Vivitar F2 28mm reassembly (FD)

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

Hi All,

I have a Kiron-made, Canon mount Vivitar that I got for a few dollars off of the bay. Not in perfect shape, but seemed OK minus the stuck aperture. I got it apart, cleaned the aperture and got it working again, however, I'm having some trouble with some... extra parts:

These all go on the inside of the FD mount ring, but I'm having two problems.

1. I don't know how to get this bracket (photo top left) in the side of the lens. If I try to screw it into the FD ring first, it will not thread onto the lens. If I don't have the bracket screwed in, I just have to "float" it in the lens and try to get it lined up to the screw holes on the ring?

2. This small pin and spring (photo bottom right) were also inside the lens, in the same region at the bracket mentioned above, but I don't know where. They were loose when I took the lens apart and basically just fell out, so I don't know what position they were in.

Could anyone help me with these?

Thanks for any help.

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

Seems my image won't go through, maybe due to low post count. I hope my descriptions will be enough.

Never mind, it went through.

Gardener · Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Posts: 950 Location: USA

These look like they came from inside the mount. Did you take it apart? As in did you remove anything beyond the 3 screws that keep it in place?

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

Yes, the mount was disassembled. Although, I think that I have figured out where the pin and spring go, based on this image:

From this writeup:
http://guru.multimedia.cx/276/

I will have to take a look tonight when I get home. Any thoughts on the bracket that go on the inside of the ring?

Regards.

Gardener · Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Posts: 950 Location: USA

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

I didn't follow this tutorial, but found this picture when I was trying to figure out the pin and spring.

I just pulled it apart and dropped the entire aperture assmebly in naptha, worked the aperture 10 or so times and then let it sit for a half an hour and did it again. I then dried it outside of the lens for a few days and everything looks good.

The mount works without the bracket, it can just completely unscrew from the mount. Doesn't really matter as long as leave the adapter on it all of the time, but it will matter if I ever want to trade or sell the lens. This is likely the last FD mount lens that I'll buy, unless a really great deal comes up. They are all a pain to connect to the adapters (and easily get "turned off") while my SR mount lenses are just plain nice to work with.

If anyone else has taken this apart and has any thoughts, please let me know.

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

Hi Everyone,

Just for future readers, I was able to reinstall everything and the lens appears to be working well. I need to do some tests @ infinity and minimum focus distance to see if there were any reassmbly issues, but I believe that I am good.

The pin and spring were easy and went in as the photo above showed. In case that goes off of the net at some point, the small spring and pin came out of the lens barrel underneath the mount. Both ends of the pin shaft are turned down smaller than the middle, the longer of the two turned ends goes into the lens barrel, the spring goes on "top" and then the mount is attached.

As for the bracket on the FD ring, hopefully no one else takes this apart. But I will try to describe in detail how to put this back together.

When your ring is properly attached it will lock when you turn it to clockwise. If you unlock it with a screwdriver, it still won't turn further clockwise. It will, however, turn about "10 minutes" counter clockwise. If you need to reassemble as I did, you will know that there is also a channel cut on the side of the rear mount that the bracket/lever thing travels along.

Looking at the side of the lens with the front element facing up, place your bracket/lever on the leftmost side of the channel (opposite side of the aperture lever that it will strike) allowing it to sit loosely in the lens assembly. Keeping the lens oriented upward, screw your FD ring back on (it's reverse threaded like everything else on the lens) until it locks. Once it's locked, press the lock lever with a screwdriver and screw it on a little further until your screw holes roughly line up. At this point, you pretty much just have to shake it gently and turn the ring a bit until everything lines up. Use gravity to your advantage by turning the lens on it's side, screwholes facing down and look up to align them. Once they are in place, use light pressure to screw it back together and hope it catches.

It took a few tries for me to get it on, but now I have a lens with no extra parts Wink

AcridSaint · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 6

Also, it was a pain to put together, so I won't be taking it apart to show photos. I hope the text is helpful to the next person who runs into this.