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[Andhiscamera]

Hi, just picked up a Yashica electro 35 G and the focusing ring is rock hard, will not budge. Has anyong ever encountered this problem? If so any advise would be greatly appriciated.
 
Thank you

[Harryrag]

Although Y electros are usually more prone to develop some slackness over time, this very much sounds like dried out grease in the threads of the helical. Is focusing easier when the camera is warmed up a bit?

[Andhiscamera]

A bit yeah, still doesn't move freely though. Any idea how to regrease? Thanks for the info!

[David_nebenzahl]

I can give you an idea, yes:
 
1. Disassemble
2. Clean
3. Grease
4. Reassemble
 
Unfortunately, I can't give you any more specifics than that for your camera (though I'm sure there are others here who can). I only have experienc

[Elwrongo]

Find a way to get a tiny amount of lighter fluid in to the focusing ring. This often works to dissolve the grease and achieve some movement. I had success this way with a totally stuck Reflekta TLR recently. Dismantling is the best way though as when the

[Peter Robinson]

It's not possible to split the helical on an Electro for cleaning. OK, anything's possible but the amount of work to do it is probably prohibitive. The shutter coupling behind the lens and also the rangefinder coupling lever both prevent the helical

[Peter Robinson]

Just a small correction. The second picture doesn't show the end of the shutter cocking shaft as indicated. There is a coupling between the shaft and the shutter which is behind the shutter. This makes little difference in this instance I think but you

[Peter Robinson]

Well, like I said, nothing's impossible.
 
I just happen to have an Electro on the bench at the moment and decided to see if I could split the helical. Essentially, if you remove the shutter from the lens assembly by removing the rear lens el

[David_nebenzahl]

Damn! They don't call it the Electro for nothing, do they? I've never seen so many dang wires inside a camera. (But then I'm pretty much in the Neolithic age and never go rooting around inside modren cameras like SLRs.)
 
So now you've got

[Peter Robinson]

Yeah, but mine was smooth to start with. I did this just for the hell of it and to give a bit of help to the OP.
 
Did you see what I did there Harry? Despite the fact the OP probably won't do this, I still tried to answer their question. (Priv