fredus Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Hi there, I'm having some problem with the focusing mechanism of my Retina IIa.The lens move back and forth when I focus but when I look in theviewfinder, I don't have the double image anymore. It uses to workfine 1 week ago ... What could be wrong ? It actually focus and I canscale focus but I can't use the patch help anymore ... Any clue? Thanks ! Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean_williams Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 It sounds like the beam splitter mirror may have fallen off it's mount. It's under the top cover, inside the spuare RF tube. Can you hear a little something rattling around in there if you turn the camera side to side? <p> You can take the top off and take the RF unit off to check it out if you're into that kind of thing. <p> Dean <p> <a href="http://www.deansofidaho.com">deansofidaho.com</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vidom Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Look <a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/index.html">here</a> for instructions. Great page! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I've worked on many of these Retinas and find it's very common for the old grease and lube to get caked up preventing the rangefinder form moving properly. It's not hard to access the rangefinder by removing the top cover. The site someone listed here is very good as a guide. Refocusing the rangefinder is more of an issue but also a simple process and plenty of info is available on that too. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mharris Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 send that bad-boy to Dean, he can fix anything especially Retinas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_schall Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Taking a IIa apart is easy. Putting it back together is near impossible, even with the instructions for Chris's Camera Pages. I know, I tried. Shipped the parts to Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredus Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 Hi there, <br> he's talking about unscrewing the pin-head screw in the middle of the lever ... I don't see any screw ... :-( Couldsomeone help ? Thanks !<br> <img src="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/retina1a2a.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm2 Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Fred, those two black dots in the lever's central disk are holes. They will accept a tool with two little prongs that fit into 'em. And then the disk, actually the head of a screw, can be unscrewed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredus Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 Thanks Dan .. That's what I've figured ... But don't have the right tool ... :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 You can use a pair of scisors if you don't have the right tool. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean_williams Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Try making a tool, Fred. Go to an auto parts store and get a cheap set of small needle nose pliers with the smallest nose you can find. Then grind the tips of the pliers to points. <p> This will work well in a pinch. Just make sure to hold the pliers in a manner that they will not slip out of the holes. <p> Dean <p> <a href="http://www.deansofidaho.com">deansofidaho.com</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 If you do go to the auto supply, get a set of E clip pliers used to remove E clips and C clips. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredus Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 Ok, my rangefinder problem is solved !! Lubricated everything and adjusted the rangefinder. Great. Now some other problem ... I want to lubricate the focus mechanism, following thse instruction: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/%7ESraw...smechanism.html First, I don't know how to remove the rear element. Second I don't know what notch is is talking about, even with the pictures ... I know, I'm hopeless .. :-) Could someone help ?? How to I remove the rear element ? Does it unscrew ? Should I turn it with something ? Thanks 1 Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 To lube the focusing mechanism, just wick in some lighter fluid into the helical, it will loosen the old grease and make everything nice n smooth. If you are a radical looking to get deep inside to do a thourough cleaning... The rear element unscrews via the two notches looking in the back. My spanner is a flat piece of metal cut to size and relieved with a V to clear the glass lens in the center. Once you have the rear cell out, you can remove the shutter via the other retaining ring with 2 notches. I use another piece of flat metal cut to size of the span. Once the shutter is removed, you'll have a better viwew of the focusing mechanism. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 OH if you don't have notches in the rear cell, it may have a knurled edge. Grasp the edge using a pair of hemostats with plstic tubing on it's ends as a protective covering so it won't bite the metal. Unscrew it out by finger once it breaks loose. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffpolaski Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 But, it's worth the trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 It is so much fun working on these beauties. I just finished working on about a dozen of these for a lady getting ready to sell her fathers 40 year old collection of old cameras of every make. Taking the shutter off is better so you can spend more time doing a better cleaning. That old grease is so caked up, it took an overnight bath in sovent to break it all out. The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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