Re: [Leica] Lighter Fuel for lens cleaning

["Gary Todoroff" <datamaster@humboldt1.com>]

> From: F.Tjandra 
> Dear Luggers
> Is it all right to use Ronsonol Lighter Fuel to remove oil/chemical base
> smudge on the lens?

Just in case I had anything to do with the above idea, here is my original
post from a few months ago. I did not recommend lighter fluid on the glass
part of the lens, but Gabe wrote me to say that the technique worked great
on the diaphragm blades:

> From: Gabe 
> 
> I have a Summitar and the aperture ring is sticking.  It moves, but it's
a
> struggle. Also, it forces the lens not to be locked in place and I have
to keep
> resetting it.  Is there any hints on loosening it up that anyon has
tried?
> 
Hi Gabe -
I learned this trick just about three months ago from Ralph Holsinger, a
local camera repair tech and retired microscope/photo equipment repairman
from Humboldt State University. Also a fine fellow with his own Leica IIIf
and a Leica RT300 slide projector.

Here is what you do: Put a couple of drops of lighter fluid on a Q-tip and
rub it around the lens barrel along the seam in front of the f-stop ring.
Work the aperture ring a bit. It may actually become really loose, but that
is OK. The solvent will evaporate, the internal lubricant will get thicker
again, but be spread around more evenly. In fact, the next day, the ring
may still be fairly stiff again. If so, repeat the process, just using a
small amount of lighter fluid each time until the tension feels right on
the next day. 

I did this to a Summitar, it behaved just as Ralph described it would, and
works fine now.  Now if it were a Noctilux or Super Angulon, I might be a
little hesitant to try this home remedy. As a disclaimer, "your actual
results may vary."

Gary Todoroff