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Evisc
Tinkerer
Username: Evisc
Post Number: 33
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 03:42 pm: | 
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So I finally got down to dismantling the focusing wheel of my Rolleiflex 2.8E to lubricate it and get a smoother focus.
Now I would think that a multipurpose grease was the way to go, but the focus didn't feel as smooth as I hoped.
After that I tried my old friend wd-40 (although this seemed a bad idea), and it got a bit smoother but still not good.
I then bought a white lithium grease, which was even worse!
The repair manual says I'm supposed to use Special Grease LO AL5/B1, but I have no idea what this grease is!
Does anyone have any experience with focus wheel lubrication? Or know what the original grease is? Or what a good replacement would be?
Any response much appreciated! |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 280
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 08:17 pm: |
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Why don't you ask at http://www.rolleiclub.com/ or ask Harry at http://www.rolleirepairs.com/ about that grease. |
Lucas
Tinkerer
Username: Lucas
Post Number: 106
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 11:40 am: |
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I just used ball bearing grease on my MX. Perhaps the rougness is caused by galling and not due to the lubrification, you would first need to clean that up with some abrassive. |
David_nebenzahl
Tinkerer
Username: David_nebenzahl
Post Number: 188
Registered: 12-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 11:59 am: |
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Well, it's hard to tell whether the focus is rough (i.e., not smooth), or whether it's stiff. If the latter, that could be due to the grease used. I've noticed this with many lenses I've lubed with grease. They turn smoothly but stiffly, so what's needed is a less-stiff grease. It would be nice to know where one can obtain the proper stuff. |
Philacamera
Tinkerer
Username: Philacamera
Post Number: 9
Registered: 01-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 26, 2010 - 08:23 pm: |
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I've always gotten great results using Moly grease on rolleicords, and though I've never tried it on a rolleiflex, I assume that the focusing eccentric is the same mechanism. For me, at least, it has provided buttery smooth operation without feeling too "slippy.
Does the repair manual mention using this grease for other parts elsewhere in the camera? This may give you a lead as to what its specific properties might be.
Also worth mentioning is Micro-tools, which sells several greases with gauged resistance properties that should provide you with some additional options. |
