Lpl 4500 focus is locked or just stiff

[Lightbender]

I just setup a lol 4500. Everything seems to work perfectly except the focus who's is very stiff or perhaps locked?
Is there a locking mechanism for the focus?
Or is it a common problem that the focus gets stiff? Or?

[Oren Grad]

On my 4500II, the knob for column elevation has a locking knob, on the opposite side of the column. The focus knob does not have a lock. I'd describe both the coarse and fine focus on mine as very slightly stiff or tight, but there's no problem at all in operation.

[mike rosenlof]

I just verified on my enlarger... Left hand side of the head, the knob closest to the column. That's a lock. Turn left, (top of knob away from you) to unlock.

--mike

[Lightbender]

Yes that is the lift locking lever. That is for the whole head to go up and down.
But my problem is the focus for the lens on the bellows.
I was able to loosen it up a bit.

I was able to unscrew the focus knob on the left simply by turning it counter clockwise while holding the right knob. The left knob is attached to a long shaft that comes completely out. Looking underneath, the other end of the right knob is secured by a double nut. I removed the first nut completely. Then I used a wrench to loosen the second nut. This loosened the focus knob enough to allow it to work. Losing the nut too much will allow it to slip and not focus at all.
When I had the right amoumt of friction. I replaced the top nut which locks the bottom nut in place. Then replaced the left knob/shaft assembly. And everything is right as rain.

[Toyon]

You may need to replace the focusing gear set. LPL sells it as a kit for the 6700 series enlarger.

[Luis-F-S]

I’d call KHB in Canada and get their recommendations.

[Louis Pacilla]

I was able to unscrew the focus knob on the left simply by turning it counter clockwise while holding the right knob. The left knob is attached to a long shaft that comes completely out. Looking underneath, the other end of the right knob is secured by a double nut. I removed the first nut completely. Then I used a wrench to loosen the second nut. This loosened the focus knob enough to allow it to work. Losing the nut too much will allow it to slip and not focus at all.
When I had the right amoumt of friction. I replaced the top nut which locks the bottom nut in place. Then replaced the left knob/shaft assembly. And everything is right as rain.

I’d call KHB in Canada and get their recommendations.

Hey Luis Lightbender has already found and fixed his troubles. If you read the last sentence of his explanation as it says it all.

[Bob Salomon]

Yes that is the lift locking lever. That is for the whole head to go up and down.
But my problem is the focus for the lens on the bellows.
I was able to loosen it up a bit.

I was able to unscrew the focus knob on the left simply by turning it counter clockwise while holding the right knob. The left knob is attached to a long shaft that comes completely out. Looking underneath, the other end of the right knob is secured by a double nut. I removed the first nut completely. Then I used a wrench to loosen the second nut. This loosened the focus knob enough to allow it to work. Losing the nut too much will allow it to slip and not focus at all.
When I had the right amoumt of friction. I replaced the top nut which locks the bottom nut in place. Then replaced the left knob/shaft assembly. And everything is right as rain.

Should you have further problems or questions this is the USA distributor:

http://www.omegabrandess.com/products/LPL-Enlargers_2

[webbingbcn]

Hi!
I have a Saunders LPL 4500 II and I love it but I have always had problems with it slipping out of focus. I
know that there is a tension screw behind the focusing knob on the right hand side and I have
tightened it as far as I can. But it still slips. The problem is naturally most pronounced when the bellows
is contracted but it can happen any time.
Does anyone out there have direct experience with this? Or for that matter, if you own the same
enlarger and DON'T have this problem I would be just as interested in hearing from you. Any
suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

[Luis-F-S]

Don't have that issue with mine, I'd contact the LPL representative in Spain, here I contact KHB Photografix in Canada when I have any issues with LPL or DeVere. They're great as far as answering questions. Not sure if you bought yours new, or used, but a lot of these enlargers have had a lot of use and wear over the years. This could explain your focusing issues. Of my two, one has more use than the other one, but I don't recall having a focusing slip issue on either one.