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Kalart RF viewer tube
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AuthorMessage
ldawson61062
Joined: 16 Jul 2002
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:06 pm   Post subject: Kalart RF viewer tube

The tube on the Kalart RF on my Mini Speed Graphic (2x3) has come off the body of the RF, and I can not tell you best to re-attach it. It does not aappear to be threaded, and there is a flat ground on one side at the body end of the tube. I am contemplating a judicious drop of superglue. Any suggestions?
mopar_guy
Joined: 07 Aug 2008
Posts: 126
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:25 am

Hi;
Usually the magnifying tube screws into the back side of the rangefinder. Perhaps the tube has broken and left a part screwed into the rangefinder.

Regards,
Dave
C. Henry
Joined: 13 Dec 2005
Posts: 360
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:40 pm

You might try using a pencil eraser as a tool to see if a threaded part of the tube can be unscrewed from the rangefinder. That would be an easy way to check out Dave's suggestion.
Also if there is no glass near the front of the tube it indicates that the tube has broken off.

C. Henry
Les
Joined: 09 May 2001
Posts: 2682
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:57 pm

There should be something protruding from the back of the rangefinder around the hole. You don't say which rangefinder you have, some have a threaded socket, others have a rather shallow black ring around the hole.

If the hole doesn't have something around it, then the focus tube pulled something off the rangefinder.

Les
ldawson61062
Joined: 16 Jul 2002
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:31 pm   Post subject: Kalart RF viewer tube

Well thanks to your suggections, I can confirm that I have more than the viewer tube to deal with. It does unscrew from a unit which has a glass flat, not a lens. And it is the piece which holds the flat which is probably somehow swaged into the RF body and has been pulled out. So, I am back to square one regarding getting the piece which receives the viewer tube set back into the RF body.

Any suggestions will be welcomed.
Les
Joined: 09 May 2001
Posts: 2682
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:18 pm

If it's the Kalart that has either a silver or black cover, then you can remove the cover figure out how to get the eyepiece so it lays flat. Keep it there with rubber bands, then add a drop of crazy glue to each side. Capillary attraction is your friend here.

If your RF doesn't have a cover (there are numbered scales on the front and back, then you do the same thing only you can't see what's happening on the inside.
DHF845
Joined: 20 Jul 2008
Posts: 103
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:24 pm   Post subject: fixing RF window

I've had this happen. Magni-view tube got bumped and pulled out the window it screws into.
I don't like cyanocrylate glue. it has no shear strength, doesn't last. Try a two part epoxy formulated for metals. Apply with a tooth-pick and exacto knife. Use a magnifier. work neatly. Let set for 48 hours or more for full cure.
This is a common problem, later model encircling flash brackets extended around back of RF. Small extension supports/protects/reinforces the magnifying/viewing tube where it screws to RF body.
Good Luck.
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