Manual lenses, how stiff is stiff?

[Zang]

Thanks guys, thank you FGAng for sharing the blog...

After using a few times, my lens seems to be loosen up (or I seem to have got used to the tighter focus ring) I still feel it is quite tight; however, the move is very smooth so I am still not 100% decided on the overhaul action.

[pluton]

Just a note on the 24/2.8 AI.  I have one of those, bought in bargain grade from KEH over a decade ago.  It is still smooth as butter. This is a CRC lens, I think, which means it's a bit more complicated than a single helicoid, so I'd definitely have it fixed or fix it if it doesn't free right up with use.

You were lucky to get one that didn't need re-greasing. 
Of the roughly 12 used Nikon manual focus lenses I've bought from KEH over the last decade or so, only 1 didn't need re-greasing.

[Matthew Currie]

You were lucky to get one that didn't need re-greasing. 
Of the roughly 12 used Nikon manual focus lenses I've bought from KEH over the last decade or so, only 1 didn't need re-greasing.

I've had much better luck.  Most of my manual lens purchases from them go back more than a decade.  I guess I beat you to the good ones.

[Jack Dahlgren]

I've had much better luck.  Most of my manual lens purchases from them go back more than a decade.  I guess I beat you to the good ones.

A decade ago the grease was 10 years younger and still good.

[pluton]

A decade ago the grease was 10 years younger and still good.

Ha ha...very smart!

[Gerhard2006]

 I bought a 105 ais. micro NIKkOR on eBay and the focus was really stiff. So I took a can of denatured alcohol with some oil in it for cleaning up contacts for electric instruments spray that into the Heli coil and it loosened up the helicoil and the original  oil had gotten hard from sitting around too long.  Unfortunately some of it splashed onto the back of the inside element group so I went onto Richard Haw's website and could see how to take the back element group out so I did that cleaned it up and now the  lens works fantastic . So thank you Richard. You don't always have to take the whole lens apart.😊

[Matthew Currie]

A decade ago the grease was 10 years younger and still good.

But now it is 10 years older and still good. 

[Jack Dahlgren]

I bought a 105 ais. micro NIKkOR on eBay and the focus was really stiff.

Must be something about those lenses. Mine was very difficult to turn until I cleaned it up. Worse than any lens I’ve seen. Since it is a micro Nikkor the helicoids are probably longer than a typical lens and thus have more surface area to create resistance.

[pluton]

But now it is 10 years older and still good.

There is also the possibility that a given KEH used lens has been serviced since 1975 or whenever it was first sold.
I know...I got one once!

[Jack Dahlgren]

But now it is 10 years older and still good.

Please don’t interrupt my theorizing with your facts! :-)

[Zang]

Rich, are these screwdrives the ones recommended by you?

https://www.amazon.ca/VESSEL-precision-screwdriver-TD-56-japan/dp/B000CED236

Thanks,
Zang

[Erik Lund]

These are good quality:


https://www.micro-tools.de/en/Screwdrivers/Kits/JIS-Type/58-0319.html

They have a US and a EU online shop

[Zang]

Thanks Erik. This is a great site. I will try to order the tools from them.

Cheers,
Zang

[Nasos Kosmas]

I totally agree for the stiffness of some lens due to the aging of the grease in hellicoid
I’ve got a friends 200/4 als in parts waiting for the grease to come from eBay-thank you Richard for the help through the website- and if finally every thing is fine and if I made the Wright choice of grease I have to do the same work for my 105/2.5 al

[Zang]

Can anyone confirm what screwdriver sizes are mostly needed for lenses?

Thanks,
Zang