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Topic: Backward Christie AW3R

Donna Sylvester
Film Handler

Posts: 33
From: Burney, CA, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 09-27-2001 11:49 PM

I just installed a used Christie AW3R to replace my dinosaur Xetron. The Christie is pretty, but there is one slight problem: One of the motors makes that platter turn clockwise. The other two go counter clockwise. Anyone else ever had this problem and know how to fix it?

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

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

posted 09-28-2001 12:28 AM

first thing to do is swap the reversed motor with one of the good ones. if the reversed motor runs fine and the good motor runs reversed you have either a problem with the motor control electronics or the plug for the motor in the tree is wired backwards.

If the reversed motor still runs in reverse (and the good motor runs fine in the reverse motor's position) then the plug on the reversed motor's power cord is wired backwards. Reverse the wires and things should run fine.

Good Luck.

Aaron

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Don Sneed
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Texas City, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 09-28-2001 12:32 AM

HUH !!! No I never had that problem but what I would do is to remove the motor & try it in a know good working motor plug, if the motor is still turning the wrong way, then replace the motor, is this a new platter ?? I so the motor of course is under warranty, get a replacement....Whoooaaa weeeee That is a new one on me...I have seen projector motors & rewind motor to this but that would be a simple reversing the wires at the motor....but I never seen that with a platter....

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 09-28-2001 12:04 PM

You took your Xetron out of service? BUMMER! Those were wondeful machines. Christie Rots!

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Donna Sylvester
Film Handler

Posts: 33
From: Burney, CA, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 09-28-2001 08:06 PM

Aaron, you were right. We switched the wires on the plug and it runs the right way. How they got turned around is the mystery. BTW Paul, the Xetron is for sale. Problem with them is Neumade doesn't have parts and didn't even know the model I have existed.

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

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

posted 09-29-2001 02:10 AM

Glad to be of help

-Aaron

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Don Sneed
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Texas City, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 09-29-2001 10:36 AM

Hey Aaron, Wow I forgot about that, GOOD call !! I need to put that one back into my notebook, never really had that problem before, but then all I do now is new installs when if it don't work, send for replacement....I guess I been out of the service field a little to long....Good call my friend !!

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 10-01-2001 12:21 AM

WOW -- good job Aaron. Keep that up and maybe you can convince Dave for a raise...

------------------
Scott D. Neff
"Biding My Time"

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 10-01-2001 02:00 PM

I was looking at two AW3R's, and on the lower deck, the pay-out heads had a severe bind or tight fit, to the point where it was almost impossible to remove them. Cleaning the inner bore of the spindle did not correct the problem. But the same pay-out head fits the other holes just fine.

I wonder if an operator used the lower decks as a step ladder.....But by looking at the spindle, there is no obvoius damage.

Any comments anyone?

Paul

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 10-02-2001 02:33 AM

Actually, the AW3 is not really that bad. It has a few mal-screwup's in design, but basically, it is a relatively straight-forward machine. But, that does not mean I like them.

Seems kind of odd. I have been in hundreds of booths, both as an engineer and a projectionist. Each booth has its own personality. If you piss off the machines, those machines will lay in the weeds waiting for a chance to strike back, and when they catch you, they will stomp all over you, pound you into the ground, and beat you to a pulp!!!!

Been there. More than once.

Paul

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 10-02-2001 02:38 AM

Get some 40 grit metal sandpaper and wrap a small strip around the shaft on the brain fitting too snuggly, grasp this with the palm of your hand with fair tension (do not apply high tension) and rotate the brain back and forth in your hand for a minute or two. The brain will then forever fit comfortably. This was a problem in the first few years Christie was making removable brains, but has since corrected the problem.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 10-02-2001 02:49 AM

Thanks for the tip, Brad. Appreciate it.

Paul

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Randy Stankey
Film God

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

posted 10-02-2001 03:56 AM

In working with some of the newer AW3's I have found a couple of things that can cause the brain to be difficult to insert or remove:

If you look at the "stem" casting, the part that goes down into the hole, you might find that there are some burrs along the edges of the slot that the registration pin slides into. I have used a small file to remove the burrs and make sure the surface is smooth.

Second, I have found that the registration pin, down inside the hole, comes loose which causes it to be too tight when the brain slides in. It is only peened into place. On a couple of occasions, I have found that it has fallen completely out and the brain can spin all the way around in the hole. In either case, I have taken a suitable tool like a screwdriver and a hammer and carefully tapped it back into place. You have to be careful because it is possible to overdrive the pin until it comes out the other side of the hole and causes binding of the platter deck itself.

If either of these are not the case the I would agree with Brad and suggest that the stem be smoothed by suitable means.

Having about 50 of these babies in my theatres, I'm starting to become somewhat adept at doing "Brain Surgery"!

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