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Author Topic: Soundhead Problem Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 10-07-2001 08:10 PM                     One of our Dolby Cat. 700 penthouse readers started malfunctioning today for no apparent reason. The tension arms won't stay steady during operation & the SRD signal can't be read as a result. From pulling open the upper tension arm, it felt sluggish. Does anybody know what can be done to fix this? It's the reader for our biggest house & I'd like to get it fixed soon. I haven't looked inside the cover yet, but I suspect it could be a screw inside. Any thoughts? ------------------ http://www.mullerfamilytheatres.com  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-07-2001 08:44 PM                        Does this happen on all prints? from the sound of it, there could be a problem with the flywheel. remove the back cover and see if there are any wires, cables, screws, ect, rubbing on the flywheel. that will cause the reader to read fail. a less likely possibility is that the flywheel bearing could be on their way south, or just a large accumulationof dirt has built up somewhere. Hope that helps Josh  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 10-07-2001 09:10 PM                     This just started on our print of Serendipity. My main concern is that the arms are wobbling too much & could scratch the soundtrack, as well as lose the SRD signal. I checked the flywheel, except for a little dust it was alright.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 10-07-2001 10:23 PM                     When the show ends, turn all the rollers (and sprocket) by hand and see if any are bound. Is the film from the platter bouncing around, ie: there's somthing wrong at the platter?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-08-2001 03:53 PM                     Also check to make sure that the spring is intact between the 2 arms and also check the dashpot  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 10-08-2001 11:45 PM                     The platter is operating normally & the two looped springs are intact & don't seem in any worse shape than any of the other springs on our other cat. 700's. The metal bar that holds the arms back looks to be in the normal position when the arms are closed, so could there be a problem within one of the rollers?  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-09-2001 11:00 AM                        Does the sprocket roll freely? Josh  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 10-10-2001 04:25 PM                     The sprocket rolls freely & all of the rollers are cleaner than most of our rollers.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 10-10-2001 05:08 PM                     Gordon's got a good idea.. try the dash-pot. The lower roller arm should have some resistance to it as you swing it up and down. Compare it to the upper arm, which is just on a spring.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-11-2001 02:03 PM                     I have had the hole that the spring goes into get oxidized. It is the alumnium casting that actually oxidizes. Perhaps also the differetn metals don't help. I've only seen this happen in Midwest locations where it gets damp. You have to take the pad roller arm off and the spring as well and clean out the hole with a small drill bit. This caused erratic film flow through the reader. Mark @ GTS  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 10-11-2001 11:34 PM                     Mark, it seems the drill bit idea was a good idea. I did notice that the dashpot was a bit rough, after running a small cordless onto it, the film stays steadier. The error rate is 3, average, if not better for that system. Thanks for all the tips & suggestions guys! ------------------ http://www.mullerfamilytheatres.com  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 10-11-2001 11:42 PM                     Hey, this is great! We get to hear about a resolved problem! I hate it when the orginal poster doesen't tell us what finally happened!!  |  IP: Logged

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