Durst Modular 70 - Problem raising head

[c41]

My Durst Modular 70 enlarger (with colour head) has been awesome to use, but last night it froze without warning.

I went to raise the head but it doesn't move. I can manually push it up but the handle to lower/raise it has stopped doing what it should.


You can see the two part handle to lower/raise it above (bottom-right). There is an arrow that indicates the option to twist the first part of the handle - I think from memory one position enables big movements, the other small ones (or is it one position disables it, the other enables it - I've forgotten.)

I can still twist the handle exactly as before, but now nothing happens. No indication anything was wrong, nothing snapped or made a noise, nothing feels jammed.
I can't locate a manual for it anywhere. Anyone have any idea what might be wrong and how I can go about troubleshooting it?

I can't see any easy access to the innards of the handle itself, it doesn't look like the plastic cover will unscrew. Looks like I might have to remove the entire head?

Any help very welcome. Super annoying problem just when I thought I was all set to make a lot of prints.

 

[AgX]

From some of your remarks one can deduce that you have not operated that enlarger for a long time.
In this case the friction wheel driving the head might have hardened and lost friction.

The manual will not maker you wiser on that.
(It takes a second or two to google it.)

 

[c41]

Thanks. I am using it frequently. Probably 2 weeks since my last session.
I just adjust up/down as appropriate, it's why I forgot the function of the additional handle section. Fairly sure it's to lock it for transport. It's definitely unlocked in any case.

 

[AgX]

Here is the manual:
http://durst.loremi.com/instruction/Modular 70 Basic-Color-Vario_manual_FR.pdf

But it shows a crank instead of the coaxial knobs.

 

[c41]

Yes, thanks. Nothing in there unfortunately.
Anyone assembled or disassembled one of these?
There's no difference in how the handle moves, it just doesn't talk to the white plastic rollers that move the head up the column anymore.

 

[John Koehrer]

Generic possibility.
The knob on the column is a simple friction brake. When it's released, the head should be free to
travel. The head itself should be held in place with locking screws or levers. Heck it may just be afraid
of being mistreated and lifts straight off.
When you pull the head you'll probably see the guide and locking rollers. They should be between the
front of the column and the carrier for the head.

If it's like some of the older Durst the thing may be on a machined spindle
with a large lock screw along the side of the carrier.

 

[c41]

Thank you. I'm away from home for 48 hours or so, I'll give the whole setup a closer inspection when I return.
I did locate this - link to the Manual in Post #4 - in the meantime, will give it a read too when time allows.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[AgX]

I don't get that manual.
Anyway, one important hint at the two versions is to find here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[c41]

Thanks all. I pulled it all to bits last night, including the rear metal panel that holds the large sprung metal strip that runs down the column in place - whoops, big mistake, I recommend not doing this! - nearly took my head off as it of course went flying towards the ceiling. :O

Had a fiddle inside the rollers, put it all back together and now it works again. Not sure exactly what was wrong but a real relief as enlargers are hard to source here in Australia and the Durst is perfect for my needs.

Now I can just return to printing which I'm at least marginally better at than fixing things.

 

[John Koehrer]

BTW. There's a lot of tension on the counter balance spring, you should be careful.
Better late than never?

 

[AgX]

I'm sorry too. By that link I hinted at the fact that yours got a counter spring, but not at the inherit danger to it.
At least for the type 138 or 184 the dealer Durst USA Pro warned somewhere against that coiled spring. But there is no warning in the original manual...

 

[c41]

No worries! Absolutely my fault. It was a stupid mistake on my part, obvious in retrospect what would happen, and no damage done to either me or the enlarger!

I'm a measure once, cut twice sort of handyman and this experience was totally in line with other household adventures!

The main thing is it's fixed, the trays are full and I'm busy making prints.

I hope the manual link (and cautionary tale) at least proves useful to a future user that stumbles on this thread.