Super chromega raises and lowers with difficulty

Clint Francis

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Messages
3
Location
Spokane Valley, WA
Format
Medium Format
I received a super-chromega D which I reassembled after disassembly for transportation. It raises and lowers with great difficulty. I noticed some sort of debris on the back of the baseboard when I looked for the problem. My recollection from years ago was that it easily operated with the small hand crank in the back bu now, not so much. It appears to be the model with the springs on the top of the support. Any ideas?
 

darkroommike

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Messages
1,728
Location
Iowa
Format
Multi Format
Sounds like the counter balance springs are shot, require lubrication, or are not connected to the head. All easy fixes.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,277
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

Neal

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Messages
2,020
Location
Chicago, West Suburbs
Format
Multi Format
Dear Clint,

Sometimes when reassembling the little wheels can end up out of place. A search in an open area with good light should solve your problem.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra
 

Born2Late

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
448
Location
Southern Ind
Format
35mm
If it is the counterbalance springs, I highly recommend KHB's constant force spring conversion kit. I installed one earlier this year and it is great. The force is perfect and smooth as butter.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,567
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
The Super Chromega head mounts on many chassis; D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D5500. Pictures will be helpful.
 

mwdake

Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2007
Messages
781
Location
CO, USA
Format
Multi Format
Check to see if the little black wheels that ride on the chassis are correctly located, they can often get mislocated when manhandling the enlarger during a move. The black wheels are like train wheels in that the lip should on the side of the track not on top of it.

btw, I don't think Harry Taylor is with us any more. I think his nieces tried to keep his website going for a while.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,411
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
RauschenOderKorn said:
Welcome to the forum!

Sorry for asking, but: Did you open the break before trying to move it?
Click to expand...

The enlarger version of taking photographs with the lens cap on.
 

RauschenOderKorn

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Messages
814
Location
Bavaria, Germany
Format
Medium Format
Sirius Glass said:
The enlarger version of taking photographs with the lens cap on.
Click to expand...

Hey, my enlarging lenses also have lens caps!!!!!!!

Actually I posted the question, because not every enlarger has such a break. My Dunco does not, and it took me a while to figure out why the Omega head would not move.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,277
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Correct me if I am wrong, but when people are typing "break" here, I'm guessing they mean "brake" or (from the Omega Pro-Lab D6 Manual), "Projector Lock".
 
OP
OP

Clint Francis

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Messages
3
Location
Spokane Valley, WA
Format
Medium Format
Neal said:
Dear Clint,

Sometimes when reassembling the little wheels can end up out of place. A search in an open area with good light should solve your problem.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra
Click to expand...


Neal, you are my new best friend. In looking at the chassis I saw that the alignment wheels on the light housing side were both on one side, the brake side. What tipped me off, since I have no parts manual, was very faint evidence of "contact" on the side with the misplaced wheel. I took the axel out, moved the left side wheel into the proper position and viola' a new enlarger. I have no idea how it worked before with that part mis-assembled but know it did because I'd used the enlarger at the previous owners darkroom with no real difficulty and I had only removed the lamp-house itself when I transported and reassembled it. There is no possible way for those wheels to move across the axle. While I was messing around I wiped the springs down with some WD-40 and likewise with the focusing guide pins. Many thanks to all the helpful replies!!!
 

superpos

Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Messages
31
Location
Berlin, Germany
Format
Multi Format
some pictures please; as I do have a Omega D I might be able to help
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…