Servicing a Helios 44M ... any advice

Jean Poitiers · 12-09-2012, 07:35 AM

Bonjour,

Just picked up (another) thrift store 44M with good optics (for 3€) , but the focus ring sticks hard ... time for some servicing.

I have re-lubed other M42 type lenses, but not this one. Has anyone pulled apart one of these? Any DIY threads out there to be seen?

Thanks in advance for any input - Jean le Frog

ducdao · 12-09-2012, 07:37 AM

Can you post a the pictures of the lens? There are several versions of the same lens.

Jean Poitiers · 12-09-2012, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by ducdao

Can you post a the pictures of the lens? There are several versions of the same lens.

Bonjour ducdoa ... It looks just like my other "good" 44M, which is pictured below ... Salut, John

**marcusBMG** · 01-26-2013, 10:45 AM

I have the same lens and same problem. Google puled up a you tube video from a guy in Poland of the dissasembly so I am going to try to use that as a guide.

How have you got on?

Jean Poitiers · 01-26-2013, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by marcusBMG

I have the same lens and same problem. Google puled up a you tube video from a guy in Poland of the dissasembly so I am going to try to use that as a guide.

How have you got on?

Thanks for your message about the you tube video ... I'll try to find that one.

I have not started a repair or anything, because things are too busy at the moment - J

**marcusBMG** · 02-05-2013, 05:33 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Jean Poitiers

Thanks for your message about the you tube video ... I'll try to find that one.

I have not started a repair or anything, because things are too busy at the moment - J

la vie c'est trop occupe...

Alors mon ami

the u tube video I mentioned is
Na warsztacie: Obiektyw Helios 44M 58mm/2 (demonta? / disassembly Helios 44M) - YouTube
Its of interest but a pertinent comment posted is that it is not clear how or if he has sorted out correct/infinity focus.

This posting on mflenses is specifically useful:
Help me get my Helios 44M back together!
and I paid attention to it in fixing the stiff focus on mine. However I didn't go as far as he does in disasembly. The easy stuff:
1. take off the mount, aperture sleeve (attention - 2 ball bearings), aperture coupling (lifts out)
2. take off the name ring and housing (3 screws) at the front
3. take off the focus sleeve (3 x set screws those are the itty bitty slotted ones that screw through a barrel to engage with a sleeve or inner barrel and have a point on the end) and depth of field sleeve (same).

None of this changes focus settings. sleeves can only go back in one position.
At this point the helicoid is partially visible. The next stage is the passage clef..
but I just wiped the exposed helicoid with a tissue moistened with WD40 that has eased matters and I'll see how it goes before going for the full monty
I intend to write this up

Another u tube posting I can mention is

You Tube

however the helos 44-2 is in fact mechanically quite different.

Jean Poitiers · 02-06-2013, 01:31 AM

Thanks marcusBMG ... thanks a lot !

12-09-2012, 07:35 AM	#1
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Servicing a Helios 44M ... any advice *Bonjour,* Just picked up (another) thrift store 44M with good optics (for 3€) , but the focus ring sticks hard ... time for some servicing. I have re-lubed other M42 type lenses, but not this one. Has anyone pulled apart one of these? Any DIY threads out there to be seen? Thanks in advance for any input - *Jean le Frog*

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12-09-2012, 07:37 AM	#2
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Can you post a the pictures of the lens? There are several versions of the same lens.

12-09-2012, 07:52 AM	#3
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076 Original Poster	Originally posted by ducdao Can you post a the pictures of the lens? There are several versions of the same lens. *Bonjour* ducdoa ... It looks just like my other "good" 44M, which is pictured below ... *Salut*, John

01-26-2013, 10:45 AM	#4
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,869	I have the same lens and same problem. Google puled up a you tube video from a guy in Poland of the dissasembly so I am going to try to use that as a guide. How have you got on?

01-26-2013, 11:55 AM	#5
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076 Original Poster	Originally posted by marcusBMG I have the same lens and same problem. Google puled up a you tube video from a guy in Poland of the dissasembly so I am going to try to use that as a guide. How have you got on? Thanks for your message about the you tube video ... I'll try to find that one. I have not started a repair or anything, because things are too busy at the moment - J

02-06-2013, 01:31 AM	#7
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076 Original Poster	Thanks marcusBMG ... thanks a lot !