Sticky aperture ring on 20mm lens.

I have a Nikon 20mm 2.8 Af lens that has only seen use on AF cameras
since new. When I use it on my FM3a or FG, the aperture ring is sticky
and hard to rotate. It does seem to be getting better, but I'd like to
make it move as easily as my mf lenses. The aperture blades do work
properly on an AF and MF camera, it just feels like the ring is
sticky.
Any remedies out there I could use other than sending it to repair
shop? A bit of graphite to the underside of the ring maybe?
I got a good deal on it knowing it had this problem. The aperture
blades work just as they should on the D100, but then I'm not using
the aperture ring to adjust aperture on it.

That's a fairly easy fix, if you are the handy sort. You'll have to remove
the electronic contact, the stainless steel lens mount and then the aperture
ring. It should pull straight out. But be careful. There is a detent ball
and spring or piece of spring steel used to give the ring a positive "feel"
as you arrive at each f/stop. There's probably dirty grease in there that is
increasing the friction and making it sticky and hard to move (or worse.
Something may be broken as well. Parts are easy to get right from Nikon in
Torrance, California). Clean the inside of the ring and surrounding area on
the lens barrel, and then add a very, VERY thin layer of grease. A little
goes a long way. I'm not sure what kind of grease is "correct" but I've used
white lithium grease with great results. You should be able to get something
suitable at your local hardware store. You may not know this but most of the
screws on camera gear are not "phillips" but are actually "crosspoint".
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to work on these things with the
crosspoint screwdriver. Oh, one more thing...never, EVER spray graphite
powder into a lens. Hope this helps.

Chris

"jones144" wrote in message
...
I have a Nikon 20mm 2.8 Af lens that has only seen use on AF cameras
since new. When I use it on my FM3a or FG, the aperture ring is sticky
and hard to rotate. It does seem to be getting better, but I'd like to
make it move as easily as my mf lenses. The aperture blades do work
properly on an AF and MF camera, it just feels like the ring is
sticky.
Any remedies out there I could use other than sending it to repair
shop? A bit of graphite to the underside of the ring maybe?
I got a good deal on it knowing it had this problem. The aperture
blades work just as they should on the D100, but then I'm not using
the aperture ring to adjust aperture on it.

That's a fairly easy fix, if you are the handy sort. You'll have to remove
the electronic contact, the stainless steel lens mount and then the aperture
ring. It should pull straight out. But be careful. There is a detent ball
and spring or piece of spring steel used to give the ring a positive "feel"
as you arrive at each f/stop. There's probably dirty grease in there that is
increasing the friction and making it sticky and hard to move (or worse.
Something may be broken as well. Parts are easy to get right from Nikon in
Torrance, California). Clean the inside of the ring and surrounding area on
the lens barrel, and then add a very, VERY thin layer of grease. A little
goes a long way. I'm not sure what kind of grease is "correct" but I've used
white lithium grease with great results. You should be able to get something
suitable at your local hardware store. You may not know this but most of the
screws on camera gear are not "phillips" but are actually "crosspoint".
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to work on these things with the
crosspoint screwdriver. Oh, one more thing...never, EVER spray graphite
powder into a lens. Hope this helps.

Chris

"jones144" wrote in message
...
I have a Nikon 20mm 2.8 Af lens that has only seen use on AF cameras
since new. When I use it on my FM3a or FG, the aperture ring is sticky
and hard to rotate. It does seem to be getting better, but I'd like to
make it move as easily as my mf lenses. The aperture blades do work
properly on an AF and MF camera, it just feels like the ring is
sticky.
Any remedies out there I could use other than sending it to repair
shop? A bit of graphite to the underside of the ring maybe?
I got a good deal on it knowing it had this problem. The aperture
blades work just as they should on the D100, but then I'm not using
the aperture ring to adjust aperture on it.

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 02:37:44 -0500, "Planar1"
wrote:

That's a fairly easy fix, if you are the handy sort. You'll have to remove
the electronic contact, the stainless steel lens mount and then the aperture
ring. It should pull straight out. But be careful. There is a detent ball
and spring or piece of spring steel used to give the ring a positive "feel"
as you arrive at each f/stop. There's probably dirty grease in there that is
increasing the friction and making it sticky and hard to move (or worse.
Something may be broken as well. Parts are easy to get right from Nikon in
Torrance, California). Clean the inside of the ring and surrounding area on
the lens barrel, and then add a very, VERY thin layer of grease. A little
goes a long way. I'm not sure what kind of grease is "correct" but I've used
white lithium grease with great results. You should be able to get something
suitable at your local hardware store. You may not know this but most of the
screws on camera gear are not "phillips" but are actually "crosspoint".
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to work on these things with the
crosspoint screwdriver. Oh, one more thing...never, EVER spray graphite
powder into a lens. Hope this helps.

It does, thanks.
Doesn't sound like too hard of a fix to undertake.