Removing J-Bar/T-Bar Viewfinder on SRII

[John Jaquish]

I'd like to replace the J-Bar viewfinder on an SRII with a T-Bar (with videotap). The SRII manual states that the bushing needs to be loosened with a "special wrench" before the worm can be loosened with a hex socket screw driver. Any idea on what this "special wrench" is and where I could find one? Also, before I get started, is removing the viewfinder very tough? Thanks in advance.

[Dom Jaeger]

It's pretty simple.

 

Ringing the hex key socket is a lock nut. The 'special wrench' needed to undo it is basically a two pronged screwdriver - you can make your own by filing or grinding out the centre of the tip of an appropriately sized normal slotted driver. The lock nut needs to be undone half a turn, then the hex key socket can be 'undone'. But rather than screwing out, the hex socket acts against the lock nut and via a worm gear unscrews the ring locking the viewfinder J-bar. Once that ring is loosened (maybe 10 or 15 turns of the hex socket), the lock nut can be fully unscrewed, the hex socket worm gear removed, and the J-bar lock ring undone by hand. The J-bar can then be removed and replaced with the T-bar, and the unlocking process reversed to lock it back up again.

 

The hex socket worm gear allows minute adjustment of the viewfinder lock ring tightness, which controls how easily you can rotate the viewfinder.

[John Jaquish]

It's pretty simple.

 

Ringing the hex key socket is a lock nut. The 'special wrench' needed to undo it is basically a two pronged screwdriver - you can make your own by filing or grinding out the centre of the tip of an appropriately sized normal slotted driver. The lock nut needs to be undone half a turn, then the hex key socket can be 'undone'. But rather than screwing out, the hex socket acts against the lock nut and via a worm gear unscrews the ring locking the viewfinder J-bar. Once that ring is loosened (maybe 10 or 15 turns of the hex socket), the lock nut can be fully unscrewed, the hex socket worm gear removed, and the J-bar lock ring undone by hand. The J-bar can then be removed and replaced with the T-bar, and the unlocking process reversed to lock it back up again.

 

The hex socket worm gear allows minute adjustment of the viewfinder lock ring tightness, which controls how easily you can rotate the viewfinder.

 

Sounds simple enough. Thank you.

[Alex Levin]

I know this is a very old topic but John - did you ever replace the j-bar? How was it to do it yourself?