Replacing gears on early Beseler 23CII enlarger

Hello everyone. I was trying to remove the damaged gears on my 60s era Beseler 23CII so I can replace them, but I ran into a problem. Here's what I was able to do so far:
To take out the old gears, I first unhooked the spring wire and turned the counterbalance cylinder one revolution clockwise to release the tension. Any more revolutions clockwise increases the tension, and any revolutions counter clockwise does the same. Then, following my repair manual, I attempted to drive the roll pin out of the gear with a hammer and nail, but no matter how hard I hit it I couldn't get it to budge. Should I just break the gear apart and remove it that way? I'm not very familiar with the construction of these enlargers and I don't want to accidentally break something. I'm especially worried about somehow damaging the counterbalance spring mechanism. If anyone has any experience fixing this type of enlarger or knows the how the counterbalance/gear system is constructed I'd appreciate your input. I attached some photos of the gear and spring wire as well as a screenshot of the repair manual I'm using.Thank you.

You need a smooth faced 1/8th inch drift punch; a nail has a tapered head that would spread the roll pin outward as it is struck. The flat face should keep the pin from expanding as you drive it out.

Cheap drift pin punch sets can be found at Harbor Freight that are good enough for a few uses. Light taps with a small hammer should be all it takes; don't try heavy blows or the pin might deform.

In fact, the head of the roll pin may be slightly mushroomed now, so take that into account and go easy.

I would not break the gear off and risk deforming the shaft.

I wonder if a small gear pulling tool, also from Harbor Freight, (and one I do not own), would do a cleaner job, without deforming the frame by striking it repeatedly?

Any ideas about trying this tool and method?

eli griggs said:

I wonder if a small gear pulling tool, also from Harbor Freight, (and one I do not own), would do a cleaner job, without deforming the frame by striking it repeatedly?

Any ideas about trying this tool and method?

Click to expand...

Kino is right on the money. Roll pins are meant to be knocked out just as he suggested.

Using a gear puller on a gear secured with a roll pin would NOT be advised. Kino’s advice is correct, use the right tool. It’s hard to get out because it is a press fit, that’s why it stays secure. By using the nail you may have expanded it making it more difficult to remove. But it will come out with the correct sized drift.

As mentioned, get the right tool. The pin should not require heavy blows.

Kino said:

You need a smooth faced 1/8th inch drift punch; a nail has a tapered head that would spread the roll pin outward as it is struck. The flat face should keep the pin from expanding as you drive it out.

Cheap drift pin punch sets can be found at Harbor Freight that are good enough for a few uses. Light taps with a small hammer should be all it takes; don't try heavy blows or the pin might deform.

In fact, the head of the roll pin may be slightly mushroomed now, so take that into account and go easy.

I would not break the gear off and risk deforming the shaft.

Click to expand...

Alright, thanks for the response.

Thanks, All, for setting me straight on the negative effect of using a gear puller.

The only issue I've had with an enlarger's gear is a few broken teeth but a spare Omega Simons frame soon put that correct.

I did have to change out the pulleys on another Omega but I found an affordable set from a fellow photographer, in a forum and the install was easy enough.

Everyone stay safe during the current bad weather and, Godspeed, to All