Fixing a problem with a camera device doesn't always have to be a one-day project.
And you certainly don't have to hire a workshop that does a good job, saves your own time, but of course also charges for it.
Here I have a Tokina 35-105 on my table:
The overall condition is excellent, only the aperture blades lacked the necessary jaggedness when closing.
The examination revealed that the aperture blades were dry.
However, I couldn't see the entire aperture register because the aperture blades are only partially visible from the outside through the tube.
Oil in the background?
I suspected an oil contamination problem and wondered what I could do.
Oil forms when the lubricant decomposes on the helicoids. It also tends to creep into the aperture register or through the tube and makes the aperture blades difficult to move.
Since I now had a few small Tokina zooms at the table, I was able to assess which way meant which complication.
It would have been optimal to remove the aperture register and clean everything.
This would have required considerable dismantling effort.
Something that should be avoided if possible, as any intervention brings with it the risk of new problems.
So I decided to try a lighter fluid treatment locally.
All I had to do was remove the rear lenses and access one side of the aperture blades.
Apply Zippo lighter Fluid several times with a cotton swab to the aperture blades, move vigorously and dry with warm air.
Now the aperture snaps back into place as expected.
Examples of how you can do this can be found here in the repair forum.
This should solve the problem once.
But unless the old grease in the focus screw is removed and the lens is completely cleaned and relubricated, it will come back.
You get what you pay for
Why am I telling you this?
The fact that aperture blades can be made working again in this way is nothing new.
Because I think that a small project like this could be a good start for someone who wants to take DIY action when dealing with problems.
It doesn't take much - all the tools you purchase remain for future projects:
Actually indispensable:
A magnetizer/demagnetizer - this is how screwdrivers become masters of small metal screws
+++
All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
And you certainly don't have to hire a workshop that does a good job, saves your own time, but of course also charges for it.
Here I have a Tokina 35-105 on my table:
The overall condition is excellent, only the aperture blades lacked the necessary jaggedness when closing.
The examination revealed that the aperture blades were dry.
However, I couldn't see the entire aperture register because the aperture blades are only partially visible from the outside through the tube.
Oil in the background?
I suspected an oil contamination problem and wondered what I could do.
Oil forms when the lubricant decomposes on the helicoids. It also tends to creep into the aperture register or through the tube and makes the aperture blades difficult to move.
Since I now had a few small Tokina zooms at the table, I was able to assess which way meant which complication.
It would have been optimal to remove the aperture register and clean everything.
This would have required considerable dismantling effort.
Something that should be avoided if possible, as any intervention brings with it the risk of new problems.
So I decided to try a lighter fluid treatment locally.
All I had to do was remove the rear lenses and access one side of the aperture blades.
Apply Zippo lighter Fluid several times with a cotton swab to the aperture blades, move vigorously and dry with warm air.
Now the aperture snaps back into place as expected.
Examples of how you can do this can be found here in the repair forum.
This should solve the problem once.
But unless the old grease in the focus screw is removed and the lens is completely cleaned and relubricated, it will come back.
You get what you pay for
Why am I telling you this?
The fact that aperture blades can be made working again in this way is nothing new.
Because I think that a small project like this could be a good start for someone who wants to take DIY action when dealing with problems.
It doesn't take much - all the tools you purchase remain for future projects:
- a spanner wrench for loosening retaining rings
- cotton/cleaning swabs
- a JIS (Japan Industry Standard) screwdriver for recessed head screws, size 0
- a pair of tweezers
- a probe for moving small, difficult-to-reach parts, for example in the lens barrel.
- lighter fluid
- a lens sucker for holding lenses, ideal with different sized attachments.
Actually indispensable:
A magnetizer/demagnetizer - this is how screwdrivers become masters of small metal screws
+++
All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
