I have noticed references here to removing lens elements from their shutters in order to soak the shutter in Ronsonol for degumming. I've tried a counter clockwise, forefinger and thumb twist. Also, placing lens on a suede leather surface and twisting. Neither of these efforts succeeded in removing the lens element. Keep trying? Try harder? Put a touch of WD-40 on seam where element meets shutter? The rim of the front and rear elements has a fine knurl, but no spanner slots. What's the best way to succeed at this effort? Thanks.
Henry

PS: Thanks for the input, Fred and Charles. If I can find one, I'll go for the craftsman rubber strap wrench 45531! H.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hwbookout on 2003-03-06 08:58 ]</font>

I wouldn't do the WD-40 thing. If it migrates between the layers,good-bye lens. I've always been able to unscrew them, counter-clockwise, with both thumbs at 180-degrees. I don't necessarily recommend this...but I got one loose by putting in my freezer for a couple of hours. This caused the metal to contract enough to allow me to break the elements loose. Fred.

A craftsman rubber strap wrench 45531; a piece of lamp cord and a pair of vise grips, or a lens filter wrench. Wrap strap around element group and position handle so that as you put turning pressure on the handle it<I> does not</I> go past 90^o to the element group. Going past 90^o usually bends or crushes instead of turning.
Subsitute 1- cut a piece of #16 lamp or zip cord long enough to go around the element group leaving 1 inch or so extra at each end. Lock the extra ends into the jaws of a pair of vise grips so that when putting turning pressure on the vise grips the rounded most side of the vise grips are against the element group and clocking position is as straph wrench precautions above. This is the most likely to slip and do damage method.
Subsitute 2- lens filter wernch use as strap wernch above, just not as strong.
Additional tricks on very tight lens: Heat oven to 150^oto 175^o. Put lens in oven for 15 to 30 minutes and proced as above.

LAST RESORT-Hammer and chisel.

Charles

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2003-03-02 18:59 ]</font>