Plastic drive gears for Omega D5 XL Universal Chassis

Time and long storage hasn't been nice for my Chromega D enlarger. One of my drive gears split in two and the other one isn't looking too good either, so I am trying to find replacements.

Of course, KHB is out of stock on their rebuild kits, so does anyone have an alternate source for these gears?

I remember that somebody produced and cell on EBAY brass gears for the Omega enlargers. Not sure if that seller still making them. Search EBAY.

McMaster—Carr may have something that’s workable; https://www.mcmaster.com/gears/component~gear/

Rudolf Karachun said:

I remember that somebody produced and cell on EBAY brass gears for the Omega enlargers. Not sure if that seller still making them. Search EBAY.

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Rudolf, I looked but didn't see those gears, but now I know someone sold brass gears, I will keep my eyes open! Thank you!

bdial said:

McMaster—Carr may have something that’s workable; https://www.mcmaster.com/gears/component~gear/

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Good idea! I don't know why I don't go there automatically because they usually have just about everything. I see they even have a gear measurement page that explains how to measure to replace an existing gear.
Hope they have it in my size. Many thanks!

Try the Darkroom Doctor at www.DarkroomDoctor.com

Is Classic Enlargers still in business? Might try them or http://www.glennview.com/omega.htm

Pieter12 said:

Is Classic Enlargers still in business?

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Unfortunately, Harry Taylor passed away and while the website is still there, I don't believe his daughters continued the business.

Chunk of brass, a drill, and a triangular file and you're all set

MattKing said:

Unfortunately, Harry Taylor passed away and while the website is still there, I don't believe his daughters continued the business.

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A bit of a late answer - unfortunately we just don't have Harry's depth of knowledge to be able to carry on the business. We have passed the baton on to KHB in Canada. I recently set up an Instagram account (@classicenlargers) with photos taken of his inventory as we packed it up in 2017.

I expect KHB will do a good job honouring your father's legacy. I wish you the best.

Did you find an alternate source for your Chromega D gears? I checked into several companies (online) that advertised custom gear fabrication, but the prices were through the roof.

I was wary of replacing the nylon gears on my E-5 with metal gears, suspecting that the toothed flange on the enlarger column might wear rapidly - it's aluminum. But such wear might occur over an irrelevant time frame.

At the top of my list now is starting on 3D printing gears, but since my enlarger is still working, that project doesn't have the urgency others do. I signed up for KHB's email notification for new stock on those gears, but nothing so far. No reply from KHB on the occasions I've asked when the gears might come back into stock.

I see them (infrequently)on eBay and it may be worthwhile to do a search there.
Joel