Stiff focus on Saunders/LPL 4x5 Enlarger

HI,

My LPL 4x5 enlarger is newly very stiff to focus. The coarse focus knob is rather difficult to turn and feels coarse. The fine focus does not feel so off. The enlarger is usable, but not quite like new. It's almost 25 years old, FWIW.

I think I need to lubricate it and/or adjust some clearances. Does anybody here have a clue where/how to do that service? Maybe ideas about a service manual for the thing?

Any info is welcome! Thanks!

To clarify, the feel has changed over the life of the enlarger. It's only in the last few months that I have noticed this change.

Going from memory, there is a plate behind the right hand side that is used to adjust the level of friction. You could use that to loosen it a bit. I think there might be some type of sticky grease that is used inside there but it has been a long time since I took that plate off. You may have to replace the grease, but just loosening the plate a bit might be good enough.

Hope that helps.

thanks, I'll check that out. Agree that a grease replacement may be a cure...

I had this on one I had (since sold) and spoke with KHB. The grease used seemed to react with the brass parts in the focusing knob and basically turn to epoxy. Disassembly, cleaning and a good lubricant is what is needed.

Patrick Robert James said:

Going from memory, there is a plate behind the right hand side that is used to adjust the level of friction. You could use that to loosen it a bit. I think there might be some type of sticky grease that is used inside there but it has been a long time since I took that plate off. You may have to replace the grease, but just loosening the plate a bit might be good enough.

Hope that helps.

Click to expand...

I need to awaken this thread because the issue with my LPL enlarger, is I believe, an issue with the grease on the two rods that enables the bellows to move up and down. There is an adjusting screw in the back of the housing that tightens or loosens the focusing knob, however, it's still does not feel right, especially when shortening the bellows.

My LPL is the 4550 XLG with the VCCE head. The lubricant that is on the rods is for sure sticky or tacky when you touch it. I don't recall when I got it new in 2007 if that is how it came or if it has become that way since then. I'm inclined to think it has become that way. If indeed a cleaning of the interior brass and/or just the rods is what it needs, is there anyone that uses this enlarger that has performed a clean and regrease, did it help, what solvent should be used to clean and is there a particular type of grease that should be used? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

I will have to take another look at my enlarger. I'm not there at the moment. It seemed to loosen up without me doing much of anything to it. I've done more printing than usual in the three years since I started this thread.

I have not done a clean and re-grease. But I can poke around mine and see if I have any thoughts about what's going on there.