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Vinzenz
Tinkerer
Username: Vinzenz
Post Number: 25
Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 03:30 am: | 
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My Leica IIIf has a sticky rubberised 1st curtain which I need to replace.
I have read that it is advisable to change the curtains with the rollers still in the camera, but I have not found any specific instructions so far. The only detailed description I found on the web is for a FED. However, there the rollers are taken out of the camera with the curtains. What happens if I take the bottom plate off of the shutter unit? Is it difficult to assemble and tension the rollers again?
All instructions I have for the IIIf stop at the slow speed mechanism. Who could help me with the exchange of the curtains?
Should I replace it with shutter material from Micro Tools? They have two versions: 0.2 and 0.35mm thick.
Thanks, Vinzenz |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 866
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 08:08 pm: |
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My small experience with this has led me to be happy to pay someone else to do it. As for material, you need the thin stuff: space is very tight in there, and a thicker curtain will bind up. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 549
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 11:14 am: |
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The 111f is not the ideal patient for a first attempt at curtain replacement, even the FED or Zorki causes problems for beginner. Follow Rick's advice and shell out some cash on an expert, that way you will end up with a pristine camera and no frayed nerves. The 111f does not take kindly to being thrown into a corner in a fit of frustration! |
Vinzenz
Tinkerer
Username: Vinzenz
Post Number: 26
Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 03:57 pm: |
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Thanks for your comments. My idea was to replace the curtains first and then, should I actually fail to restore the camera to full function, I could still bring it to a specialist nearby (I know a great technician here, but his prices are quite steep, too).
I have replaced shutter ribbons in Nettax and Contax shutters lately, which makes me think it should be possible to change the curtains in the IIIf. I am usually patient with this sort of work, so the danger for the camera to be thrown against the wall is minimal...
What makes the IIIf particularly difficult for the job? I think – after the removal of the slow speed unit – I could now unscrew the negative mask/roller shield to have access to the curtains. Is there any risk involved as long as I leave the rollers tensioned in their place? Or would you suggest to take everything completely apart? |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 551
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 06:45 pm: |
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I always strip down fully, but then I had a very experienced mentor who spent his working life servicing Leica cameras. I think that as you have experience with other cameras, your course of action will not raise any hidden problems. |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 867
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 08:53 pm: |
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What makes the Leicas difficult is their construction: they are designed to be very compact, and as a result space is very tight and nothing opens up for easy access. I can replace Contax ribbons, and curtains in Pentacons, Praktinas and Exaktas pretty much in my sleep, and I once stripped down a Contax S on the tray table of an airliner in flight (they don't let you do that stuff any more)... but in these, you can open the camera and reach the area where you need to work. It's not so much a question of not being able to do the job on the Leica as that it is (for me at least) not a very entertaining job. And that tight space makes your choice of curtain material especially critical: the curtain stock that I use on the above mentioned SLRs will not run in a Leica, there is not enough room for the curtain thickness.
On the other hand, if you find that you do enjoy this work, you will find application for it: Leicas are going to be around for some time yet, and you won't have a lot of competition for the curtain replacement business. |
Jon_goodman
Tinkerer
Username: Jon_goodman
Post Number: 25
Registered: 05-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - 09:15 pm: |
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If you need the thin curtain cloth (.0065") used by Leica, I have it. Just send me an email. Good luck.
Jon |
