We see this offered for sale, let's have a look!

The FED 2 had many variants but they are all very similar. Obviously you would ideally want to handle this camera before you buy but we can't. However, there are many tell-tale signs to be spotted from a photo. There are some things here to look out for.

A  The rangefinder lever should be clearly visible. In its free state it comes forward. If its inside the body it's almost certainly seized. It could still be seized at the front of course but that can't be spotted.

B  Damaged screw heads, not as serious as you may think. These short screws frequently come loose and hide nothing too nasty. Probably tightened by an owner without the right screwdriver.

C  Look for the 'eye' at the rear of the finder. If you can see it the lenses are still in place...the inner element can fall off and you'll have to go inside to sort it out.

D  Scratches round the rangefinder window. Usually means someone has tried (either successfully or not) to adjust the vertical alignment of the rangefinder image. Beware of this one, it could be a mess underneath.

E  Wrong screw? Could be just lost and replaced...but who has one to replace it? Most likely this camera has seen some repairs.

F  Damaged slot...unlikely as on this camera (unlike the Zorki) has a RH thread.

G The self timer on the FED 2's usually points downwards when not set. Beware of faulty self timers, as I will show later it is a major repair to replace the timer.

The challenge: To replace the shutter curtains.

also: self-timer repair, rangefinder overhaul, viewfinder repair, in fact full strip!

A fair number of things to remove:

1 Fully wind on the shutter and unscrew this grub screw 2-3 turns. No need to remove this grub screw, just get it clear of the threads. Turn the winder knob anti-clockwise (CCW from now on) it will unscrew.

Lay the parts out in the order you remove them, I find Pringles tops useful for storing parts (my excuse for eating Pringles)
Once these parts are removed, fire the shutter.

2 Move the shutter/rewind to 'C' loosen the grub screw fully, and remove this part.

3 Before loosening this shutter speed screws find a speed position where both screws are accessible. I usually loosen one, then lift and loosen the second. The dial will just pop off if you do that. Noting the speed that was set is up to you, I don't bother, I just find B by trial and error then screw it down. The reason I don't is because the amount we are going to do, it won't be where we left it anyway!

4 Remove 3 flash shoe screws.

5 Unscrew viewfinder bessel

6, 7 On the front, remove the three top plate screws and unscrew the rangefinder window bessel/brass with lens.

8 Lift the rewind shaft, remove the collar screw and bessel. Remove the rewind shaft. store parts: Note the collar needs to stay the right way up for refitting, they aren't all centered.

9 Remove the single screw on the top plate here.

A1: is left in place while removing the top-plate, it will slip off the spindle.

Gentle work the top plate off (use a non metallic lever if required. I usually use hard plastic or wood. Never a screwdriver!)

Tip: I have magnetised a couple of my small screwdrivers by drawing a magnet along the tip a few times. This really helps when removing/inserting these small, easily lost screws...especially grub screws.

The rangefinder brass lens unit (7) may need a small drop of methylated spirit to loosen the thread, lacquer is used to fix these elements, so this loosens it.

Oh...probably not as exciting as you'd thought?

Repairs to the viewfinder, rangefinder and actuation levers are all here. Also the top screws of the wind-on knob...which do work loose.

A good observation here will tell you much about the shutter, its actuation and alignment. Much time, believe it or not, will be spent looking at what's here!

NOTE: I refit the wind on cranking knob at this stage to make life easier when cocking the shutter.

10: Remove the self timer lever by holding the lever and unscrewing. This is a RH thread and as far as I know a LH wasn't used on this model.

11: Remove the 4 chromed mirror box retaining screws. It is not necessary to remove the lens flange screws.

12: This is the speed shutter timer.
BE SURE TO RECORD THE EXACT POSITION OF ALL THE COMPONENTS HERE IN RELATION TO 360 degrees with the shutter cocked/not cocked

13: This is the diopter correction lens which moves forwards and backwards to focus. It is only held in place with a glass cement and is prone to working loose/falling off. If you are concerned...or it has fallen off refit it LATER with a suitable cement. I've used clear Nail Polish/Varnish in the past and it lasts! But remove the assembly before you do this...you will have to remove it soon anyway which is why I recommend doing it later on.

17: unscrew these 2 carefully, the retaining plate and shutter shield will fall out when these two are released. Remove the spring plate and BEWARE there is a short shaft next to the release rod that actuates the self timer DON'T LOSE IT remove it.

18: Remove both screws.

19: unlock a shaft of one blind roller by small turn anti-clockwise (CCW)...and while holding it still unscrew CLOCKWISE the locking nut which is a LH thread enough to let the tension off the blind roller spring. COUNT THIS BACK IN THE NUMBER OF TURNS until the spring goes slack. Shutter not cocked! Now repeat with the other one.

15: release this spring arm.

16: lift the shaft 5mm or so.

14: now remove these last two mirror box screws.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND...ONCE YOU MOVE THE MIRROR BOX THERE IS NO GOING BACK

20: only now is the self-timer accessible! Told you it was hard to get to, didn't I! BEWARE of this spring stop, it is only held here under tension, I strongly advise you to CAREFULLY replace the self timer arm and screw now.

21: remove these screws only if you wish to remove/repair the self timer mechanism.

The self timer unit is self contained, like most others on Russian cameras I have worked on. On this unit the teeth of this cog had sheared, rendering the unit useless.

25: This is the cog that is stripped when the lever is forced! But not quite the end of the story.

Spare parts for a FED 2? Not readily available are they and cannibalising another FED 2 doesn't sound too clever.

However, the self-timer of the Zenith E uses the same cogs and the same layout. There is a big difference with the cover plate (not compatible ) so you can't just swap them...sorry. But if you're prepared to take it apart you should be able to replace this damaged FED 2 cog.

Parts from an old Zenith E will be used later in this project.

A further problem, damage to the clockspring anchor, can also be fixed with a little effort. I suspect the Zenith E spring will be very similar but I haven't tried it.

Well it's gone hasn't it.

This blind leaked light very badly and would snap anytime. The added problem, as with any damaged blind, is that it doesn't wind-up or run smoothly. Accurate shutter speeds cannot be achieved and photographically they are useless.

29: This one has suffered from water damage, the curtain is brittle and perished. As soon as I touched it, it began to crumble.

FED 2 Replacement blinds are straightforward to replace...if available?
If you have some, then your job is going to be much easier.
Russian camera parts are very similar, and the shutter cloths are no exception. I suspect many are interchangable (this is my opinion only) and so far I've found this to be true.

A Zenith E will provide a working replacement in this case..

AT THIS POINT AND BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, CONSIDER:

Pondering on the thought of using non FED parts opens up a whole debate. My take on it goes something like this:
How collectors view what they are holding is, as with anything so subjective, a matter of personal taste. For me, the choice between a functional good condition FED camera or a never seen a roll of film ‘minty’ one would be simple. My reply would be do I want a piece of new machinery or a survivor of yesterday’s life?

If you wonder how I come to that conclusion, read on, if not skip the next bit.

a) Western consumer goods deemed disposable on the basis of mass production/low cost (I still don’t understand why we accept such depreciation on cars?) marketing/sporting functions that make these goods desirable or a ‘must have’ rather than necessary or useful. Bought as a luxury for occasionally use, on the premise of being ‘useful’ in the long term, rather than a need basis. Repair of these items, occasionally preferred by the owner on a cost basis, than a full replacement. However, faulty/broken parts need  be authentic factory parts to maintain an ‘integrity’ of the item . Hi tech Japanese cameras (such as the EOS range onward made most repairs uneconomical). Indeed the Canon ethic of the 1980’s demanded mass production to make any profit. These cameras where designed to be replaced not repaired, the principle of them being ‘disposable’ technology which need only last until the next technical development made them ‘obsolete’. In a capitalist consumer culture that’s how it works?

b) The Communist/Soviet system viewed its consumer goods very differently. Firstly, while accepting a level of consumerism, ‘desirability’ was not a good reason to buy. Secondly a camera would be expected to be a functional, robust and hard working tool. In addition at considerable cost pro rata it would be repaired constantly until it was beyond any service. More expensive original parts, where available, would only be used if absolutely necessary. Make-and-mend being an integral part of its life.

So, when holding a genuine 50-year-old FED in your hands, that was/is a working camera and therefore not a pile of spare parts what are you holding? A factory serviced cherished personal possession that spent its life in the sun, or a hard working battle scarred functioning tool?

So here we go.

The left hand blind (or 1st blind as I will refer to it) has to go.

The Zenith E curtains are approx 5mm wider than the FED2 also the curtain metal strips are wider. However they are approx. the same length.

From here I'm assuming your ability to handle these instructions and tools, give it some thought before you start.

28: I removed the ribbons from the roller 30 first, but it's up to you.

26: Firstly CAREFULLY and with a thin long blunt blade (I used a blunted Stanley knife blade) open the metal strip and remove the old curtain. Don't open the ends.
Cut off the metal strip of the corresponding Zenith E blind and trim to the same width as the FED 2 one. I use a circular blade craft cutter for this, it's just more accurate I find. Next glue (small amount) the curtain into the metal strip.
GET IT STRAIGHT and IN THE MIDDLE! Then close up the strip.

31: it should now look like this.

33: remove the old curtain from this roller REMEMBER THE DIRECTION IT WAS WOUND. Clean the gunk and old glue off 33 and glue the end of the new curtain to it. *This roller is sprung loaded and independent of the ribbons so the circumference and start position of the new curtain will have no effect. JUST GET IT CENTRED AND STRAIGHT

30: check the glue/condition of these ribbons now, just in case

32:2nd curtain

more soon...