Debugging a flicker in a Leitz Focomat v35

I've had a v35 for a few years but it developed a flicker shortly after I bought it and I wasn't able to track it down. I did the obvious things like replace the bulb and the bulb socket but neither resolved the issue. I put the enlarger on the back burner and I've been using my Beseler exclusively since, but I'd like to take a shot at fixing the v35 again. However, I'm not really much of an electronics guy so I'm not sure where to look next.

FWIW, I don't just see the flicker I hear something when I observe it as well. That's what originally lead me to suspect something bulb related but that didn't seem to be it.

I'd love to get the enlarger working properly again, so if anyone has any suggestions for how I might be able to track this problem down then I'm all ears.

I don't have a v35 but I do have a Focomat 1c. Mine was flickering due to a somewhat unstable connection where the head is plugged in at the top of the mast. If the v35 has a similar sort of thing, I'd check there.

How far back down the circuit have you fault traced? It may be as 'simple' as a loose/ faulty wire, from what I can tell, there's not a lot of components that could otherwise go wrong - transformers tend not to develop major faults unless severely mistreated. You'll need to open up the bit at the bottom of the column to check the rest of the electrics.

Like the first reply, I have Leitz enlargers but not the V35. However, the sockets Leitz used for the bulbs are perhaps not as stable as one would want. Leitz improved (?) those countless times. This is where I would go first. Take the bulb out and switch off the enlarger. Have a look if you can dismantle anything there without getting into problems.

Lachlan Young said:

How far back down the circuit have you fault traced? It may be as 'simple' as a loose/ faulty wire.

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Not far. I did look for anything obviously loose and did a very scientific jiggling of some wires to see if that had any affect I'll remove the base and poke around again.

Hilo said:

Like the first reply, I have Leitz enlargers but not the V35. However, the sockets Leitz used for the bulbs are perhaps not as stable as one would want. Leitz improved (?) those countless times. This is where I would go first. Take the bulb out and switch off the enlarger. Have a look if you can dismantle anything there without getting into problems.

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I did buy a replacement bulb socket but that didn't resolve the issue. I'll take a closer look in that area again.

Don Heisz said:

I don't have a v35 but I do have a Focomat 1c. Mine was flickering due to a somewhat unstable connection where the head is plugged in at the top of the mast. If the v35 has a similar sort of thing, I'd check there.

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The v35 design is a bit different, but I guess it's time to open 'er up and dig around again.