• From: Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
  • Registered: 2007-04-09
  • Posts: 15

Topic: Stiff Focus Ring...

Hi,

I have a couple of lovely Helios 58mm lenses, one is a Helios-44, the other a Helios-44M.

My only niggle at present is that the focus rings are a bit stiff, the 44 especially so...

Is this an easy task to rectify...?

I haven't tackled the opening up of a lens before, but feel confident enough and do have decent tools.

Thanks in anticipation...

Dougie,
Aberdeenshire.

Canon 30D, Jupiter 11A 135mm f3.5, Helios 44M 2/58 f2, Asahi Super-Tak 55mm f2, Pentacon 50mm f1.8. (and some Canon "L" glass gathering dust..!)
  • From: NC, USA
  • Registered: 2007-07-27
  • Posts: 883

Re: Stiff Focus Ring...

With old lenses, sometimes they will loosen up a bit with use.

I can't speak for the Helios lenses in question, but relubricating the focus can be a fairly easy job. I would encourage you to avoid unscrewing the parts completely, since they can be difficult to re-engage at the correct point, or in some cases it is difficult to avoid cross-threading.

  • Lempicka
  • Focus: Way Over There
  • Offline
  • From: UK, South-West
  • Registered: 2008-05-09
  • Posts: 255

Re: Stiff Focus Ring...

I have cleaned and relubricated the 44M and the 44M-4. They are a little different. I think that the 44 may be quite different. I think that it's helpful to completely disassemble the focussing helicoids before cleaning, re-lubricating and reassembling.  I would say that it's a little tricky to re-engage at the correct point but not impossibly difficult. I've never had a problem with cross-threading with these two lenses (2-3 of each). Unfortunately I don't have a 44M at the moment otherwise I could easily take the back off and guide you through the first few steps with photographs. Have you carried out a search ? People often publish this sort of thing. I've done it myself - but with other lenses unfortunately.

John
  • From: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Registered: 2008-09-21
  • Posts: 260

Re: Stiff Focus Ring...

Hi.

Check this out:

http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=12363


It's about something else, but it shows the disassembling of an Helios 44-2, so you can see how to do it for cleaning/relube.

BE ADVISED: you WILL get your hands dirty wink

See ya!

Pentax: K20D; Vivitar MC 19 3,8; SMC Pentax: A 28 2,8, M 50 1,7; S. Tak. 50 1,4; Takumar-A 70-210 4; Tamron Adaptall 2: 135 2,5; SP 300 5,6; 35-70 3,5 CF; MC Rokkor PG 58 1,2.
Nikon: D40; FM. Nikkor: 24 2,8; AI-s 50 1,8; Micro 55 2,8; Series E 100 2,8; 135 2,8 K; AI-s 80-200 4; TC-200; Ensinor 24 2,8 Macro; Industar 50-2; Helios: 44-2; 44-M. And some others...