DIY Lens repairs

[perfect_pixel]

Hi,

I have bought an 85mm 1.8 as a DIY fixit project. I know that the USM is broken and it is full of dust but that's as far as I have got... :rolleyes:

Anybody have any hints or tips or even know what tools I should invest in (to avoid the ending up using the original multi-tool - a paper clip glued on the end of a kitchen knife)?

I know I can get a repair manual for $20 from cameramanualstore.com (http://www.cameramanualstore.com) but do you think these are really necessary or should things be fairly self-evident with enough poking and prodding?

Way out of my depth with this but it should be fun learning...:D



Thanks, Steve

[Belmondo]

I'm going to move this to the lens forum. Somebody there might have an opinion.

[perfect_pixel]

Thanks Belmondo!

[prep]

Get the PArts list for it, that contains detailed drawings that are a BIG help. If you can find a repair manual for it, get that as well, it will probably save you some worry and grief.

You need a GOOD set of jewlers drivers, tweezers and forceps and a shallow dish to work in. Unless you like spending hours on the floor looking for tiny parts! Some of that multi colour Blu Tac is wonderfull, stick bits in it in order and make the parts list with a hilighter of the same colour.

Another thing you may need is a set of pin wrenches, and you will have to order those. Don't open up lens groups unless you have a REALLY, REALLY good reason. And remember you have to get them back without rotating any components, and that can be a pain!

[Dante King]

video tape the taking apart so you can record the process and them play backwards to put it all back together again.

[Sparky98]

After you get the repair manual/parts list and the proper tools make sure you have the proper work area. Listen to "prep" and work in a shallow dish or pan and have some way to contain the small parts.

Years ago I had mold growing in a cheap lens for my AE1 and decided to clean it up myself since having it repaired cost more than the lens cost me. I did a great job up until I began to reassemble the lens and when I was almost through I dropped a small, make that tiny, screw. Mr. Murphy has a law to cover that - the size of the screw you drop is inversely proportional to the length and the density of the pile of the carpet you are working over. I never did find that screw and somewhere in the bottom of a closet I may still have a partially assembled lens.

[Belmondo]

There is the trick of putting a piece of panyhose of the hose of a vacuum cleaner. The idea is that the screw will be trapped in the hose instead of being sucked all the way into the vacuum. I used this trick a couple times with small screws and springs during my model railroading days. Mixed results.

[perfect_pixel]

Thanks everyone for your help!

Prep and Sparky 98:
I found a repair manual at cameramanualstore.com (http://www.cameramanualstore.com) but I think that I am going to have a look inside, get scared, then order it :rolleyes:
I have got the precision screwdrivers but hadn't thought of the forceps and tweezers.
The Blu Tac sounds like a fantastic way of keeping track of the small bits I will definitely be using that.
Didn't know what a pin wrench was so googled it and now I do.

Dante:
A very good tip and the kind of thing that I would have spent days trying to figure out a way to keep track of what came from where. Unfortunately I don't have a video camera and getting one would go against my principle of trying to do this 'on-the-cheap'!! :rolleyes: (again). I suppose an alternative would be to take lots of still pictures and hope to get all of the details...

Belmondo:
Thanks for kick-starting the thread! Please don't be offended when I say I hope I don't have to use your tip :lol:! Very McGuiver though!

Thanks again,


Steve

[lummy]

no, but you do have a camera, don't you? Take pics of the lens as you go along. I will also draw pics of everything as I remove it plus tape the screws to the drawing. You'd be surprised how many different screws there are that look exactly the same.

One thing that has worked really well for me is to use collodion USP to clean the elements right before putting back in place. Be careful to keep it off the plastic edges tho since it can be a pain to remove