Very Stiff focus ring In Ai-s Nikkor 85mm 1:1.4

The focus ring In this Ai-s Nikkor 85mm 1:1.4 was really stiff or dry in the focus helicoids, so with the right tools and paitience it's possible to repair it, just REMEMBER to set small mark's where the focus helicoid's get 's off the thread, it will say also the back lens group the "floating lens group", because it will make it so much more easy to put everything back in, in the correct way.

It's also a good idea to measure the length of the focus assembly, specially the back floating lens group.

I use lighter fluid to clean the helicoid's and grade "10 helicoid grease to re-grease the helicoid's.

Here are some link's to different repair tool's:

Japan Hobby Tool rubber cone:



18 different size rubber repair tool's:



You can also buy this set.

Lens Repair Set with pointed, flat, half flat tips:

JIS cross head screw driver's:

Or this set, that is the set I use:

Lens cleaning wipes (PEC-PAD):

Thin Cotton Buds x 200 you can buy them here:

DSLRKIT Pro Lens Vise Tool Repair Filter Ring Ajustment Steel 27mm to 130mm:

Japan Hobby Tool Helical Grease Made in Japan:

Loctite 222 50ml Threadlocker

[ЭтоДрючинский]

Oh, as a one who always screws up marking part and then has to redo an assembly a dozen times I do appreciate how you set all the marks, it's much needed for any starter to get it right from beginig. Or suffer this steep learnning curve saving your first (ten) lenses from becoming total junk :D

[ishcosplay]

Really nice video, you did a great job. I was taught to do lenses at the Nikon factory and apart from a few things that I would do differently the relube went great. The 85mm 1.4 is not an easy lens to work on but you did a good job.

[Adventure]

Great video, followed it to refurbish my 85mm 1.4. Great result. Keep the video's coming.

[edelgraphie]

Thx for the video. I had the same problem with a lens from a flea market.

[mimcri]

Thank you very much for this wonderful totorial. Now my Nikon ais 85mm 1.4 is like new. Great!

[rotfaimm]

That is why I still use my Mamiya RB 67 with its rank and pinion focusing . With the cheap aluminium that is used in most helicoids I had over the 40 years a lot of problems . I use a sticky grease one the fine thread . The fine thread of the aluminium helicoid cause the most problems of a lock up / stiff / or other bad focusing .


With a sticky grease on the fine thread focusing is not that very smooth but will not lock up for many years .

[jorgea.a.]

superb!! I just used the instructions in the video to do it and it works just perfect!! just a little mistake to put back the front helicoid made me do it 3 times because i did not mark it before....also the screws of the mount weew insane hard...thanks a lot!!!
Regards!

[JC-XL]

This guy went all the way to hell and back 😂 😂
Reminds me of my similar repair of a Takumar 50 / 1.4, although it did not have floating elements

[clep]

Hi Kenneth
Great video! Please keep them coming. I have a Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VRI. I understand this lens focus internally so when you press the shutter, the lens should focus but the focusing ring should not move. In my lens, the AF ring moves slightly and in order to focus I have to press the shutter button 2 or 3 times. What could it be the problem and how to fix it?

[konradgrokopf]

Great Video! Have a similiar problem with my 55mm 1.2 AI Converted). Did you ever fixed one of these?
Regards!

[robertbuck]

Was it really necessary to remove the spring? Could the helicoid have been regreased without removing that spring?

[tomc]

Hi Kenneth; I never heard a lens grunt and groan like that. It almost sounds painful.

[ScholarsHome]

Hi brother, I need your help to assemble back my only lens tamron 28-300mm ... Please reply me private if possible