Durst M805 focus is stuck (not the normal way!)

[Gevans10]

Set up my new to me 805 ready for a weekend of printing and I can't get the bellows to open up more than about 8mm or so.

The travel to that point is smooth, and it knocks as though hitting a stop. It's not gummed up and the friction wheel is working well, but it just stops.

I have had the head apart and can't see what is stopping it. Will I I have to take the sprung pressure plate off and investigate? Or missing something obvious?

Many thanks

 

[gijsbert]

Weird, there isn't a lock for the bellows as far as I know. Maybe something is stuck on the guides?
A manual is here http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/durst/Durst_M805.pdf
Might still be able to print small formats as is.

 

[Hilo]

Since your bellows is all the way up, I would take out the neg holder if there is one and I would try to remove the entire head if that's possible. Then you will be able to have a good look.

Alternatively, remove the lens and shine into it's hole . . . have a look to see if anything is blocking the bellows coming down

 

[shutterfinger]

I would remove the lamp and condenser housings, negative carrier, and lens, then try the focus.
The focus may be a geared movement that prevents over extension of the bellows and has likely been apart and put together out of sync.
My 60? is packed away but the build is the same. I'll pull it out if needed.

 

[Gevans10]

Panic over.

I had it completely apart. It relies on friction, with a wheel running in a guide slot on one of the 2 shafts.

Turns out that the focus knob had been knocked in transit, pushing the wheel against an edge of this slot and burring it enough so that the shaft would not pass through the top hole in the head.

I polished it back with wet and dry, reassembled and it was fine. Had a good day printing with it. A very nice enlarger indeed. Prefer it to the DV 504 which I used a lot in a community darkroom, although I hate dust more than ever!

 

[Donald Qualls]

although I hate dust more than ever!

Dust is the enemy. I have trouble with it in camera (I shoot folders a lot), in scanning, and in the enlarger. Unfortunately, even if I could keep up my photography while living in a clean room, I myself am a significant source of dust...