How important is spacing between Yashinon TLR lens parts?

[john_morris1]

I fixed the shutter of my recently acquired Yashica Mat LM (it just

needed some limbering -- sticky from sitting for a long time), so now

I get to put it back together. To get to the shutter, the front

section of the lens screws out. I guess I should have marked exactly

where it was before, but I didn't. Anyway, I was hoping that when I

screwed it back in, it would seat on something, but it seems to screw

down all the way to the top plate of the shutter.

 

Is this OK, or do I need to work a little harder to adjust the

spacing? Is this where I get to tape a ground glass to the back and

find something at infinity to focus on? If so, should I be adjusting

the position of the front of the lens (with respect to the back

part), or should I just screw it in snug and then adjust the position

of the whole focussing rack? There seems to be nothing designed to

hold the front lens part at a particular position if it is not

snugged down, so it would be free to turn.

 

Or am I worrying too much, and I'll have more problems with film

flatness and focus screen misalignment than with the taking lens.

 

I have one other related question. Is there a reasonable way to make

the Yashica-Mat winding mechanism quieter? I find that the shutter

is nice and quiet, but that the winder makes an assertive rachet

sound. The Yashica 635 that I'm comparing it with has only a knob

winder, but it's silent.

 

Thanks for any advice you might have.

[greg_erker]

All the Ricoh TLRs I've taken apart (Diacords and Ricohmatic 225s) had the front and rear lens elements screwed all the way into the shutter. In these cameras the infinity focus appears to be set by

different thicknesses of shim washers between the shutter and body.

Yashica mats may be different.

 

Good luck - Greg

[ian_fallis1]

On your related question, my guess is your Yashica-Mat is starting to develop winder problems, quite common in the Yashica TLRs. I have a Mat that is far from silent, but I certainly would not say it makes "an assertive ratchet sound." And I am seeing some uneven spacing on the negs/trannies that make me suspect my winding mechanism is on the way out.

[pete_andrews]

If you've left an empty plastic spool in the body, then your Yashica Mat will make an excessive noise. It's just the frame counter wheel rattling on the spool, and it'll go away when there's film in there.