Marco, Model 101 Lensometer, Problems with the Tilt Mechanism (2017)
Energy Conservation in Housing
Marco, Model 101 Lensometer, Problems with the Tilt Mechanism (2017)
At the base of the lensometer is a tilt mechanism, that allows you to put it at an angle that makes it easy to work with the device.
This model of lensometer eventually gets to the point, that it will not stand up on its own.
The problem is a gummy spacer washer at the base, that eventually degenerates, falls apart, and even crumbles, after a decade or two.
Then, no matter how you try to tighten the base, the lensometer will no longer stand up when you attempt to control the tilt setting.
I have repaired a number of these, except I usually make a “homemade” replacement washer instead of replacing the gummy washer. (see details in the narrative below).
Or just get the replacement washer from an optical servicing company.
Disassembly steps, usually taking less than 1 hour, once you have a replacement washer.
- To remove the tilt mechanism shaft: Remove the four #2 Philips screws that secure the lower housing cover.
- Inside you can visualize the shaft, and the (2.5mm) Allen cap head screw that secures it.
- Loosen the Allen screw, and then slide out the shaft, in the direction AWAY from the tightening lever. (You could try gripping the shaft with a needle nose pliers, to get it to slide out. Or try a little prying with a standard screwdriver against the shaft to move it in that direction.)
- Separate the body of the lensometer from the base. Clean out the debris.
- Fashion a replacement (plastic) washer, which I made out of a (blue) plastic electrical box cover.
- Drill the center hole at ½ inch, cut around the perimeter with a coping saw, and sanded the surfaces smooth. The exterior washer size is about 1.5” (or you can make washers easier, if you have a 1.5” hole saw).
- I found it easier to reassemble if I put the replacement washer on the opposite side as the tightening lever.
- DON’T lubricate the washers. Better tilt resistance if NOT lubricated.
- It was a tight fit to get it in place, but appears to work smoothly.
- Then I reassembled the lensometer. Clean the exposed internal optics while disassembled.
Energy Conservation in Housing
March 2019. Interesting damage to a Marco 101 lensmeter.
There is a lens in front of the axis scale, that magnifies the axis scale.
During a clinic painting project, the workers handled the lensometer, and broke off that lens. I contacted my parts person at Lombart. He sent me a diagram of the Marco 101 lensometer.
On page 15 of the attached PDF.
See the housing part labeled 30101-2160
We discussed the repair, and that the original part has been replaced. Now I will be needing a series of parts, which are diagramed on page 64 of the attached PDF. Then the Lombart parts person sent me a list of the parts.
Cover - $ 29.40
Lens frame ( Holder ) - $ 23.10
Lens retaining clip- $ 4.95
Lens- $ 16.80
Screws- $ 3.25 each (2 needed)
Once I got the above parts, I was able to assemble the parts on the new cover. I used Locktite thread sealant on the two screws, to make sure they didn’t loosen, once I installed the part.
Then I went to the clinic and removed the existing cover (which is missing the lens), and installed the new cover which has the new lens. It was a perfect fit.
Once I got the old cover off, I could see on the inside that the heads of the screws were still inside the cover. The screws and lens assembly had been completely broken off the original cover of the lensometer, when damaged by the “painters.”