Question about a Yashica-Mat I fixed up last week

Picked up a crusty Yashica-Mat at a flea market in Portland for $30. The viewfinder was hazy and the focus was stiff as hell, but after cleaning the lens elements and re-lubing the helicoid with some synthetic grease, the difference is night and day. It went from unusable to taking sharp, clear shots in about 4 hours of work. Has anyone else dealt with stuck helicoids on these old TLRs and found a better lube that stays smooth?

2 comments

2 Comments

faith_king1mo ago

Did you use the synthetic grease on the helicoid threads themselves or just the outer barrel?

jennifer_jenkins1mo agoOG Member

Used the synthetic grease on the helicoid threads and it was a total game changer. First time I did a lens rebuild I put it on just the outer barrel and ended up with gritty focus action. Went back and did the threads proper, just a tiny dab rubbed in, and it feels buttery smooth now. That stuff really makes the difference, especially on older lenses where the lube has turned into cement. You gotta be careful not to overdo it though, a little goes a long way on the threads.