A Simple Tool Substitute for Exakta Repair

Repairing the Exakta requires simple tools.  Almost no special tool is needed; except for one which is better used for removing the large screws securing the advance lever, speed dial, and slow speed dial.  These large-headed screws are slotted and looks as if an ordinary wide tip screw can be used for them.  But their slots are curved towards the centre.  Often the flat tipped screws will mar the slot because these screws don’t put the right torque on the screw properly.  The slots take the brunt and get deformed.

The slot on the advance lever retaining screw looks a bit chewed up.  A narrower, flat-tipped screw must have been used with it.  In contrast, the retaining screw on the speed dial is still intact.  Both screws have a curved centre- the middle part curves outwards.  A special curved tip screw driver must be used with these screws to put the proper torque in them to allow proper removal.

Another of my Exaktas need to be disassembled to lubricate the mechanism.  Its shutter now squawks, and is need of new oil.  The three curved slot screws on  the advance lever,  and the speed and slow dials, are perfect.  Using the flat headed screw drivers I have now will surely maim these screws.  I needed a new tool to work with these screws.

I thought of having a machinist grind an ordinary flat tipped screw driver to the shape needed for this effort.   A screw driver with a width of about 8-10 mm would be just right.  Getting it sharp to fit the slot is easy.  But getting the right shape to engage with the curved slot is another thing.  I do not have any sample to copy the shape from.   I tried to use softened wax to get the shape of the slot.  The wax impression wasn’t of help.

Then suddenly, while cutting my nails, I noticed something in the nailcutter’s case.  An ordinary metal nail file.  The curved tip of its handle called my attention- this could be the shape which the Exakta’s curved slot screws needed.

So I took the nail file and put its handle’s tip on the retaining screw of the Exakta’s winding lever.  The tip went into the slot properly. Since the nail file was made of  a softer metal than that used in the Exakta screws, it could not harm them.  I decided to see if the tool can loosen them.  And behold, this make-shift screw driver was actually able to loosen the screws.  A short, steady, and focused turn was all that was needed to turn the screw head.

I will still have a machinist make the right tool for me.  The nailfile’s soft metal body will not withstand the force needed to ‘pop’ these screws.  The nailfile handle shall become the template for the modified screw driver.

Related Posts:

• My Second Exakta and the Replacement of its Shutter.
• (Extreme!) Closeups with a Rangefinder Camera