Seized-up focus ring?

Post by **timdrage** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 5:01 pm

Hi!
I just today recieved my first Bolex!

A B8, very nice! Runs OK, but the one lens that came with it (12.5mm) doesn't seem to work properly; the apature works but the focus ring won't turn at all. I'm scared to apply too much force, but it definitely seems well stuck. Anyone have any tips on getting it moving?

Thanks!!

Post by **timdrage** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:14 pm

OK, fixed!

I tentatively unscrewed the 3 tiny grubs holding the focus ring in place, and after a bit of force it came apart revealing a load of horrible green corrosion goo clogging it all up! So cleaned it + it works pretty well now... i hope!

Website · Post by **tukon4** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:30 am

I just found an Elgeet 13mm f:1.5 Wide Angle lens and the iris ring turns very good but I can't turn the focus ring. It's "stuck" pretty good on infinity and I'm not sure if this is normal. Shouldn't I be able to turn it? Any suggestions?

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:57 am

tukon4 wrote:I just found an Elgeet 13mm f:1.5 Wide Angle lens and the iris ring turns very good but I can't turn the focus ring. It's "stuck" pretty good on infinity and I'm not sure if this is normal. Shouldn't I be able to turn it? Any suggestions?

Just kidding.

Can you remove the tiny [possibly allen] screws holding the knurled focus ring onto the actual lens barrel? If so, you might loosen some grit or other obstruction.

Mitch

Website · Post by **tukon4** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:55 am

I can loosen all of screws except for one that doesn't want to budge. Now it's letting me turn the focus ring but it's pretty tight. There is some dry orange colored stuff underneath (maybe old oil/ubrication).

Post by **Mitch Perkins** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:41 pm

tukon4 wrote:I can loosen all of screws except for one that doesn't want to budge.

An all too familiar scenario. Damn! ~:?)

Try working it in the "wrong" direction a bit - like the caps on oil paint tubes, sometimes you gotta tighten a bit before you can loosen.

Grab the knurled shaft of the appropriate sized jewelers screwdriver with some pliers, ( I guess I wasn't kidding after all).

tukon4 wrote: Now it's letting me turn the focus ring but it's pretty tight. There is some dry orange colored stuff underneath (maybe old oil/ubrication).

I guess ~pretty tight~ is ~pretty useless~ for all but the most controlled shooting environments. ~:?)

Dry and orange sounds like good old rust.

Canned air, and oil maybe - blow out the gack, lube it up, work it slowly back and forth. There shouldn't be any danger of blowing stuff into the lens, as those threads are usually pretty fine and closely meshed.

Mitch

Website · Post by **tukon4** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:09 pm

I kept moving the ring back and forth until all this orange stuff slipped out but it seems like it shouldn't have done that.

The focus ring is now loose and I'm not sure if it will actually focus the lens. I will probably put it on a camera and see what it looks like.

Post by **alpha.tango** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:35 am

Just one word of caution before getting the pipe wrench out - some models of the Yvar 12.5mm lenses for the L8 and B8 models were also available as fixed focus -

I once bought a camera fitted with one without looking closely (price was cheap) and convinced myself that it was seized and got so far as getting the tools and grease out at home before I checked.

With the small size engraved dof scale and poor eyesight not difficult mistake !