Durst L1840 Enlarger 8x10 10x10--Everything you wanted to know...

[Drew Wiley]

I've probably saved thousands of lives by steering them away from toxic materials and solvents. Darn near got fired for it a few times - all that stuff was serious money at one time, and the ownership didn't like lost sales - pentachlorophenol, creosote, 1:1:1, lacquer solvent, toluene, benzene, lead paint, even asbestos board. Now Round Up is in the crosshairs, and should be. All of this stuff was once brazenly marketed as "harmless". So, if someone wants to make a smart-ass remark that death follows me, that's fine, because I'd sure to prefer to be ahead of it in the race, rather than have it prematurely catch up! The last incident before I retired was when I refused to sell someone a carbide circular saw blade rated at 4500RPM when I knew he intended to put it on a grinder which ran 11,000RPM to make a poor man's toeplate saw. He cussed me out, told me that's what everyone does, and said he'd never shop there again. I said, Fine, I'd far rather see you walk out of here forever than walk back in with a lawyer and missing a hand or eye. The very next month six workers in a SF boatyard got maimed doing that very thing.
I'd seen it all already.

[Chuki]

Ok, I see now.
Is it steel on steel?
Don't breath Spray Dry teflon
,
This is perhaps another option Spray Dry Graphite don't breathe it either.

I tested both years ago as our company made both.
Both will wear off producing dust.
An actual sticky grease may be better.

Is that on sold a lot for bikes? I used that little for enlarger chassis and rather often at home for bike fork and suspension.
After your note got worried as children might be around during bikes cleaning.

[SUNdog]

I’m wondering if a light application of petroleum jelly might work, providing it being acid free?

[Tin Can]

That’s not grease.

I have a small tub or red bearing grease.

It would work.

I’m wondering if a light application of petroleum jelly might work, providing it being acid free?

[Drew Wiley]

Wipe on a light amount of lithium grease. Not the cheap auto store type. I use something else, but it's harder to get. As usual, consult the tech specifications in something like the McMaster site for appropriate usages.

[AndreasOlesen]

Hello all,

I wanted to see if there was still some life in this thread. I work as a tech for an art school in Copenhagen, DK, which has Durst Helmot 8x10 enlarger, the kind with the motor to drive the head. I've done a lot of research, and can see many others have the same problem we do, which is a shattered nylon gear which is the safety gear between the motor and the worm shaft. The safety switch didn't engage and a student drove the motor to the bottom setting and broke the gear. This would not be a problem if parts were readily available, but alas it's not so easy. I've seen people mention Durst USA (can't get a hold of him) as well as a french company which makes replacements (As Durst used a standard). But I wanted to hear, has anybody managed to find a gear and buy it? If so, can you tell me where and what the part number is? There is also the option to get one manufactured, but it's pretty pricey. Does anybody have any experience getting a hold of the gear?

[George W.]

Hello,
i am located in luxembourg europe. Among other materials, i
have two durst enlargers, an l184 and an l1840.

My background is electromechanical engineering and hamradio
operator.

The problem you mentioned is well known, and there are several
solutions.
I will give you per pm my phone number, so you can give me a call.


George h. Wagener
gwagener@pt.lu
00352/671/547.500

...

hello all,

i wanted to see if there was still some life in this thread. I work as a tech for an art school in copenhagen, dk, which has durst helmot 8x10 enlarger, the kind with the motor to drive the head. I've done a lot of research, and can see many others have the same problem we do, which is a shattered nylon gear which is the safety gear between the motor and the worm shaft. The safety switch didn't engage and a student drove the motor to the bottom setting and broke the gear. This would not be a problem if parts were readily available, but alas it's not so easy. I've seen people mention durst usa (can't get a hold of him) as well as a french company which makes replacements (as durst used a standard). But i wanted to hear, has anybody managed to find a gear and buy it? If so, can you tell me where and what the part number is? There is also the option to get one manufactured, but it's pretty pricey. Does anybody have any experience getting a hold of the gear?

[Tin Can]

Hopefully once a solution is found, it is posted to this thread.

Hello,
i am located in luxembourg europe. Among other materials, i
have two durst enlargers, an l184 and an l1840.

My background is electromechanical engineering and hamradio
operator.

The problem you mentioned is well known, and there are several
solutions.
I will give you per pm my phone number, so you can give me a call.


George h. Wagener
gwagener@pt.lu
00352/671/547.500

...

[AndreasOlesen]

Hello,
i am located in luxembourg europe. Among other materials, i
have two durst enlargers, an l184 and an l1840.

My background is electromechanical engineering and hamradio
operator.

The problem you mentioned is well known, and there are several
solutions.
I will give you per pm my phone number, so you can give me a call.


George h. Wagener
gwagener@pt.lu
00352/671/547.500

...

Hi George,

Thank you for the quick answer, I will write you a mail now.

[AndreasOlesen]

Agreed - If I find anything resembling a solution then I will of course share it.

Best,

Andreas