The Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AiS I recently picked up quickly developed a problem. I suddenly had a set of oily aperture blades.
Quick as a bunny I went over to Richard Haw's website to read-up on how to disassemble the oil-stricken lens. The process didn't look too bad, but decided to take it a step at a time. I didn't want to make a mess of it by stripping screw-heads like I accidentally had on an otherwise nice Auto S.C.
By the way the rear mount came off the AiS I knew someone had been into this lens before. The screws weren't as tight as they are coming from the factory.
Step one, remove the rear mount and assess the situation to see if something had caught in the spring mechanism. After looking around I reassembled it and realized I hadn't solved the problem.
Step two, re-remove the rear mount and drop the element carrier out the front barrel to get at the aperture mechanism. As M.Haw suggests, the 50mm AiS aperture mechanism is just like the Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/2 Ai/AiS. Easy peasy, right?
Looking into the lens from the front I realized there was a larger problem. The person who'd gotten into the lens had used WAY too much grease. Perhaps the focusing mechanism had been stiff? Who knows? All I knew is there was grease in places there it had no business being. It was everywhere!
I had an oil spill to clean up. Call in the Hazmat Crew!! and gallons of ETOH, denatured, of course. The natured stuff is best left for the photographer (me). Yes. I'm being somewhat dramatic. LOL!
After reassembly and working with the lens for awhile it appears I may have solved the problem. Keeping fingers crossed on that, but if I didn't get it all, I know I can easily get back into the optic.
Here's the tale of the oil cleanup and aperture blade de-greasing in photos.
The End
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