Fed 4 rangefinder repair

[rskerrett77]

hi everybody

I recently acquired another Fed 4 for "spares or repair" and it appears to be working OK except for the rangefinder. The spring that returns the rangefinder cam is either broken or missing. Is this something that can be fixed easily or is it better to concentrate on zone focusing or pass it on to a more technically competent person? I have partially disassembled a few early Feds and Zorkis but have never dared to take the top off a Fed 4.

[daveh]

Good morning. It's over to Wayne or one of the others on this one. You certainly won't want to be doing it today, unless the weather if different where you live. Typical really, they change the Bank Holiday weekend and we have the best may May for many a year. No doubt the rain will be back for next week.

[mickeyobe]

Aren't you folks talking about two different kinds of spring?

Mickey

[rskerrett77]

I'm not sure I want to do it at all, really, but if someone told me it was a piece of cake I might give it a go. it's not as if I really NEED another Fed. I did get a case and lens (I 61 of course) as part of the deal so I reckon the body was more or less free.

[daveh]

Mickey, perhaps so, but a spring would be better for the camera than a fall.

[Deleted]

I don't remember now how the FED spring is connected or what king of spring is used. I know it's up inside the top house and getting to it requires removing numerous screws and other top hardware. It has been my experience that most Soviet gear is quite simple in design. The problem is getting to those simple parts.

W.

[rskerrett77]

Hi Wayne

This is exactly my feeling about it. The presence of a lever wind mechanism and an exposure meter are complicating factors that make me nervous.A Fed 2 would be a simpler proposition and there is a guide to disassembly on the web. I also have the book by Maizenberg (in Russian, which makes it a bit more difficult), but I don't think he goes as far as the Fed 4. I must root out my copy.

[daveh]

.....in Russian, which makes it a bit more difficult.....

.....unless you are Russian of course. ;D


It'll look good on the shelf though!

[Deleted]

May 29, 2012 14:57:41 GMT -5 rskerrett77 said:

Hi Wayne

This is exactly my feeling about it. The presence of a lever wind mechanism and an exposure meter are complicating factors that make me nervous.A Fed 2 would be a simpler proposition and there is a guide to disassembly on the web. I also have the book by Maizenberg (in Russian, which makes it a bit more difficult), but I don't think he goes as far as the Fed 4. I must root out my copy.

My brother-in-law got the English version of the Maizenberg book for me when it was still available in England about 10 years ago. But I sold it when it fetched about three time what I paid for it. He knew everything there was to know about Soviet cameras.

W.

[rskerrett77]

I managed to dig out my copy of Maizenberg and my recollection was correct. He only gets as far as the Fed 3. I'm sure the rangefinder mechanism is very similar if not identical, but as you say, getting to it is the problem.Maizenberg says the Fed 3 viewfinder and rangefinder differ little from the Fed 2 , so perhaps I should attack one of my Fed 2s first. I have a suitable guinea pig.

[Deleted]

I think the FED 3 and 4 are probably near identical.

W.