Need CLA done on a 35mm rangefinder

[Alex Ethridge]

I have a 35mm rangefinder camera, a Yashica Lynx 5000, that I would like to get a clean, lubricate and adjust done on. At present, it seems like everything is fully functional but I'm not sure the shutter speeds are within tolerances.

Additional Info:
Someone here recommended Dave Easterwood in Chelsea MI. I sent one to him in October 2021. It seems he has fallen off the face of the earth, doesn't answer voicemails or e-mails. It appears that camera is forever lost.

I looked at KEH. They do that kind of work and I am sure their work is top tier but their starting rate for all 35mm rangefinders is $330 which is quite a bit more than I hope to pay for a CLA.

Suggestions?

 

[Bags27]

I have a 35mm rangefinder camera, a Yashica Lynx 5000, that I would like to get a clean, lubricate and adjust done on. At present, it seems like everything is fully functional but I'm not sure the shutter speeds are within tolerances.

Additional Info:
Someone here recommended Dave Easterwood in Chelsea MI. I sent one to him in October 2021. It seems he has fallen off the face of the earth, doesn't answer voicemails or e-mails. It appears that camera is forever lost.

I looked at KEH. They do that kind of work and I am sure their work is top tier but their starting rate for all 35mm rangefinders is $330 which is quite a bit more than I hope to pay for a CLA.

Suggestions?

Usual Leica suspects, though I suspect they won't do it much more cheaply and they have significant backlogs.

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DAG Camera Parts

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Here's someone I've worked with on less expensive cameras and has done a good job, though I can't attest for how he works on rangefinders:

Zacks Camera Repair – Zacks Camera Repair Website

 

[Overrank]

YashicaCameraShoppe on Etsy do repairs to Yashica GS, GT etc ( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/749680328/yashica-camera-repair-service-cla“. and will also consider other film camera and vintage lens work”. Probably cheaper than a Leica shop if they will do it.

Ive never used them, but have thought in the past about getting a GTN from them

This link https://beyondtheaperture.com/directory/ may give you some other ideas

 

[commiebiker]

For directions on how to do a lot of this yourself. The Yashica rangefinders are cool, but it's hard to justify paying 3 to 5 times the cost of the camera to get them serviced.

Maybe buy another and give it a try yourself. At least this will give you an idea of what's involved: http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/repair.html

 

[Alex Ethridge]

For directions on how to do a lot of this yourself. The Yashica rangefinders are cool, but it's hard to justify paying 3 to 5 times the cost of the camera to get them serviced.

Maybe buy another and give it a try yourself. At least this will give you an idea of what's involved: http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/repair.html

I am a do-it-yourselfer and normally repair most things but the calibration of shutter speeds requires experience and special equipment.

 

[SLN001]

I have had good experiences with Midwest Camera Repair http://midwestcamera.com/

They have done a CLA for me on a Leica IIIf, and more recently on a Minolta 35 II. Check out their website and contact them directly.

 

[Chris DC]

Youxin Ye did a great job on my Leica IIIf but I do not know if he handles other camera brands:

HOME | YYeCAMERA

www.yyecamera.com

CDC

 

[Alex Ethridge]

I have a 35mm rangefinder camera, a Yashica Lynx 5000, that I would like to get a clean, lubricate and adjust done on. At present, it seems like everything is fully functional but I'm not sure the shutter speeds are within tolerances.

Additional Info:
Someone here recommended Dave Easterwood in Chelsea MI. I sent one to him in October 2021. It seems he has fallen off the face of the earth, doesn't answer voicemails or e-mails. It appears that camera is forever lost.

I looked at KEH. They do that kind of work and I am sure their work is top tier but their starting rate for all 35mm rangefinders is $330 which is quite a bit more than I hope to pay for a CLA.

Suggestions?

Usual Leica suspects, though I suspect they won't do it much more cheaply and they have significant backlogs.

https://www.dagcamera.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

http://www.yyecamera.com/

Here's someone I've worked with on less expensive cameras and has done a good job, though I can't attest for how he works on rangefinders:

https://zackscamerarepair.com/

I am shipping it to Zach's today. I'll come back and let everyone know how it works out.

 

[KCK14]

If I remember right, this uses a Copal shutter. Full CLA is complete disassembly of shutter and aperture blades. Reassemble clean and dry. Very minimal lube on a few latching points. Escapement is cleaned, pivots VERY VERY LIGHTLY oiled with clock oil. Shutter speeds are what you get depending on wear of the escapement. The Copal shutter had minimal or no adjustments. Not real touchy like Compur.

 

[Bags27]

I have a 35mm rangefinder camera, a Yashica Lynx 5000, that I would like to get a clean, lubricate and adjust done on. At present, it seems like everything is fully functional but I'm not sure the shutter speeds are within tolerances.

Additional Info:
Someone here recommended Dave Easterwood in Chelsea MI. I sent one to him in October 2021. It seems he has fallen off the face of the earth, doesn't answer voicemails or e-mails. It appears that camera is forever lost.

I looked at KEH. They do that kind of work and I am sure their work is top tier but their starting rate for all 35mm rangefinders is $330 which is quite a bit more than I hope to pay for a CLA.

Suggestions?

Usual Leica suspects, though I suspect they won't do it much more cheaply and they have significant backlogs.

https://www.dagcamera.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

http://www.yyecamera.com/

Here's someone I've worked with on less expensive cameras and has done a good job, though I can't attest for how he works on rangefinders:

https://zackscamerarepair.com/

I am shipping it to Zach's today. I'll come back and let everyone know how it works out.

Great! Hope it works out well for you. He's twice did a CLA on my Nikon FE quite satisfactorily.

...and thanks for supporting the Rhode Island economy!

 

[Alex Ethridge]

If I remember right, this uses a Copal shutter. Full CLA is complete disassembly of shutter and aperture blades. Reassemble clean and dry. Very minimal lube on a few latching points. Escapement is cleaned, pivots VERY VERY LIGHTLY oiled with clock oil. Shutter speeds are what you get depending on wear of the escapement. The Copal shutter had minimal or no adjustments. Not real touchy like Compur.

Thanks for the info but I think I just saw a blur as something flew over my head.

This Lynx 5000 is literally like new cosmetically and it appears everything about about it works. I doubt I would ever find another like-new example like this one so I am very much afraid to trust any work to the fumble-fingers of an inexperienced neophyte, namely myself, who would most likely ruin it.

 

[Gesture]

Thanks, everyone, for the recs.

 

[KCK14]

If I remember right, this uses a Copal shutter. Full CLA is complete disassembly of shutter and aperture blades. Reassemble clean and dry. Very minimal lube on a few latching points. Escapement is cleaned, pivots VERY VERY LIGHTLY oiled with clock oil. Shutter speeds are what you get depending on wear of the escapement. The Copal shutter had minimal or no adjustments. Not real touchy like Compur.

Thanks for the info but I think I just saw a blur as something flew over my head.

This Lynx 5000 is literally like new cosmetically and it appears everything about about it works. I doubt I would ever find another like-new example like this one so I am very much afraid to trust any work to the fumble-fingers of an inexperienced neophyte, namely myself, who would most likely ruin it.

If you haven't already put it in a box, give it a try first. Set to one second and fire it several times. If it sounds smooth and approx 1 second long, you may not need work. Look at shutter blade when set to full open f-stop - do you see any oil stains?

What I was trying to say is that a Copal shutter is fairly accurate if the escapement or blades are not gummy. If it works then it will be accurate for film, no fancy calibration required.

For rangefinder, check to see if it comes together at infinity and then check about 8 ft or so and compare to scale on lens, if close your set.

 

[Alex Ethridge]

If I remember right, this uses a Copal shutter. Full CLA is complete disassembly of shutter and aperture blades. Reassemble clean and dry. Very minimal lube on a few latching points. Escapement is cleaned, pivots VERY VERY LIGHTLY oiled with clock oil. Shutter speeds are what you get depending on wear of the escapement. The Copal shutter had minimal or no adjustments. Not real touchy like Compur.

Thanks for the info but I think I just saw a blur as something flew over my head.

This Lynx 5000 is literally like new cosmetically and it appears everything about about it works. I doubt I would ever find another like-new example like this one so I am very much afraid to trust any work to the fumble-fingers of an inexperienced neophyte, namely myself, who would most likely ruin it.

If you haven't already put it in a box, give it a try first. Set to one second and fire it several times. If it sounds smooth and approx 1 second long, you may not need work. Look at shutter blade when set to full open f-stop - do you see any oil stains?

What I was trying to say is that a Copal shutter is fairly accurate if the escapement or blades are not gummy. If it works then it will be accurate for film, no fancy calibration required.

For rangefinder, check to see if it comes together at infinity and then check about 8 ft or so and compare to scale on lens, if close your set.

I appreciate the information.

I shipped it a couple of days ago and, according to the UPS store, will arrive at the Rhode Island facility on Tuesday but I did look at the aperture blades and there was no sign of oil. The one-second shutter speed was close to accurate as far as I could tell but there seemed to be a consistent delay between the pressing of the shutter button and the actual shutter release and this, more than anything else, convinced me a CLA was in order.

Rangefinder appeared to work but I didn't run any film through it to check for accuracy.

 

[Gesture]

Good luck. Respect your standards and discriminating nature. If you can afford it, why not enjoy something to its fullest.