How to open old Gralab 450 for repair?

[LF_Alex]

Does anyone know the secret how to open old Gralab 450 darkroom timer for repair?

I have one with small slide switches (not membrane ones like in newer 450 and 451) and they are not working 100% of the time, requiring fiddling and switching them back and forth.

It seems to be an easy project to get them replaced, but I have no idea how to remove handles from rotary switches, they must have been glued on.

Hopefully I'm not the only one trying to fix things instead of throwing them out

[Neal Chaves]

Buy a can of CRC QD electronic cleaner at a NAPA store and try spraying into them from the outside and working them on and off. This may well restore them, if not you will surely find it very useful for other purposes.

[Darren Kruger]

If it is glue on the rotary switches, it is strong stuff. I have a 450 which I tried to work on. I tried pull one of the rotary switch handles off and ended up breaking the post off.

-Darren

[LF_Alex]

Yes, that's what I'm afraid may happen There must be a way to do it, we just need to find a repair tech who knows how to do it

Maybe heating it up can help with getting the glue to loosen up?

[LF_Alex]

Buy a can of CRC QD electronic cleaner at a NAPA store and try spraying into them from the outside and working them on and off. This may well restore them, if not you will surely find it very useful for other purposes.

No concern about this cleaner finding it's way inside the timer?

[Tin Can]

Lots of old timers fail from darkroom fumes

I bought some here and eBay that supposedly worked!

Fake News

a 'hacker' like me would saw the thing apart, try fixing it, and patch the box. If it still fails 'recycle'...

My 20 year old plastic Gralab 300 I bought new works great, my far older 'used' metal Gralab 300 NOW also works

I have 3 other used working timers

about 10 now 'recycled'

I tried metronomes like some famous printers used...

Tik Tok

[LabRat]

Check with George at Quality Light Metric... He was the repair station for some of the Gralab "clock"timers, but I'm not sure if he still does or what timers...

Did you ask Gralab if they do, or their list of repair stations???

Steve K

[Neal Chaves]

No concern about this cleaner finding it's way inside the timer?

I have been using the stuff for years with no problem. It's safe on whatever circuitry is inside and evaporates with no residue.

[LF_Alex]

Check with George at Quality Light Metric... He was the repair station for some of the Gralab "clock"timers, but I'm not sure if he still does or what timers...

Did you ask Gralab if they do, or their list of repair stations???

Steve K

It will cost about 2 or 3 times more to get them repaired by Gralab, compared to buying one from eBay

[Eric Woodbury]

I'll guess that the screws that hold the case together are under the rubber feet.