[Leica]Lens repair for Beer drinkers (was Summarit take apart)

["Dan S" <dstate1@hotmail.com>]

A brief note on the comments below regarding lens repair:

A few short weeks ago after a couple of delightful Hacker-Pschorr weiss 
beers I got to peering at an old Summicron R 50 that had been sitting in my 
closet for years.  It had a greasy, sticky aperture, a ding in the rear 
element and it looked like I had focused it with a pair of vise-grips.  
Nonetheless it took pretty darn fine pictures.

Now I got to thinking (burp) that if I could only get that darn grease off 
that little aperture thingy this would be one fine daily user.

Hell, it's just a lens and an old one at that...how complicated could it be 
for a mechanical (hiccup) wizzard like me.  Hell, I've done valve 
adjustments on a Mercedes fer crist sake!

In I dove with a passion and bravery unknown in smarter Leica owners...I 
lovingly inspected and dis-assembled each peice, placing it carefully on a 
white cloth in the precise order in which it was removed. (hey, what was 
that little ball thingy that hit the floor...) Finally I reached the inner 
sanctum.  The LENS ELEMENT CASING. I played with it for what seemed like a 
half an hour (One more beer)

Eventually I realized that even a mechanical GENIUS like myself could not 
pry apart the element casing. "I know when I am beaten, let's just put this 
baby back together".  HA!  HA! I say HA!  Those devils in Wetzlar made a 
lens that can only be built ONCE and any work done afterward must be 
accompanied by pagan prayers.

Today I am enjoying my 50mm Summicron Loupe.

Heed the warnings of others...Let the Germans rebuild their own damn lenses!

Best Wishes
Dan States
Madison WI







>I stand enlightened, Jonathan, thank you.  However...and I don't know about
>the rest of you...when I take a Summarit or Sumilux apart, somehow I just
>can't stop myself from separating cemented lens elements.
>
>In spite of Jonathan's analysis, I still remain baffled as to why one would
>risk damaging a more or less expensive lens by taking it apart when there
>are many fine people who are trained to do this for us at a relatively
>modest cost (relative to the replacement of a lens).
>
>	Buzz
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Lee, Jonathan [mailto:Jonathan.Lee@hrcc.on.ca]
>Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 3:19 PM
>To: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
>Subject: RE: [Leica] Summarit take apart?
>
>
>Buzz,
>
>You don't need to be specially trained to take the lens groups apart.
>Provided you do not try to unglue cemented elements or to take the aperture
>blades apart, you really can't ruin a lens.  A lens is (simply put) nothing
>much more than some threaded pieces screwed together and with some 
>retaining
>screws put in. If you have any mechanical aptitude, you can take a lens,
>even a Lecia lens, apart.
>
>Jonathan Lee
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Buzz Hausner [mailto:Buzz@marianmanor.org]
>Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 2:03 PM
>To: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
>Subject: RE: [Leica] Summarit take apart?
>
>
>Why in the world would anyone want to disassemble her or his own lens?  
>This
>sort of question comes up from time to time, and it seems to me that unless
>one is trained in the arcana of lens construction and the proper array of
>diaphragm blades this is an endeavor best left to those who are.  On the
>other hand, those doing the disassembly may consider this a learning
>opportunity and have no interest in the quality of the lens once it is more
>or less put back together...to those of you I apologize now.
>
>	Buzz Hausner
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: george kase [mailto:gkase@ccfc.com]
>Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 1:45 PM
>To: leica-users-digest@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: [Leica] Summarit take apart?
>
>
>Can anyone assist me in figuring out how to
>completely disassemble my LTM Summarit lens?
>I can't figure out how to get the rear elements apart.
>there doesn't appear to be any slots to unscrew, etc.
>any guidance would be appreciated. If you wish to reply
>off list please contact me at gkase1@yahoo.com
>thanks
>George Kase

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