Durst M805 head problem

[willem]

Hi,

I recently aquired a Durst M805 enlarger for up to 6x9 cm. Moving the head up and down however is very difficult. I unscrewed the 'transportation lock screw' but it still does not go smoothly up and down. It's like on brakes. The spring is ok. Does anyone know if this can be adjusted ? Maybe some oiling ?


Thanks,

Willem

 

[Kvistgaard]

The grip of the clamp that keeps the head attached to the column can usually be adjusted - take a look at the back of the column, the clamp is IIRC covered by a plastic cover that can be unscrewed. Behind that cover, there's a couple of screws that keep the clamp secured tightly against the column. Try loosening these a bit.

 

[willem]

Thanks Soren,

I already took the cover off to look at it. The strange thing though, is that loosening both couple of screws did not work , but tightening one couple (the one on the right side of the column) did help a little bit. It is still very stiff though..

Regards,

 

[fdisilvestro]

If you stand in front of the enlarger you should have two coaxial knobs at the right of the head. The first knob moves less than half turn and engages or disengages a "break". When you engage the break, you move the head with the outermost knob like if it was geared. When you loose the break then the head moves freely up and down. That at least is the way that head work unless there is some problem with the mechanism.

Francisco

 

[willem]

Hi, thanks for your reactions. I was used to the Laborator 1200 that can be moved up and down by hand, but also with the knob. I understand now that the 805 is working differently. Only the knob can move the head up or down. I already wanted to take the mechanism apart. Glad I did not do that yet...

Thanks

 

[fdisilvestro]

Hi,

I think it should work similar to the L1200. In the attached image, there are two knobs, A & B. Knob A is used to engage or disengage the break by rotating it about half a turn. When the break is disengaged you can move the head with the hand (If I remember correctly you turn knob A counterclockwise for that). When you engage the break, then you should move the head turning knob B

If this doesn't work this way maybe there is something wrong with the mechanism of knob A.

Francisco

 

[willem]

Hi Francisco,

Thanks for your explanation with the picture. I will go to my darkroom today and see if I can make it work.

Jan-Willem