Wild M400 - Focus assembly disassembly

[JWW]

Looking for someone with experience in disassembling one of these. I can't figure out how to get the focus knobs off so I am able to get to and remove the shaft with the splines on it? If (note the IF} there are cover caps on the end of the knobs, I don't see how those are removed either.

-JW:

[Scarodactyl]

Personally, I tried and tried and gave up It ended up being a lot easier to adapt on a different coarse/fine focus block.

[JWW]

Thanks, out of curiosity, what did you end up adapting it to? Any pics. BTW, I found a manual but it's for the M420, which I have as well, but it appears to apply to the M400 too. Looks like there are end caps on the knobs. I just need to figure out how to remove them.

[MichaelG.]

I thought it looked familiar
… This describes a 420 but, as you say 400 looks similar

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... 25&t=37403

MichaelG.

[Scarodactyl]

The only real difference is that some of them have the fine focus knob on both ends and some only on one. I mentioned on FB that it might be worth contacting Al at gearsmade.com since they have that particular focus mount and might have been able to figure out a fix in the intervening years.
I use aluminum for this kind of adapter now, but that original wood block is still going strong for me after all these years. This one might be a good option, he sent out an offer on it for 150usd shortly after I put it on my watch list if I remember right so there is some potential for a deal there https://www.ebay.com/itm/124850394791 It may be more annoying to hook up though since it is probably meant to clamp onto a dovetail on the SZX body, but worst case you could have an appropriate adapter machined via xometry or similar.

[JWW]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to get the knobs off, that was my goal. It was quite easy after I found out how. The coarse knob (the one without the fine focus combined) simply unscrews. Once that happens the shaft along with the fine focus and coarse focus knob on the other side slide off. I never wanted to mess with the fine focus assembly fearing I'd never get it back together. Hopefully, the small hiccup I was having was only caused by the shaft being bent. I did notice that the rack had about 5 teeth worn on it from the bent shaft putting too much pressure on the brass gear rack. Again, hopefully, it wasn't damaged too much. I was careful disassembling everything but I did mess up when removing the shaft and all of the washers fell off and there are many (not shown in the photos), so I don't know the order. <duh>

[Scarodactyl]

Ah yeah, that is an important difference vs the two-sided one I gave up on. In my case complete removal was necessary anyway since a tooth was missing, but for straightening this is great.

[JWW]

Just an update. 100% success!  I tried for a 3rd time taking this apart and messing with different things. I rebent the shaft again for the 3rd time and changed the pressure on the ball-bearing rollers. It works as new now. The major thing that made a difference was the (8) spring washer assembly. Besides the bent shaft, it was assembled incorrectly.