticker issue. Marvels of modern medicine.

4season · Jul 18, 2023

Cholentpot said:
I'm on a roll today!

Congratulations on a successful fix! BTW, have you tried using a high-speed video app on a mobile phone to diagnose shutter problems? Think my iPhone 11 tops out at around 200 fps which might still be somewhat useful for checking out a Spotmatic shutter, though a bit too slow for a speedier shutter like that in the Nikon F3. But some digicams including Nikon 1 and newer iterations of Sony RX100 claim crazy-fast burst rates.

What did you fix today? (part 2)

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What did you fix today? (part 2)

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