Dismantling a Asahi Super—Takumar 55mm f1.8

Many thanks to Jim Lukow from mflenses.com for helping with copy editing.

Keep the mouse pointer on the pictures for additional infos.

1. unscrew the front plate using a friction tool. In this case the lens thread was damaged so i had to drill two opposite holes in order to open the plate.
   
2. unscrew the front lens group using a spanner or another suitable tool.
   
   
3. remove the three smaller screws (always the bottom/right one in any three pairs of screws) that hold the smallest ring of the lens.
   
   
   
4. remove the three remaining screws so the lens barrel can be lift off. Watch out for the tiny washers — they tend to disappear easily.
   
   
5. remove the three screw that hold the focusing ring onto the helix. Set focus to infinity for easier access. Note: this former screws+washers are much smaller than the one at step 4.
   
6. the next ring is easily removable after you unscrew the next 3 screws found on the side of the lens. One of them is positioned right in the middle of the inscription „Made in Japan“. Unscrew with care, they are the smallest screw used on the lens and can be easily broken.
   
   
7. the diaphragm ring can now be freely lifted. Watch out not to lose the tiny metal ball that clicks when you turn the ring. When you open the diaphragm fully, the ball is located right under „1.8“ number.
   
8. rotate the helix until it goes out. It is a good idea to somehow mark the position of the helix: if the entering position is missed, the focus won’t match the inscriptions on the focus ring. I use a permanent marker for this purpose.
   
9. the yellow ring can be unscrewed freely and lifted off.
10. the remaining ring is held on mounting flange by another three screws (this is the only occasion when you need a philips screwdriver). On this ring, there’s also another screw who’s purpose in unknown to me, probably a limiter of some sort.
    
    

Feel free to take apart the remaining mechanism if you want or need to.

After we finish dismantling the lens it is the time for CLA.

Later edit: CLA a Pentax Super Takumar f3.5 135mm, by Stuart Willis.

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