Being one with admittedly two left hands, I was really pleased as a sun-burned pig stumbling upon a mud pool 
Never was good with fixing stuff but I guess that's what total frustration with the dim FED 2 VF can do to a person.
So I got to work:
A shoe cover really helped with catching all the little screws
The FED 2 in all its naked glory
I was really struck at how logically simple my FED is - no fancy designs, no extraneous features. Just design and construction that makes complete sense. I got working on the RF and VF prisms, concentrating much of my attention there. The film advance and winder knobs, along with the top metal plate got introduced to Mr. Soap and Ms. Toothbrush.
Three hours later, after much wriggling, countless dropping of the gnat-sized screws, here's what I have.
No more knurled knobs with black gunk, and the etched FED on the metal lost its (possibly)40-50 years worth of dirt.
The best part is of course the VF/RF. I'm not exaggerating that the difference is complete night and day. The emerald/amber combination of the VF/RF really is now a complete joy to use. No trouble focusing now even in very low lights. Love reborn!!!
I humbly recommend giving cleaning a go. It made a dramatic difference on my FED. Hope it does for yours too.
Never was good with fixing stuff but I guess that's what total frustration with the dim FED 2 VF can do to a person. So I got to work:
A shoe cover really helped with catching all the little screws
The FED 2 in all its naked glory
I was really struck at how logically simple my FED is - no fancy designs, no extraneous features. Just design and construction that makes complete sense. I got working on the RF and VF prisms, concentrating much of my attention there. The film advance and winder knobs, along with the top metal plate got introduced to Mr. Soap and Ms. Toothbrush.
Three hours later, after much wriggling, countless dropping of the gnat-sized screws, here's what I have.
No more knurled knobs with black gunk, and the etched FED on the metal lost its (possibly)40-50 years worth of dirt.
The best part is of course the VF/RF. I'm not exaggerating that the difference is complete night and day. The emerald/amber combination of the VF/RF really is now a complete joy to use. No trouble focusing now even in very low lights. Love reborn!!!
I humbly recommend giving cleaning a go. It made a dramatic difference on my FED. Hope it does for yours too.
. Indeed, it probably took me longer to align the damn thing than the whole cleaning business. Infinity focus was out, but that was an easy fix. Vertical alignment proved to be a monster - I think I spent the good part of 2 hours on it. 
