DIY repair of Leicaflex Standard

[charles_gravely]

Anybody tear down a Leicaflex Standard?

Easy or difficult?

I am looking for a technical guide for this. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Charles

[doug herr]

I've done some repairs, what's the problem with yours?

[charles_gravely]

Re problem with my LFS

I'm only seeing one curtain. When the shutter is cocked, I can see through to the pressure plate. When it's tripped, curtain covers pressure plate.

Took it to Kindermann and they suggested not to bother repairing it - it's not a big deal but requires several hours of labor and since you can buy these for a few hunder bucks at KEH....

I shoot my M7 so this 'flex is basically disposable at this point (based on what Kindermann says)

Problem is, I am kid of attached to it.

CG

[doug herr]

I'd take Kindermann's advice. The biggest problem you'll face is re-assembly and

adjusting curtain tension accurately. You could easily spend as much or more than the

camera's worth buying the tools needed to adjust things accurately. My general feeling

about these old beauties is that if the shutter's working more or less OK I'l attempt a

repair, otherwise it's a donor for other bodies.

[charles_gravely]

Thanks Douglas

Sounds like good advice all around.

Since I now have one beautiful paper weight and a perfectly good two cam cron, maybe I will pick up an SL from KEH to put the cron on.

Have a good night

CG

[doug herr]

In case you miss the chrome look of the Leicaflex Standard, the SL's shutter speed dial and

self-timer lever are readily interchangeable with the Standard, and some early Leicaflex

Standard film speed dial clusters can be modified to fit the SL.

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[wendell_kelly]

DAG will do an overhaul on a Leicaflex Standard for about $150 - check with him on price if you are interested.

 

The argument that repairs aren't sensible because one can buy a used camera for the cost of competent repairs strikes me as sophistry.

 

If you have the your camera competently serviced it will be in near-new functional condition with a high probability of working reliably for years (it is a Leicaflex).

 

Should you purchase a used camera instead of repairing your existing one, you really don't know its internal condition; it is unlikely to have been serviced in recent years (if ever). It is a leap of faith to imagine that such used camera will offer the long term reliability of a CLA'd Leicaflex.

[charles_gravely]

Hi Wendell,

I definitely agree that it's better to work with what you've got, all else being equal. In this case, Kindermann has indicated that it would be much cheaper to buy a used 'flex AND pay for a full CLA rather than repair this one. Gerry seems to think he is looking at about 8 to 10 hours of labor on this baby!

 

BTW Gerry of Kindermann is the Canadian equivalent of DAG or Sherry in the US. He is a good man. Did some work on my old M 90 Elmarit - in the end there was no charge!

 

Cheers.

CG