FED2 - DIY VF/RF Service (long w/images)

[moving_electron]

I sent an email today to the site folks letting them know that the thumbnails and links to images in this tutorial are missing as of the server change. Hopefully they will return as this thread is excellent with the accompanying images.

[moving_electron]

I used this repair thread and excellent tutorial to clean out a Fed2b. But the Fed also had the diopter adjustment jammed. I have heard that mentioned in a few places. The symptom is that when one moves the diopter adjust lever all the way in one direction it gets "stuck".

The cause is that when the moving diopter correcting lens is all the way back it can be too far back for the lever to catch it properly so that it can move it forward again. The fix was easy. The square diopter lens (moving lens) was bent a tad forward. I just bent it a slight amount back from 90 degrees so that the top hit the stop slightly before the bottom. Therefore the bottom was slightly moved out when the lens is all the way back. Voila the lever has enough space to catch the moving lens properly. The amount tilted back from vertical is very slight but important at least on my camera.

[Laika]

After the server change the images on the first page were lost so I have reloaded them. While digging around to find the images I came across these as well, someone may find them useful.

Two different types of film counter tension springs



Strap lug detail




Multi part image

1. FED2 fitted with a FED5 fixed spool (interchangeable)
2. Standard FED2 removable spool
3. Lug that holds the spool in place
4. Spool removed
5. Film loaded on spool
6. Spool and film loaded in camera

[wallace]

Hello Laika,

thank you for your wonderful service manual! I have purchased a FED 2 that seems to work very well. The finder is clear and bright enough but wearing glasses makes it impossible for me to see the frame. Without glasses I can't read the scales on the lens, so I'dlike to use an external finder for my 35mm and 50mm lenses. The russian finder I own doesn't fit. So do you have an idea how to solve this problem. Would the Voigtländer finders fit? (terrible, the CV finders costs as much as 5 Feds!) Can you tell me how much the internal finder shows of the actual image? How do you use the camera when shooting objects at close distance? (parallax correction). So many questions....

Wallace

[mnmleung]

Laika, thanks for the new photos
moving_electron, thanks for getting the original photos back!
... looking for a FED-2 to take apart :-) ming

[nomade]

I've a problem the glass prism of the view finder is reflecting the cover!

[mark-b]

Great work, thanks! I hope it stays here, for the time I have to do this myself

[ejfrolich]

Thank you...
Just got my Fed 2 today. I bought it from an EBay seller. It looked ok and was very cheap. When I unpacked I found the vertical and horizontal alignment were way of. The range-finder was dirty en the lens was turning so heavy it came off the camera...
I found your article very helpful. So my Fed 2 is now clean, has a good aligned range-finder and a smooth operating lens. I did it in just over 2 hours. I do not have any experience in repairing camera's but I can manage and that makes me more confident for the future and my other range-finders.

I have a Zorki 4, Kiev 4AM, Fed 2 and 3. Just because I could not make a choice... I opened my Fed 2 and made it mine this way. I hope the first pictures turn out OK!

[ChrisCummins]

Hi, regarding the post on disassembling the two parts of the rangefinder lens, how is this actually achieved? Does the inner part of the two piece construction just unscrew anti clock wise or is there not even a screw thread? Thanks

[Martytoof]

Originally Posted by ChrisCummins

Hi, regarding the post on disassembling the two parts of the rangefinder lens, how is this actually achieved? Does the inner part of the two piece construction just unscrew anti clock wise or is there not even a screw thread? Thanks

I am also looking for the same information. I have an RF lens that I need to disassemble (came out in one piece) to adjust the vertical match, but I can't figure out how this lens works. I have in my hands, essentially one piece. The black inner lens with the silver "trim" seemingly affixed, and no way to adjust the inner window.

Thanks in advance if anyone can answer this!

[wolves3012]

Originally Posted by Martytoof

I am also looking for the same information. I have an RF lens that I need to disassemble (came out in one piece) to adjust the vertical match, but I can't figure out how this lens works. I have in my hands, essentially one piece. The black inner lens with the silver "trim" seemingly affixed, and no way to adjust the inner window.

Thanks in advance if anyone can answer this!

The RF window is in 3 pieces. There is an outer chrome bezel which unscrews to reveal the inner two pieces. Sometimes, the bezel also removes the whole assembly. The inner pieces screw into the body and basically the outer part is an externally-threaded short tube. Inside that is the innermost piece which is a metal-surrounded window. This is just pushed in place and locked to the outer part with shellac after the initial adjustment. The inner and outer parts each have 2 small notches to allow them to be turned.

Hope that helps as to how it's made up!

[Martytoof]

Originally Posted by wolves3012

The RF window is in 3 pieces. There is an outer chrome bezel which unscrews to reveal the inner two pieces. Sometimes, the bezel also removes the whole assembly. The inner pieces screw into the body and basically the outer part is an externally-threaded short tube. Inside that is the innermost piece which is a metal-surrounded window. This is just pushed in place and locked to the outer part with shellac after the initial adjustment. The inner and outer parts each have 2 small notches to allow them to be turned.

Hope that helps as to how it's made up!

Hmm. Thank you for this! Unfortunately I'm still at a loss for how to separate the chrome bezel. I understand now that it's screwed to the inner retaining ring, but it just won't budge. I'm afraid to put too much pressure on the outer ring as it will almost certainly destroy the threads which screw into the camera body, so using pliers or vise grips is out of the question. I've put the entire assembly into some rubbing alcohol for a few days hoping it would dissolve any grime that was holding the pieces together, but sadly it appears that had no effect. I might just have to call it a day on this particular piece and perhaps find a parts camera to salvage a better eyepiece, but I'll keep trying for a little while longer