Leicaflex viewfinder window removal question

[Anthony Miller]

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This is about the original Leicaflex, not the later SL or SL2:

From an old post here it is my understanding that the viewfinder window and glass can be removed from the back of the camera without needing to take the top plate off. Mine has a haze either on the inside of the viewfinder glass or the back of the prism. I can till see well enough to focus but I am sure it could be much more clear if cleaned.

So....if I back off the two grub screws the viewfinder window can just come off of the back?  Nothing else comes loose inside camera body causing issues? Anything I need to worry about doing this? I know I will have to fix the light seals most likely as they will be disturbed accessing the grub screws.

I am fairly mechanically inclined and have fixed other cameras, scientific equipment and tiny model trains, etc...in the past so have the tools

Thanks

Edited October 13, 2022 by Anthony Miller

[Anthony Miller]

Okay, with a bunch of web searching I found a link to a similar repair with a photo showing how it is done. Tried it will good results. Viewfinder is much more clear.

 

I did note that the plastic viewfinder frames get brittle with age with hairline cracks and want to carefully reinforce mine with super glue along the fracture lines. Looks like a very sparing application would be needed so capillary action does not draw adhesive into the viewfinder window itself.