Professional Documents
Culture Documents
M-Series Leicas
The M-series Leica is still the something new and useful besides This screw is normally sealed with a
standard of excellence among what may already be familiar. black locking agent. Since the screw
rangefinder-type 35mm cameras. Yet must be removed to pull either the top
despite Leica's popularity and length Disassembly Steps For The cover plate or the body shell, you can
of time in service, there seems to be a M-Series Leicas frequently tell from the condition of
l o n g - f e l t vacuum of f a c t o r y the locking agent whether or not the
information in the repair field — at The Leica M2 illustrated in Fig. 1 is camera has previously been
least, so it appears from the a slightly simplified version of the disassembled.
individual questions we've been original M-series Leica, the M3. The Next, remove the camera's base
answering at National Camera. M3 set the design precedents for the plate as you would for loading film.
So instructor Monty Witt ventured other M-series Leicas: the Ml The Leicas based on the M3 design
forth to Leitz in hopes of obtaining (further simplified from the M2) and carry over the load-from-the-bottom
some first-hand factory servicing tips. the MP (a special model for press technique of the screw-mount Leicas.
The notes he brought back from New photographers quite similar to the But the M-series Leicas added a
Jersey should be of prime interest to M2). More recently, the M4 (an hinged back to facilitate loading. You
CRAFTSMAN readers. And we'd like improved version of the M3) took over can remove the hinged back by
to express our gratitude to Leitz for the top roost. But all the Leica models pushing the release pin from left to
their courtesy and assistance in mentioned are nearly identical from right in Fig. 2.
gathering this material. the technician's viewpoint. Only the Reaching into the supply-spool
Although Monty also received M5, which we'll not discuss here, cavity, wedge the rewind fork to
bench training on the Leicaflex and represents a radical departure from prevent it from turning. Then, use a
the Leica M5, we'll confine ourselves the original design. Multispan wrench to unscrew the
this time to the notes he kept on the If you've been in the repair business cover screw that holds the rewind
M2, M3, and M4 ( mainly because of for any length of time, you can no knob, Fig. 3. An exception here is the
the immediate availability of an M2 doubt take a Leica apart. But we find M4—the rewind knob in the M4 sits at
which was used for most of the that most technicians spend time a convenient cant and is held by a
illustrations). We plan to pass along removing parts that could just as well setscrew.
the Leicaflex and M5 information in be left in place. So we'll outline the P r o b a b l y one of the m a i n
future CRAFTSMAN articles. disassembly techniques to reach the disassembly problems faced by the
In addition to Monty's notes, we'll adjustments and timing points of technician is the removal of the wind
include some basic information on the concern. lever cover screw, Fig. 3. The wind
M-series Leicas. If you're already a Starting with the top cover plate lever cover screw has a right-hand
proficient Leica technician, please disassembly, remove the screw at the thread, but it may be extremely tight.
stick with us — you should find top of the lens mounting ring, Fig. 1. To avoid scarring the polished
FRAME LINE
RANGEFINDER WINDOW MASK WINDOW VIEWFINDER WINDOW
RELEASE PIN
Figure 1 Figure 2
surface, use a Flexiclamp wrench or a REWIND
KNOB COUNTER DIAL WIND LEVER
split collet to unscrew the wind lever COVER
cover screw. You can then lift off the SCREW COVER SCREW
wind lever and, in the M2, the counter
dial.
Also, if you're working on the M2,
remove the cover plate retaining
screw shown in Fig. 3. You won't find
this retaining screw in the M3 or the
M4 — instead, unscrew the retaining
ring accessible after removing the
wind lever. The reason for the
difference is that the AA2 has an COVER
external, manually set counter dial. PLATE
RETAINING
But in the M3 and AA4, the counter dial SPEED KNOB
SCREW
is underneath the top cover plate. The ACCESSORY SHOE SCREWS RETAINING SCREW
spring-loaded counter dial in the M3 Figure 3
and AA4 automatically returns when RANGEFINDER SPEED SELECTOR WIND CAM
you pull out the film take-up spool. ASSEMBLY
Another tricky part to remove is the
retaining ring around the rewind
shaft. The problem here is that
standard tools can't do the job — there
isn't enough room for a Flexiclamp
wrench and there are no notches for a
Multispan wrench. So here's one place
that you may wish to design a special,
tubular tool that fits over the retaining
ring.
The remaining top cover plate SAFETY SWITCH FOR " F P " SYNC CONTACTS
components are no problem. Take out Figure 4
the speed knob retaining screw, Fig. BOTTOM COVER PLATE RETAINING SCREWS
3, and lift off the speed knob. And
remove the four screws holding the
accessory shoe, also shown in Fig. 3.
Lift off the accessory shoe, the
accessory shoe pressure plate, and
the spring.
Proceeding to the back of the
camera, unscrew the two flash socket
cover rings and the two flash socket
bushings. If you're working on the M3,
also unscrew the eyepiece frame.
Now, lift off the top cover plate. BASE LOCK PLATE
Before we go into the adjustments Figure 5
and timing points now visible, we'll PIVOT PLATE CLOSING CURTAIN
complete the disassembly of the body FOR CURTAIN TAKE-UP ROLLER
WIND GEAR
shell and the rangefinder, Fig. 4. You END OF OPENING AND OPENING
may, however, wish to replace the CURTAIN LATCH CURTAIN LATCH "X"-SYNC ADJUSTMENT
wind lever with its cover screw to
DRUM BEARING PLATE LOCKING
examine the operation at the top of the
COLLARS
camera. Then, turn over the camera
and remove the three screws holding
the bottom cover plate, Fig. 5. Lift off
the bottom cover plate and the base
lock plate.
CLOSING CURTAIN
LATCH
RELEASE
ROD DRUM GEAR
Figure 8
OPENING CURTAIN
LATCH
RELEASE CYCLE
Figure 7 '
Slit-Width Adjustments