Zorki 1(e) - Cleaning the top plate, outside and inside.

[alexvaras]

Well... living here sooner or later this time should come... I got a Zorki 1 (export version), subtype e.

Nice serial number, double inscription at the top plate means for export outside URSS, normally with better quality controls.
Everything is in order, nice speeds (not accurate, halved), curtains intact and Industar-22 in good conditions.

Lets open and clean it!

This is the top plate without the body and shutter, when I opened I found parts of films, looks pretty dirty...

Lets begin with the rewind film release, sorry, not well focused, its that cute cylinder next to the release gear.

Its loosened with that screw at the handle for rewind (B)

Below that screw

Removing the handle we find this, don't loose the washer, allows a tight movement without scratching the plate.

Now we remove the shutter release button with the film guide roll, first unscrew this little one

The top part its as the old fashion way

The gear that connects the film winder with the release and film guide gears

For removing the film release gear go inside and unscrew that one. We can see where it goes attached, warning! there is an spring inside that is used to let the gear to come back to rest position after the film release handle comes back to the right. That spring is attached with that screw inside that tube.

Film counter and winders, remove that one in order to loose everything...

Unscrew by hand (its tight!)

Using this as support

Film counter and

a washer...

[alexvaras]

The washer again...

That spring is attached to two screw that you can unscrew from the top plate

Those two

The spring with the two holes for the screws, notice the the spring came out from its natural position.

Now the film rewinder, if we place it to the upper position and screw is revealed.

Unscrew it and remove pulling out the washer-cylinder-holder

Pulling out the lower part its easy, sorry, but there is an spring from that piece to...

This one, picture lost...

Finally I take out this one, watch out the washer...

The inner part of the top plate, q-tips and brush ready, steady... GO!

One hour later...

Notice how the spring is held by the washer (which has a position for this)

Putting back together all the pieces...

Results as shown

[PFMcFarland]

Thanks for posting this, Alex. Hopefully I won't be needing to do this to my current 1d, as it was overhauled before I got it. My old 1d though is so worn out (it even has the rangefinder from a 1b) that I'm not going to put the effort into it.

PF

[Bennybee]

Nice report, thanks for sharing. Looks like that camera needed it badly. It's looking great now. You obviously know what you're doing - I wouldn't even think of trying.

[alexvaras]

Well Benny... Actually I don't, as I read somewhere just look, think, and try, these elements went fine... but the shutter I missed to mark something and that will be a challenge and maybe out of my skills.
Thanks for your words! I will try and post it for sure

[Julio1fer]

Good work! Thanks for the detailed posting.

For the shutter, in the Rangefinderforum FSU there are stickies with CLA full procedures for FED2 and Zorki 4 types which should be close enough. But you probably know those already. Although you know your way, let me know if you want the Maizenberg book, I have it somewhere.

[BillyBob]

Wow! Impressive!
And impressively clean!

Cheers!
Bill

[alexvaras]

Thank you Billy and Julio!

Julio, that book is for reference or for service? Anyway I will use it for sure, so if you can send it to me it will be fine, just pm to share emails.

[Julio1fer]

It is for repair. I will hunt it next week and share it via PM.

[alexvaras]

Gracias Julio!! I will wait with the shutter till I get it