Durst 1200 Laborator - troubleshooting motor problems

[CarltheTruth]

I just bought a used Durst Laborator 1200 from a local camera store. We did not have time to function test it in the store because they were closing, so they offered a 30-day money back guarantee if it did not work. Everything works except I can't get the main motor (which moves the enlarger head up and down the column) to function at all. All wiring cables look OK. I removed the cover plate from the motor in question, and all looks good there as well (no corrosion, wiring OK, etc). I think the next step is to try to isolate the problem (to the controllor or the motor) with a voltmeter. Does anyone have any troubleshooting hints (hidden fuses to check, etc?). Also, how do you remove the enlarger head from the column? I carried the whole assembly up 3 flights of stairs, but would like to know how to break it down in case I need to return it. Many thanks to anyone that can offer suggestions. I don't have a manual for this enlarger, which may contain the info that I am looking for. Cheers, Carl

 

[percepts]

I have a non motorised version of the L1200. I didn't know the motorised version moved the head up and down.

If your column still has the counter balance sprung steel spring installed, then I would say its impossible to remove the head support without special tools. You might get it off but you would be lucky to get it back on.
However, the light unit and mixing boxes should come off.
If it has a CLS501 light unit and filters, then there are two screws on each side which can be removed and the light unit and filters just lift off. But the counter sprung unit does not come off the column. There are 4 or 5 bolts under the baseboard to remove that.

If you carried all of that up three flights of stairs you are probably several inches shorter than before you did it!

 

[CarltheTruth]

I know that on my Durst 605 if I loosen the knob that allows the head to rotate (to allow projection on the wall, for example) I can separate most of the assembly from the carriage that rides up and down the column. I tried it with this enlarger, but the head does not seem to want to come off (didn't force it too much). I managed to remove the baseboard and I will definitely pull the light unit off as you suggest to save a few pounds. I didn't get any shorter, but did pull a muscle that connects the back of my neck to the back of my head going up the stairs (bizarre, I know). Distribution of the weight made it difficult to handle. All better now, fortunately.

 

[percepts]

A word of caution!

If there is a sprung steel spring in the unit which goes round the column, make sure you move everything to the top of the column before you start taking bits off.

 

[CarltheTruth]

I managed to troubleshoot and locate the problem to one of the circuit boards located near the base of the column. A talented stereo repair technician managed to fix the problem, and I now have a functioning enlarger. Thanks for the useful suggestions. I managed to disassemble the enlareger to make trips up and down the stairs a bit easier.