Durst LABORATOR 184 User manual

Instructions for:
LABORATOR 184
Counter-weight spring adjustment.
DURST-PRO-USA, Inc.
1600 NE 25th Avenue
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124
USA
Phone [phone], fax [phone]
www.durst-pro-usa.com
email:[email protected]

WARNING!
Working with the counterweight spring in a Durst Laborator 184, Laborator
138SP, or Laborator 138S is extremely dangerous. There is a high risk for per-
sonal injury and damage to the equipment when working with this counter weight
spring.
The spring combined with the spring tool is capable of releasing an impact with a
force of more than 2000 pounds per square inch.
This manual is put at your disposal on the clear condition that DURST-PRO-
USA, Inc. their employees, owners, Durst-Italy, the original reseller and the origi-
nal manufacturer of the enlarger under no circumstances what so ever can be held
responsible for personal injury or damage to the equipment, this also holds true if
this manual is faulty, in case of personal injury or damage to the equipment.
Breaking the seal on this envelope, to access the manual, constitutes your full
consent to the above – if you do not consent DO NOT break the seal and return
the envelope for a full refund – return freight is free of charge using the DURST-
PRO-USA, Inc. UPS account # 6404XW.
This manual is issued to_________________________________
To avoid any responsibility, on your part, from third party claims we advice not to
duplicate or copy this manual.

WARNING!
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CARRY OUT THE SPRING ADJUSTMENT
ALONE!
SPRING ADJUSTMENT IS A TWO-PERSON JOB.
If this person continues the travel of the tool in a downwards direction the force
of the spring will make the enlarger travel in the direction of the red arrow, it will
pull you of the ladder and possible hit you in the head with the end of the tool.
NEVER STAND IN THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF THE TENSION TOOL.

WARNING!
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CARRY OUT THE SPRING ADJUSTMENT
ALONE!
SPRING ADJUSTMENT IS A TWO-PERSON JOB.
If this person continues the travel of the tool in a downwards direction the force of
the spring will make the enlarger travel in the direction of the red arrow, as soon as
you start the upwards motion. It will pull you of the ladder and possible hit you in
the head with the end of the tool. The force released by the tension tool is several
thousand pounds per square inch, enough to KILL if hit in the head or the face.

Thetwospringsinsidethespringhous-
ing are each 4” wide, 1/8” thick and
fastened to a ½” chrome steel axle.
The front plate on the spring housing
is 4mm thick plate aluminum. If the
springisallowedtouncoiluncontrolled
itwillknockoffthisplate,rippingALL
SIX 4mm screws from their sockets.
If the spring is uncoiled uncontrolled
it will crack the ½ to1” thick cast alu-
minum housing

On this picture you will see the effect
of a spring accident. The force of the
spring knocked the ½ - 1” thick alumi-
num housing almost ½ inch out of
shape.
If you look careful at the image below
you can see that the entire 10 pound alu-
minum housing has been knocked out
of shape by more than 1/4”. The alumi-
num housing is 1/2” thick at its thinnest
place. The force released by an uncon-
trolled spring is several thousand pounds

The correct way to work
SPRING ADJUSTMENT IS A TWO-PERSON JOB.
This is the correct way to operate the spring tension tool. The person hold-
ing on to the chassis should be able to exert a force equal to lifting approx 50
pounds.Please use your common sense when working with the spring.
Go slow and anticipate your next move.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH FOR SPRING
TENSIONING

A)
REMOVE THE LIGhT HEAD FROM
THE ENLARGER and drive the head
carriage to its BOTTOM position, this
willmovethecameraoutofthewayandit
will ensure that the spring-wire is in its
most exposed position.
B)
In some cases it is necessary to remove
the camera also to access the wire behind
the half-moon shaped scale.
On some models the wire is situated be-
hind two large 10mm bolts behind the
scale, it is not possible to reposition the
wire without removing the scale.
MANUAL FOR SPRING TENSION
AND SPRING REPLACEMENT ON A
DURST LABORATOR 184.

InordertoremovethecameraonanL184
it is only necessary to remove one screw.
When this screw is removed the camera
will slide off the support arm. Here it is
also helpful to be two persons, one per-
son to hold on to the chassis and one to
pull the camera off. The camera is quite
heavy, be careful not to drop it
The tool kit consist off:
1. Tension tool - 4 foot wrench w/
handle and stop.
2. Bolt to secure tool to spring hous-
ing.
3. “C” shaped ¼” steel bracket
4. Wire brace tool.
If a replacement wire has been ordered
the wire kit will be enclosed with the
tools. It is metric wire. It is important to
use the right thickness wire,
The wire is coiled up inside the wire
wheel.
If the wire is to thin it will break, and
ruin the spring housing, if it is to thick it
will not fit inside the wire wheel. An ex-
cess thickness of less than one millime-
ter – less than 1/32” of one inch – will
prevent the right amount of wire fitting
inside the wire wheel.
Remove the cover from both sides of the
spring housing.