Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: HELP! Simplex doing strange things!

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Film Handlers' Forum » HELP! Simplex doing strange things! (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: HELP! Simplex doing strange things!

Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 08-09-2001 05:52 PM

The Machine: Simplex 1050 with manual turret (pic available: look up Clover Cinema #2 in the Warehouse)

Complaint: It appears that the framing knob has a mind of its own, and when film is running will move its entire travel in a matter of a couple minutes, maybe even faster by now. Adding tension to the film running thru the machine speeds the problem up greatly. The manager is getting antsy and the projectionists are puzzled. (So am I, or I wouldnt be asking for assistance, as I have never seen this problem before)

Anyone have any ideas?

Aaron

| IP: Logged

Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 06:36 PM

Loose set screws or retaining clamp? Just guessing, although I have seen something like this before, long, long ago.

| IP: Logged

Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 08-09-2001 07:13 PM

Jerry:: Is that you?

| IP: Logged

Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-09-2001 08:55 PM

Could it be that your intermittent is about to take a shit on you?
Does it seem to bind up a bit (on pull down) when you turn it over by hand?

| IP: Logged

Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 09:00 PM

IIRC, there are two retaining springs on the framing cam. I would look there first.

I've seen this problem before (on several different makes of projector!), but for the life of me I can't remember exactly what solved the problem on the Simplex.

| IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 09:20 PM

Aaron, I agree with Adam and Jerry. Give me a yell if that doesn't fix it.

Paul

| IP: Logged

Matt Basford
Film Handler

Posts: 19
From: Nashville, TN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 11:44 PM

I had this same problem about a month ago. I checked the retaining springs which didn't help. I actually found several missing teeth on the drive belt causing it to skip and the tourqe of the skipping caused the intermittent to move. Just something else to look for.

| IP: Logged

Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 11:47 PM

Bob:: Of course it is me. Who else would have a screw loose?

| IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-10-2001 12:10 AM

Aaron,
Your problem is not at all unusual. Just order two new P1709 spring type framing sector clamps form Strong. The new clamps are made from spring steel while the older ones are machined steel and must be adjusted and then locked down. As the framming sector wears at the point that these older clamps contact it can cause uneven wear to the point that when you readjust the machined steel clamp you will be eble to turn it through to a point and when you hit the place on the sector that has not worn much you may not be able to turn it at all. The newer spring steel type will self adjust to what ever the wear pattern may be. Replacement can be a bit tricky and you will have to pull the movement to get at them easily. It is however an easy permanent fix for this problem.
MArk @ GTS

| IP: Logged

Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 08-10-2001 02:39 AM

Thanks for the replies- I am heading up there today to have a closer look at the problem.

I do not remember ever feeling the intermittent or anything else in that machines' gear train binding. However an unusual thing was reported to me by the projectionist there: he claims that the framing creep STOPS when the APERTURE PLATE is removed...

Aaron

| IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-10-2001 02:44 AM

.....probably because the operator had the frame knob jammed against the stop so it couldn't creep.

Paul

| IP: Logged

Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 08-10-2001 05:27 AM

Spoiler post for "The Others" removed by moderator at the request of other forum members.

| IP: Logged

Larry Davis
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: New York
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 08-10-2001 12:41 PM

Hey Jim,
Thanks for ruining The Others for me.

| IP: Logged

Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 08-10-2001 04:47 PM

There's a spring P1755 and some friction discs P1571 & P2879 on the framing shaft, on the operating side behind the knob.
These resist the intermittent's desire to move up at pulldown as the film tugs through the gate. Increasing gate tension naturally makes this stronger, and apparently so does inserting an aperture plate.
If these parts are bungo the framing will walk during projection.
I think there may be updated parts available, we had this problem a few weeks ago and I recall the tech talking about some newer parts (may be unrelated of course) - call Strong/Ballantyne/Century/Simplex and ask them.

| IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-10-2001 06:10 PM

Those disks and spring only serve to seal the framing shaft and also to allow you to push in and rotate the shaft to align the word frame when you are in the center of your set position. Mainly for reference. The springs inside are defniately the problem. Been there done that many times. It was covered here some time back in another posting.
MArk @ GTS

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.