Beseler 45MXT spring tension

[M Carter]

I'm thinking my spring tension may need a twist or two, motor is groaning a bit when lifting the head.

I don't think it's the frame alignment - I have an 18" angle finder for cutting crown molding and the angles on each side are the same (seems like a good way to check). The carriage is level and on the correct teeth.

I have a PDF showing how to do this, but two questions -

It's not totally clear which way to twist the rod to tighten - if I'm at the left side of the enlarger (where the screws are), do I twist counter-clockwise to tighten? Or will it be obvious from the tension that's already there?

And the PDF warns that when removing the screw, hold tightly so as not to let the spring unravel. How much tension are we talking? Am I gonna find myself wrapped around the bar like in some looney tunes cartoon? Do you need a rubber glove or something to keep it from slipping? Or is it just a moderate tension?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[John Koehrer]

Assume it's a loaded weapon.
I haven't had a 45 for years.
You may not get wrapped around anything but the edge of the spring
cuts very well.
If you can clamp it to the frame to keep it from moving, do that. An
alternative might be to use visegrips on the spring itself to limit it's travel.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Caveat: I've never done this myself.

My instructions (maybe the same that you have), however, say that all the adjustments are to be done from the front, left-hand side of the enlarger. They also say there will be "considerable counterclockwise spring force on the tube," which would indicate that if you want to tighten the tension, you would turn the tube in the opposite, i.e., clockwise direction. I understand that as meaning rotating a point on the tube from the top, down around the front and then up the back of the enlarger to the starting point to make one clockwise revolution. Beseler says to start with two turns if you need to tighten the tension.

I'd be real careful I didn't lose my grip on the tube and have the whole thing unwind to zero tension... zzzip... before I could get a hold on it. Maybe you can rig up some kind of stop with a long clamp that would jam against something and prevent the tube from rotating (with some appropriate padding so as to not damage the tube, of course).

Beseler also says to never loosen the screw on the tube itself; you likely know this already, but I thought I'd add it just in case.

Best,

Doremus

 

[M Carter]

Thanks guys - John, the spring is inside a tube and you don't actually touch it.

I do lots of video work and have all kinds of cinema clamps and things, probably something that could hold the tube, just wondering if that's necessary.

Reminds me of those window shades we had as a kid, and if you snapped 'em they'd roll around going snap-snap-snap and the spring had to be reset. My wife rolls her eyes at me SO MUCH I'm terrified that will happen to her. One day I'll make some fart joke that's so funny I can barely get the words out, and she'll just roll her eyes, and then THWACK-ak-ak-ak-ak-ak, her eyes will roll around and from then on she'll have, like, those goo-goo-doll eyes, her pupils swinging in circles when she walks...

 

[John Koehrer]

I thought it would be similar to a 5500. Sorry.
Does that mean it's a coil spring rather than flat?

 

[M Carter]

I thought it would be similar to a 5500. Sorry.
Does that mean it's a coil spring rather than flat?

There are two horizontal tubes about a foot apart that support the head assembly, they run on vertical tracks left and right. The lower tube you twist to adjust spring tension, I assume it's twisted around in there and maybe runs up inside the track? Don't really have it visualized.

 

[msage]

There are two horizontal tubes about a foot apart that support the head assembly, they run on vertical tracks left and right. The lower tube you twist to adjust spring tension, I assume it's twisted around in there and maybe runs up inside the track? Don't really have it visualized.

I have a Beseler 45 that had this problem a few years ago. I am not at home but as I remember the lower horz. tube has the spring. I think you raise the head (I could be wrong on this, I will check tonight) to take some the tension off the spring. There is a "clamp" at on end of the tube. Loosen the clamp while holding the tube. Twist the tube to add more tension, you will feel the tension. Tighten the clamp and repeat if necessary. The spring puts tension on the gears on the ends of the tube so the motor does have to work as hard. I will check this out tonight and report back.

 

[msage]

Just found this, page 6.
http://www.backglass.org/duncan/darkroom/beseler_45mxt.pdf

 

[msage]

Sorry, page 5

 

[M Carter]

Sorry, page 5

Thanks - I have that PDF. My main question was more "how much pressure is 'considerable' pressure", but seems like if I just hold it really tight, and don't have my hands covered in crisco or something, I'll be fine...