Minolta Autocord - focus lever doesn'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

 

P.S. Hope you don't mind I posted this also in the MF-Forum.

[matthew_julian]

The focus lever was always the weak point with Autocords, so be careful when trying to move it. My guess is the lubrication has dried up. I'd definitely have a camera repair shop take a look at it. They are great cameras.

[grinder]

Much cheaper to lube and work slowly than snap off the lever. A CLA would probobly be cheaper than breaking it. My Autocord was a one owner before me complete with recipts. It had not been used in years and was stiff but moved I sat one night moving it back and forth real slowly for about a hour and it has worked fine ever since.

 

 

I hope there is a little help there. You will love the camera. Mine is a CDSIII.

 

 

,Grinder

 

Stefan, I have been learning to speak Deutsch for about a month now.

[machts gut]

Thanks for your answers. I'll see what we'd have to pay for cleaning.

@ Grinder: If you are as patient with learning german as with your camera you'll learn it :-) Even if it's a difficult language.

 

cheers, Stefan