Disassembly instructions for FD lenses.

<p>Do any of you know how to get into the back of FD lenses? I have a 35mm and a 135mm that need fixing. The 35mm has a slow return lever (probably needs cleaning and re-lubing) and the 135mm has a failed aperture linkage (I assume). The FD mount is very complex and if there's an easy way into these lenses I would love to know. The lenses are so cheap they are not really worth paying to repair but I would get satisfaction from a DIY repair if it's possible. Any advice?</p>

<p>Not much, but you might want to read this before plunging in.<br>

http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00bifD </p>

<p>If you do start to dis-assemble anything like this take plenty of pictures and keep careful notes <em>as you go</em>. What seems obvious coming apart, may be very obscure going together again.</p>

<p>Our very own Rick Oleson has a number of pages on various lenses and so forth on his own website at http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-27.html </p>

 

<p>Watch out for little springs and tiny screws that fly off to another dimension as you're working. It's neat how they do that.</p>

<p>(Ask me how I know.)</p>

<p>The FD breechlock mount isn't so bad. The New FD mount, though, is complicated and tricky. Not only springs, but there's at least one small ball bearing that you don't want to lose.</p>

<p>If you're trying to reach the irises on those lenses to clean them, you're gonna need a lens spanner too. And maybe a rubber stopper of suitable size for gripping the lens bezel ring and turning it off (not necessary with all lenses).</p>

<p>Thanks guys. That webpage by Rick Oleson is superb! All my FD lenses are of the newer design (not breech lock) so will no doubt be more fun to take apart :-)<br>

I think I will attack the lenses from the front first to see if the repairs are possible that way.</p>

<p>If the man in the street could easily fix precision optical equipment there wouldn't be any professional optical engineers. </p>

<p>I love the leave it to the pros comments... especially the misguided ones - engineers don't FIX lenses, no more than they fix cars. They design things.<br>

There is a myriad of possible issues that can be causing a problem, with varying levels of complication and difficulty - and (deep breath!) some are so simple a monkey could fix them, and some are so complex that even a really experienced technician may have problems with them.<br>

Many of these lenses make it cost effective to at least try fixing them, and with a lot of care and patience (and the one good use for a photo computer - thorough documentation of one's steps for future reference), successful repairs are quite possible.<br>

And lets not forget - some of us actually LIKE to tinker with these things...<br>

Sorry about the tangent - its just one of my pet peeves, the blanket warnings from people about touching the magical boxes with our grimy incompetent, mere mortal non-"professional optical engineer" hands - what I really wanted to add is I opened up a couple of these and even documented my trials and tribulations and (THIS CAN'T BE!!!) my eventually success in a simple repair of one with stuck (oily) aperture blades in this thread:<br /><br /><br>

http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00Yf4W</p>

<p>Hope the pictures may shed some light or help out in some way</p>

<p>PS. Ben, I am just busting your chops;)</p>

 

<p>Peter, home optical equipment repairers remind me of incompetent surgeons, you only hear about their successes, they bury their failures. To my mind paying to have your equipment professionally maintained is part of being a serious photographer.</p>

<p>2 year old post... but is on topic, really each lens is different, and for sure zooms.<br /> have free lens. 35-105 mac. lens. FD. im going to use it for MACRO, only..<br /> I can buy a clean one for less that CLA.<br /> with fungus.<br /> here is how far i got and my stumped point. (ive done others but not this variant)<br /> all lenses clean on all 3 front elements.<br /> the rear is removed, and those are now cleaned of fungus<br /> the center lens set , i cant figure out.<br /> i see 3 hidden screws here. (but all attempts at finding access here , failed.<br /> see fungus here, and where IM at.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.fixkick.com/look/24hr/fungus1.JPG" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" /><br>

this is the screw that can not be reached.<br>

<img src="http://www.fixkick.com/look/24hr/screw1.JPG" alt="" /></p>