HELP! M42 Adapter won't come off, lol.

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:00 AM

I guess I made mistake of screwing on the M42 adapter to the lens first. Then I tried to put it on the body and it won't lock into the camera. Now I am trying to take the adapter off and I can't seem to unscrew it--sooo tight.

Facing the rear of the lens, which way do I unscrew the adapter? clockwise or counter-clockwise? Don't know how I am gonna get this off.. might have to use channel locks--with some fabric inbetween.

joe.penn · 05-27-2011, 09:06 AM

Which adapter is it? Is it the Pentax or a third party one?

v5planet · 05-27-2011, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by geekette

I guess I made mistake of screwing on the M42 adapter to the lens first. Then I tried to put it on the body and it won't lock into the camera. Now I am trying to take the adapter off and I can't seem to unscrew it--sooo tight.

Facing the rear of the lens, which way do I unscrew the adapter? clockwise or counter-clockwise? Don't know how I am gonna get this off.. might have to use channel locks--with some fabric inbetween.

Lefty loosey, righty tighty. if you have the lens with the front end pointing down, I believe you will want to turn the adaptor counter-clockwise.

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Which adapter is it? Is it the Pentax or a third party one?

It's the authentic one. Asahi Pentax, Made in Japan.

bjake · 05-27-2011, 09:24 AM

Use a small screwdriver to depress the spring away from the camera body,use the screwdriver to help it start turning counterclockwise.
Jake
Name: dal 55-200 test 034.jpg
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Name: dal 55-200 test 034.jpg
Views: 1039
Size: 61.3 KB

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by bjake

Use a small screwdriver to depress the spring away from the camera body,use the screwdriver to help it start turning counterclockwise.
Jake
Attachment 92737

It's already off the body, and this f'er won't come off.. it's locked on so tight..wth

jstevewhite · 05-27-2011, 09:29 AM

I took that freaking spring off after the first time I had trouble releasing it.

But I think the OP is trying to get it off the lens, not the body.

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:30 AM

The stupid K2 manual says to put the adapter on the lens first then bayonet it in.. I did exactly that but it WILL NOT lock into the body.

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:33 AM

Could it be possible the aperture pin is interfering? Keeping it from locking in?

geekette · 05-27-2011, 09:37 AM

Ok managed to lock it into the body and unscrewed it. The pin on the side of the adapter wasn't sticking out far enough to lock in.. I bent it out and it locked in this time.

OftheManor · 05-27-2011, 09:45 AM

If you find yourself in the same pickle again, try using a rear lens cap from a K-series lens to increase the torque. Much easier than peeling off your fingerprints

jstevewhite · 05-27-2011, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by geekette

Ok managed to lock it into the body and unscrewed it. The pin on the side of the adapter wasn't sticking out far enough to lock in.. I bent it out and it locked in this time.

Huh.. I would leave the adapter on my Helios (with LocTite!) if it would mount on the camera with the aperture pin protruding, but it won't. I have to put the adapter in the camer and then screw in the lens.

**BigDave** · 05-27-2011, 10:09 AM

I have a bellows with M42 and leave the adapter on all the time. It is a pain to screw the bellows onto the adapter! Also, the adapter does not seem to orient the bellows perfectly square to the camera, so I had to tighten the adapter on tighter. Also had to adjust the locking spring!

The adapter is on there now!

Wasn't that all nerve wracking?

Regards,

**pacerr** · 05-27-2011, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by BigDave

. . . the adapter does not seem to orient the bellows perfectly square to the camera . . .

Most of the generic bellows have recessed set-screws that allow the female part of the lens mount to be rotated for exact alignment.

Also note that those adapters without the wide flange can be adjusted with shims to set the lens orientation. The registration distance is dependent on the base of the lens seating against the camera face regardless of whether the adapter is fully seated or not.

A squishy, small diameter rubber band or o-ring under the adapter often allows considerable freedom in the radial lens position when mounted.

H2

**BigDave** · 05-27-2011, 10:42 AM

Thanks pacer. The problem was it would not turn enough! I had to really tighten it down. It is there for the duration now!

Thanks for the feed back though. If I ever get one that goes a bit too far then the O ring is certainly the preferred remedy.

Regards,

05-27-2011, 09:00 AM	#1
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	HELP! M42 Adapter won't come off, lol. I guess I made mistake of screwing on the M42 adapter to the lens first. Then I tried to put it on the body and it won't lock into the camera. Now I am trying to take the adapter off and I can't seem to unscrew it--sooo tight. Facing the rear of the lens, which way do I unscrew the adapter? clockwise or counter-clockwise? Don't know how I am gonna get this off.. might have to use channel locks--with some fabric inbetween.

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05-27-2011, 09:06 AM	#2
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Which adapter is it? Is it the Pentax or a third party one?

05-27-2011, 09:08 AM	#3
v5planet Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Photos: Albums Posts: 1,915	Originally posted by geekette I guess I made mistake of screwing on the M42 adapter to the lens first. Then I tried to put it on the body and it won't lock into the camera. Now I am trying to take the adapter off and I can't seem to unscrew it--sooo tight. Facing the rear of the lens, which way do I unscrew the adapter? clockwise or counter-clockwise? Don't know how I am gonna get this off.. might have to use channel locks--with some fabric inbetween. Lefty loosey, righty tighty. if you have the lens with the front end pointing down, I believe you will want to turn the adaptor counter-clockwise.

05-27-2011, 09:08 AM	#4
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Originally posted by joe.penn Which adapter is it? Is it the Pentax or a third party one? It's the authentic one. Asahi Pentax, Made in Japan.

05-27-2011, 09:24 AM	#5
bjake Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Eastern Kentucky Posts: 416	Use a small screwdriver to depress the spring away from the camera body,use the screwdriver to help it start turning counterclockwise. Jake

05-27-2011, 09:28 AM	#6
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Originally posted by bjake Use a small screwdriver to depress the spring away from the camera body,use the screwdriver to help it start turning counterclockwise. Jake Attachment 92737 It's already off the body, and this f'er won't come off.. it's locked on so tight..wth

05-27-2011, 09:29 AM	#7
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	I took that freaking spring off after the first time I had trouble releasing it. But I think the OP is trying to get it off the lens, not the body.

05-27-2011, 09:30 AM	#8
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	The stupid K2 manual says to put the adapter on the lens first then bayonet it in.. I did exactly that but it WILL NOT lock into the body.

05-27-2011, 09:33 AM	#9
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Could it be possible the aperture pin is interfering? Keeping it from locking in?

05-27-2011, 09:37 AM	#10
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Ok managed to lock it into the body and unscrewed it. The pin on the side of the adapter wasn't sticking out far enough to lock in.. I bent it out and it locked in this time.

05-27-2011, 09:45 AM	#11
OftheManor Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: BC Lower Mainland Posts: 118	If you find yourself in the same pickle again, try using a rear lens cap from a K-series lens to increase the torque. Much easier than peeling off your fingerprints

05-27-2011, 09:50 AM	#12
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by geekette Ok managed to lock it into the body and unscrewed it. The pin on the side of the adapter wasn't sticking out far enough to lock in.. I bent it out and it locked in this time. Huh.. I would leave the adapter on my Helios (with LocTite!) if it would mount on the camera with the aperture pin protruding, but it won't. I have to put the adapter in the camer and then screw in the lens.

05-27-2011, 10:09 AM	#13
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	I have a bellows with M42 and leave the adapter on all the time. It is a pain to screw the bellows onto the adapter! Also, the adapter does not seem to orient the bellows perfectly square to the camera, so I had to tighten the adapter on tighter. Also had to adjust the locking spring! The adapter is on there now! Wasn't that all nerve wracking? Regards,

05-27-2011, 10:32 AM	#14
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,349	Originally posted by BigDave . . . the adapter does not seem to orient the bellows perfectly square to the camera . . . Most of the generic bellows have recessed set-screws that allow the female part of the lens mount to be rotated for exact alignment. Also note that those adapters without the wide flange can be adjusted with shims to set the lens orientation. The registration distance is dependent on the base of the lens seating against the camera face regardless of whether the adapter is fully seated or not. A squishy, small diameter rubber band or o-ring under the adapter often allows considerable freedom in the radial lens position when mounted. H2

05-27-2011, 10:42 AM	#15
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	Thanks pacer. The problem was it would not turn enough! I had to really tighten it down. It is there for the duration now! Thanks for the feed back though. If I ever get one that goes a bit too far then the O ring is certainly the preferred remedy. Regards,