Minolta Autocord Focus lever won't move

[machts gut]

I just got a Minolta Autocord from a friend, who asked me to examine it. I'm

familiar with other TLR's, but this is my first Autocord. The cam looks very

good, but the focus lever won't move a single milimeter. Is there any secret

knob or other trick I do not know or is it just broken? I live in Germany so

any repair advice in other countries wouldn't make much sense.

 

Any help is welcome. Thank You, Stefan

[conrad_hoffman]

After some years, the lubricant turns into a good solid glue. This is how the focus knobs get broken off the lever, a very common problem. You need a CLA. IMO, the Autocord is a great camera with a lens equal to anything else out there in TLR land.

[dean_williams]

What Conrad said. The focusing helical grease has probably solidified. Do not push hard on the focus knob, because, again, what Conrad said. It will break off right at the point where the knob meets the lever it's attached to.

<p>

Have your camera cleaned.

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Dean

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<a href="http://www.deansofidaho.com">deansofidaho.com</a>

[tito sobrinho]

Like it was said, don't force it as the focusing handle is made of pot metal.

[andy andrews]

I concur with the others: The cause of the problem is 40+year-old grease in the helicoid that has solidified. It needs to be disassembled, cleaned and relubricated with a modern grease. The lever to which the focusing knob is attached is made of a zinc alloy. There is an right-angle bend in this casting which isn't radiused, thus causing a stress riser. A blow to the knob or unyielding grease and an attempt to force the lever will crack it. I fixed an Autocord I had a few years back by bonding a stainless steel tab to the broken part and attaching a knob cannibalized from an old Ricohflex. I used JB Weld, a very strong adhesive. Autocords are worth fixing. They are very fine cameras otherwise.

[machts gut]

Thanks for your answers. I promise, I won't push and will try to persuade my friend to have it cleaned.

 

Stefan