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PL Mount Won't Open

B

Ben Feuer

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:help:
So I had a shoot last night, my 1st AC mounts the lens (a Cooke 20-100 zoom) normally in the PL mount, at least he says so.

We try to swap it out for a prime and we can't actually twist the lens mount! We had to transport the camera home with the lens still attached.

Any recommendations? Advice? Ideas? I'd like to break down my camera rig before long ...:umm:
 
Undo the bridge plate support bolt (The support may be to low) grab the end of the lens and jiggle it a little up and down as you turn the PL mount. This usually works with tight PL problems.
 
Use a heat gun first to expand it and loosen it up. Apply small impacts carefully with a plastic tipped dead blow hammer, or if that does not work, a brass or lead hammer. Make sure everything is supported because when it gives way it will be sudden. Good luck.
 
What is a heat gun and where do I get one? Is it safe to use on a wooden table or carpeted floor?
Click to expand...

Stop trying to unfuck your camera, and take it to a rental house. You are in LA, it should be really easy.
 
I don't know about rental houses. They might not want to risk harming your camera. If they offer camera repair and service for outside equipment they might. Did you try alternating hammer taps on the two ears? Counter clockwise when viewing from the front.
 
So, a rental house with all the right tools and years of experience would be afraid they might hurt his camera, but he doesn't know what a heat gun is and you want him to hit his aluminum lens mount with a hammer?

If you don't take it to a professional, at least stop hitting it, and try a strap wrench. If you dont know what that is, google it and then go buy one.

The only time I ever had this problem it was a series of attempts, and then it was just "well shit we gotta get it off", so we mangled the mount in the process. It was the rental house's camera and they mangled it. They had to replace the mount. Sometimes threads just freaking sieze.

Good luck, please take it somewhere with the right tools,

Nick
 
Perhaps you know best. In thirty years of repairing, servicing and building motion picture cameras and optics I never used a strap or chain wrench once. Seeing as how the gentelman is in L.A. it would probally be best to pop down the road to RED and have them take a look at it.
 
2K vs heat gun

2K vs heat gun

chuck colburn said:
I don't know about rental houses. They might not want to risk harming your camera. If they offer camera repair and service for outside equipment they might. Did you try alternating hammer taps on the two ears? Counter clockwise when viewing from the front.
Click to expand...

I would not f**k with a rental camera, but if it was my camera I would pont a tungsten 2K watt lamp at the mount on spot with aluminum foil over the camera to keep the heat off the circuits. I have used a lamp on lenses to get the rings to come out, so far it has worked several times. Works well for warming the camera at the start of the day...

I prefer a LEAD hammer to all others for giving things a tap, they is little bounce back i.e. dead blow, plastic hammers never seem to do much good and bounce. But in this case I would probably wrap a roll of masking tape (or slit gaffer tape) around the retaining ring and use a pipe wrench to get more leverage. A few drops of WD-40 (tm) could also help, but you do not want to get that inside the lens or the lens would need to be takes apart.

After the lens mont is warm, I could have two friends hold the camera so that the lens is pointing straight down, wrap a roll or two of masking tape (or slit gaffer tape) over the retaining ring, and use a pipe wrench to get the thing to turn.

There may be a bur on the mount or lens, I would look them over and file off any burs so that it does not seize again. I might also put some wax on the lens flange and mount to reduce the seize problem, and grease on the mount helix.

Again, I would never mess with someone's camera like that, only if it was mine and I needed to get things going ASAP...

BTW: I'd would put a large pillow under the camera lens in case it falls when I'd force the mount ring to turn, it might give quickly, and I'd try to have someone else holding onto the lens.
 
Chuck,

I in no way meant any disrespect to you, nor did I doubt your advice. I just saw a big red flag go up when the guy asked whats a heat gun. That to me, indicated that the gentleman didn't have much shop experience. What are the chances that someone who doesn't know what heat gun is has a deadblow hammer lying about?

I never said anything about a chain wrench. I suggested the strap wrench because you aren't going to bend any ears, or shear off any tiny machine screws with a strap wrench (by the way, they are lovely tools and highly usefull).

So, anyway, not trying to piss in your chilly at all chuck.

Cheers,

Nick
 
CW or CCW

CW or CCW

arrinick said:
Chuck,

I in no way meant any disrespect to you, nor did I doubt your advice. I just saw a big red flag go up when the guy asked whats a heat gun. That to me, indicated that the gentleman didn't have much shop experience. What are the chances that someone who doesn't know what heat gun is has a deadblow hammer lying about?

I never said anything about a chain wrench. I suggested the strap wrench because you aren't going to bend any ears, or shear off any tiny machine screws with a strap wrench (by the way, they are lovely tools and highly usefull).

So, anyway, not trying to piss in your chilly at all chuck.

Cheers,

Nick
Click to expand...

Are they turning the ring the correct direction?
 
Cool Nick. I agree with you about heat guns. Mayby a hair dryer on high. I've used heat guns for years as I'm sure Jorge Diaz (he's a very respected man in his field) has. But perhaps not, as you say, for the inexperienced.

So far as turning the right direction, who knows. I did mention about turning the locking ring counter clockwise a couple of times. You know, righty tighty and lefty loosey. LOL
 
I just skimmed this thread, but I think I see what's going on...

Heat gun = bad.
Hammer = bad.

Same for hack saws, chain wrenches, pry-bars, etc... I think the best advice is to call RED and swing by with the camera, the guy is within driving distance.

Other than that, if loosening any supports and wiggling the lens / mount (gently) doesn't work... I'd want to see pictures of what he's dealing with before offering any further advice (mount disassembly?).

And as foolish as it may seem, DANCAD is asking a valid question.

Where did that Lefty-Loosie video go?
 
I've got a jack hammer and blow torch around here somewhere....

I had the same problem with my peleng lens. I kept fiddling with it until mojo let go.
 
yell at it
call it names
slap it
punch it
kick it
spit at it
leave the house, slamming door
come back ...sulk more
talk it out
buy it dinner

Call Red....

But for sure...know what surfaces are seized or locked or misaligned before trying to undo it, in case there are two components misaligned and by forcing it more....you really f**k it!
 
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