1965 135mm Tele-Elmar squeaky aperture

[tedd]

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Hi gang,

I've picked up a vintage Tele-Elmar and really like the images that it produces. What I don't like, however, is the stiff and squeaky aperture! Is this an easy thing for me to fix up myself? And, if so, what's involved? I got the lens super cheap and can't imagine it seeing a lot of use, so I'd rather just put it up with it than get a CLA done, but it would be nice to have it operating smoothly. The focus is dead on and smooth enough.

Thanks!

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I bought a 135 Tele Elmar about 2 years ago, 1966, its focus and aperture were a little creaky, had a CLA done. Love the lens, it was good before the CLA great after. Cleaning the inner glass really helped. 

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[1joel1]

The aperture ring on those things have tiny ball bearings and they need to be in the correct place upon reassembly. I got lucky, but I might suggest a DAG CLA or other qualified shop.

Joel

[tedd]

3 hours ago, 1joel1 said:

The aperture ring on those things have tiny ball bearings and they need to be in the correct place upon reassembly. I got lucky, but I might suggest a DAG CLA or other qualified shop.

Joel

That makes sense - I pulled apart and cleaned a Canon LTM 50 1.4 some years ago and recall a similar thing now that you say it. That lens gave me the false confidence to pull apart a Tele-Elmarit 90 later on, which I then had to send in to fix after I totally butchered the rangefinder calibration on it!