Lubricating cube slider/carrier in the olympus BH-2 RFCA

[Polymerase]

I’ve recently obtained my second RFCA unit, as the one I bought last summer was damaged in transport. This replacement unit has a slider/carrier for the filter cubes that is immensely hard to move - but no apparent physical damage. I believe it simply requires some sort of lubrication, and the seller recommends using silicone spray to make it move smoothly. I suppose this would work work - but being inherently cautious, I would like to ask for your opinions or experiences.

Any thoughts?

[deBult]

Auch.. keep silicon spray away from your optics! You cannot dose it properly and even if you can it will migrate to the lens / filter surfaces in the end.

Disassembly, clean (lighter fluid will do) and relube with Plastilube break lubrication.

I do not have the RCFA unit myself, but be aware screw heads on this era BH2 scopes MAY look like Philips but are actually JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) you will strip the heads using a Philips screw driver.

Check the Alan Wood website to see whether there is a maintenance guide or video (most of them done by fellow member Carl H.).

[Polymerase]

I suspected so! Thanks for claryfying that.
I am perfectly aware of the screwhead issue. Rest assured - no screws need to be turned in order to make this work. The slider runs in a medhanical track. It is (supposed to be) easily pulled out, and snaps back into place. After it is lunricated, that is. In its present state, pulling it out makes my fingers hurt….But there are no physical obstacles, hence no reason to believe there is any other reason for the impaired movement than a lack of lubricants. Unless some clever mind can think of something I have not grasped the concept of.

[deBult]

For a slider I would look for a lighter grease type, Plastilube may be to thick.

[Polymerase]

For a slider I would look for a lighter grease type, Plastilube may be to thick.

That suits me well, as plastilube seems to be hard to obtain in my area.

Do you have any suggestions as to a particular lubricant?

[Polymerase]

I found the service manual. It states that the proper lubricant (if I interpret it correctly) is “Losoid 72515.”

Now where would one obtain this?

Here is the service manual, for later reference: https://www.alanwood.net/downloads/olym ... manual.pdf

[deBult]

I found the service manual. It states that the proper lubricant (if I interpret it correctly) is “Losoid 72515.”

Now where would one obtain this?

The original Olympus greases are “unuptanium”: nowhere to find.
Any light grease will do, e.g. search for “helicoid grease“

if you have no access to specialistic greases: use a light coating of petroleum gelly (vaseline).

[Polymerase]

I found the service manual. It states that the proper lubricant (if I interpret it correctly) is “Losoid 72515.”

Now where would one obtain this?

The original Olympus greases are “unuptanium”: nowhere to find.
Any light grease will do, e.g. search for “helicoid grease“

if you have no access to specialistic greases: use a light coating of petroleum gelly (vaseline).

Vazeline seemed to do the trick! Thank you ever so much!

The one thing that is certain, id that someone will disagree - but I cannot see what the harm would be. The carrier is operating smoothly now. The next move is to learn how to use epifluorescence. I was trained in brightfield and phase contrast, and darkfield to a certain extent. Epifluorescence is terra incognita. I am looking forward to an exciting - and probably frustrating - endeavour.

Thanks again!

[tlansing]

I just came across this very useful thread after a search. The information provided on different greases/lubricants is very helpful but I would be very interested in some advice on how to apply the grease/lubricant and how much. I have read this and other posts that say a small tube of a particular grease/lubricant should be enough for several microscopes or last a long time, so that would suggest that not much is needed. Thanks in advance for your help.

Tim

[deBult]

Tim,

Check the BH2 maintenance video’s on the Alan Wood website filmed by our forum member Carl H.: it will give you a clue on how little grease is required.

I overhauled 7 BH2 scopes and 4 CH2: my first small Plastilube grease tube is still at 50%.

The helicoid grease is still at 95% unused.

YMMV though.