Wasted $180 on a CLA kit that didn't even fit my Yashica-Mat

Bought this 'universal' cleaning and lube set off eBay for $180 thinking it would save me money on my Yashica-Mat 124G. Turns out the grease was way too thick for the focusing helicoid and I had to toss it. Anyone else get burned by those generic repair kits?

3 comments

3 Comments

josepha3223d ago

Used to be one of those guys who thought a CLA kit was a CLA kit, you know? Figured if it said universal it must work on everything. But after trying that same thick grease on an old folder of mine and completely gumming up the threads, I changed my tune real quick. Those generic kits just don't account for the different tolerances and materials these cameras were built with. Your Yashica-Mat needs a specific lightweight grease for the helicoid, not the heavy stuff that's meant for a different kind of mechanism. Live and learn, I guess. That $180 could have almost paid for a proper service from a repair person.

jenny_hall23d ago

Yeah that's rough, I got burned by the same thing with my Rolleicord last year.

the_aaron23d ago

Hey @jenny_hall, I used to skip the grease spec too. What changed your mind?