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Haig Hovaness
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 02:59 pm: | 
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I picked up a bargain Contax 139 Q, but it is a bit screechy when wound and when the shutter releases. Is this a simple lubrication job? Which parts need attention. |
Michael Linn
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 08:50 am: |
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The job is pretty simple once you get the camera apart. The "shutter squeal" is similar to the well-known Canon problem. On the 139, it's caused by the mirror damper flywheel on the wind side of the mirror box. The wind screech is probably in the wind gears at the top. You will need to remove the top and bottom plates and the self-timer cover plate on the front for access. A drop or two of naptha on the flywheel shaft followed with a tiny amount of light oil should do it. If you want to try this and need more detailed help with the disassembly, just let me know. The 139 is well made and a pleasure to use. |
cwc
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 07:36 pm: |
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Mike
May I know the way to remove the top cover and the self-timer cover plate of this camera please? My camera has an additional problem, viz. absence of aperture display in the viewfinder. Thanks! |
Michael Linn
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 11:38 am: |
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To remove the top etc:
Pry off the rubber cover over the wind lever and remove the LEFT HAND screw holding it on. There is a plate and spring underneath with a retaining nut under. After you get that off, use a piece of rubber (like a stopper) to unscrew the release button. If rubber won't do it, try a pair of sharp tweezers at the edge of the button and be careful of marking the button. After you get the release button off, you will see two screws in the film speed selector. Leave then alone and just lift off the selector. Wedge the rewind shaft inside the camera and unscrew the rewind knob. Remove the three screws underneath and lift off the speed selector. Using your piece of rubber again, unscrew the black plastic ring around the external shutter release socket at the back of the camera. Now remove the two screws at the sides of the lens mount and the one on the top on the rewind side. Now you can pull off the top. Now peel off the wind-side front leatherette. Next remove the bottom plate with the rewind button being loose. Now remove the two small screws at the bottom of the depth of field button cover plate around the bottom of the lens mount and remove it. At this point you will be able to see the flywheel and access it. Having gone this far, you might as well remove the self timer plate- three screws - not the one between the button and led - and take a good look at the mechanism. You can temporarily refit the wind lever and shutter button to wind and fire the sutter. Your missing f-stop in viewfinder problem is probably due to a missing prism/mirror in the light path, which you can now check out.
Good Luck! |
Haig Hovaness
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 12:14 pm: |
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Thanks for the excellent detailed instructions, Michael. You have given me enough knowledge to proceed. I have one follow-up question for you. The Contax 139 repair documentation shows that a fine adjustment of focus can be effected by changing the mirror stopper positioning. Can the adjustment screw for this function be accessed without removing the entire mirror box? |
Mike
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 12:52 pm: |
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Yes, you can get at it by removing the rewind side front cover plate. You'll see the adjustment screw at the back toward the bottom. Before changing it, however, be aware that the most common cause of mirror misalignment on this model (and the 137's) is a tiny plastic bushing which may be missing from the end of the mirror support stud inside the mirror box. If it's missing, your finder focus will be way off because the mirror will be resting too low in the box. The bushing is the same diameter as the shaft coming into the mirror box and if missing, a quick look at the support will tell. |
cwc
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 07:16 pm: |
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Mike,
Thank you for the detailed instructions. They are very useful. |
Haig Hovaness
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 08:12 pm: |
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One more question, Michael. What lubricant do you recommend for the wind mechanism gears. Should I use a light oil or some type of grease? |
Michael Linn
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 09:24 pm: |
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Use light oil whenever you have a whine or squeal- that's an indication that something that wants to move quickly cannot. Please let us know how everything turns out! |
dallas reagh
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 10:42 pm: |
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New to this forum......just bought a Contax139 on line from a reputable dealer in Canada. Have wanted to get back to 'my SLR roots'Well, a little disappointed......seems the film advance lever must be cocked a couple of times and upon pressing shutter release, in any mode, the self timer blinks and the shutter operates after the 10 sec or so interval. Can you help? Certainly can return the body...but if repairable...... |
