Asahi Pentax SP released in July 1964
The world’s second model with built-in TTL exposure meter.
The world’s best-selling SLR camera at the time.
This is a good model to start with when disassembling and maintaining a film camera.
In this article, we will show you how to disassemble the Asahi Pentax SP.
Top cover disassembly
Winding lever disassembly
Loosen the three set screws.
Be careful not to pull out all of them to avoid loss.
Remove the screw (reverse screw) from the film counter board.
Be careful not to break the screws as they are easily broken.
Remove the film counter board by lifting it slightly out of the gap.
Remove the metal fittings (reverse screw, some with regular threads depending on the year of manufacture) with thin pliers, adjustable wrench, or the like.
It is quite firm, so fix it firmly and be careful not to lick the groove.
Remove the base that was secured with metal fittings.
Remove three screws from the black hardware plate.
Use fine-tipped pliers, adjustable wrench, etc. to shift the black hardware plate to the side and pull it upward.
Pull the winding lever upward.
Pull the white part upward.
Disassembling the shutter speed dial
Remove the fixed metal fittings while pressing down on the top surface with fine-tipped pliers, adjustable wrench, or the like.
Be careful not to pop out because of the spring inside.
Remove all remaining parts.
Disassembly of rewinding crank
Pull up the rewind knob.
After opening the film chamber, secure the two halves with a hard object such as the opposite side of a pair of tweezers.
Turn the rewind knob on the top cover in the opposite direction of the arrow shown.
Remove the fixed metal fittings with fine-tipped pliers, adjustable wrench, or the like.
Remove all remaining parts of the rewind as well as the shutter speed dial.
Finally, remove the flathead screw.
Once in this state, the top cover can be opened.
Disassembly inside top cover
Pull the top cover upward.
Remove the spring that holds the prism in place with pliers, etc.
Removing one side loosens the other side.
Loosen the set screw that holds the prism in place.
Only one of the set screws to be loosened is on one side.
Be careful not to pull out all of them to avoid loss.
Pull the prism upward.
Use a cotton swab to remove deteriorated malt.
Blow off any remaining debris with a blower.
Poor cleaning will cause dust after reassembly.
Gently remove deteriorated malt with a cotton swab.
Hard rubbing will cause the coating to peel off. And it causes corrosion.
Blow off any remaining debris with a blower and apply cellophane tape.
This is the disassembly of PENTAX SP.
